Parenting with Theraplay®: Understanding Attachment and How to Nurture a Closer Relationship with Your Child (Theraplay® Books & Resources)
£13.60£14.20 (-4%)
Theraplay® is an attachment-focused model of parenting that helps parents to understand and relate to their child. Based on a sequence of play activities that are rooted in neuroscience, Theraplay offers a fun and easy way for parents and children to connect. Theraplay is particularly effective with looked after and adopted children.
By providing an overview of Theraplay and the psychological principles that it is based on, parents and carers will gain an understanding of the basic theory of the model along with practical ideas for applying Theraplay to everyday family life. Through everyday case studies and easy language, parents will gain confidence and learn new skills for emotional bonding, empathy, and acceptance in the relationship with their child.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Illustrated edition (21 July 2017), Jessica Kingsley Publishers |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 208 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 9781785922091 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1785922091 |
| Dimensions | 12.9 x 1.7 x 19.7 cm |
by Emma Leroy
Fantastic book for families Easy to read. Great to share with families helping them get
the principals of Theraplay and underpinning any ongoing therapeutic work. Emma Pitcher – Plymouth
by chilligirl
I read “Parenting with Theraplay” with very little idea of what to expect, never having come across this approach before. As both a parent and a psychologist I was rewarded by a thoroughly enjoyable read that provided me with new insights into understanding child development whilst identifying a range of methods to approach the challenges of parenting in a positive way.
The book is organised in two main parts, the first of which outlines the relevant theory and ways of understanding child development, behaviour and the key tasks of parenting. Though this may sound intimidating, it was very easy to follow, avoided all jargon and made the theory seem entirely relevant to what we see in our children every day. The second half is full of ideas for the practical application of this theory which really brings alive the Theraplay approach in ways that will feel familiar and relevant for all parents facing everyday parenting dilemmas, as well as more serious challenges. All of the material – in both parts of the book – relates to the four dimensions of Theraplay which underlie the overall approach; these being engagement, structure, nurture and challenge.
Each chapter of the book follows a similar, well planned structure that makes the text easy to follow and to extract the key learning points. This mirrors the essence of the Theraplay approach by showing by example the importance of structure to enhance learning, as well as a gentle, supportive tone to the language which is designed to build confidence in the reader with regard to the management of challenging situations. Towards the end of the book, there is a whole chapter dedicated to a description of key Theraplay activities; simple, playful ways to connect with your child. Whilst many ideas will be new to parents, some of these will already be familiar. Parents may be surprised and reassured (as I was) to learn that these simple games have real significance in the development of the child-parent relationship as well as the child’s engagement with the wider world.
Throughout each chapter, Vivien and Helen have also managed to highlight areas where parents might be struggling. They’ve managed to do this in a way which makes less helpful reactions seem natural and understandable, without minimising the impact on the child. There is no sense of blame or criticism towards parents who find these tasks difficult. The book is as supportive and nurturing for parents as it is for the children.
The book is written in language that is highly accessible and easy to follow. It is inviting and interesting so I felt drawn in, wanting to read on to the next chapter. There are ideas in this book that helped me think differently about how to manage situations with my teenage children. My only regret is that I didn’t have access to a text like this when my children were small.
by nic
Very readable book which makes clear what theraplay is.
by Mrs J Parton
Bought this book filling a theraplay course, very interesting
by AA
I am training in theraplay and this is the ‘go to’ book for each session.
very simple wording and explanations, easy to explain to parents. thoughtful and clear.
great buy!!
by Karen
Excellent book
by Seachicken
This is an excellent book for any parents, but we have found it to be especially helpful for our adoptive family. It is very clear and easy to read and explains how an emotional connection with a caregiver is essential to healthy brain development and goes on to say how Theraplay can help strengthen the connections with our children. There are also plenty of ideas for Theraplay activities.
The book sets out how and why Theraplay can help in a variety of situations and for different reasons. It clearly explains how play, playfulness and shared moments of joy and laughter can help your child to feel closer to your; to feel valued; to learn about their own feelings and to better regulate their own behaviour. It also talks about how a Theraplay approach helps you to get to know your child better, giving you a more of a sense of what helps them cope with challenges.
For adopters, building up trust with our children is essential and often very difficult, given their early experiences. Trying to connect in a playful, non-threatening and yet structured way, with the adult in control, is a very effective way to help build this trust.
The activities could be seen as too babyish, but as the book explains, using Theraplay is a way to meet a child at their developmental stage which may not always match their chronological age. This is highly likely if their early life involved dysfunctional or disrupted relationships. For those children who have missed out on early nurturing or been unable to respond to it, for whatever reason, Theraplay offers a chance to ‘fill in the gaps’. In our experience with our teenage son, most of the activities were enjoyable and perfectly acceptable to him. The book also suggests that the approach is adaptable so all kinds of activities can be shared, using a Theraplay approach.
I must admit that when dealing with some quite extreme behaviour , there have been times that I’ve felt too overwhelmed and frazzled to handle the situation with empathy and understanding. However, having some of the key ideas from this book in mind has helped me to cope better . Furthermore, in the spaces between incidents, Theraplay has provided much needed way of re-connecting and healing.
by mrs june e barney
Really good book, easy to read and follow