AM Play Therapy North Somerset

11/09/2026

Sometimes children push us away at the exact moment they need us most.

When a child is overwhelmed, even connection can feel like too much. Questions, reassurance, touch or attempts to fix the problem can become one more thing their nervous system has to manage.

So when they say “Go away!”, we don’t always have to choose between leaving them completely or moving closer.

Sometimes we can stay nearby.

No questions. No demands. No pressure to talk or calm down.

Just the quiet message:

“I’ll give you space, but you don’t have to be alone in this.”

This is the kind of parenting I talk about throughout Guidance from The Therapist Parent — understanding what is happening underneath behaviour and knowing what to actually do in the moment, especially when your child is overwhelmed.

Because knowing that your child needs connection is one thing. Knowing how to offer it when they’re pushing you away is another.
If you want more practical strategies for responding to big emotions, behaviour and dysregulation, you can find Guidance from The Therapist Parent through the link in my bio.

Save this for the next time “go away” really means “I can’t cope with anything else right now.”

03/09/2026

Such a great reminder ❤️

Sometimes the thing that tips a child over can seem so small.

Shoes on.
Turn the screen off.
Time to leave.
A sibling says the wrong thing.

And we can find ourselves thinking, “Why has THAT caused such a big reaction?”

But that moment may only be the final drop.
They may have already been carrying sensory overload, tiredness, anxiety, demands, frustration, hunger or a need for connection. By the time we see the behaviour, their capacity may already be stretched to its limit.

Instead of focusing only on the final trigger, get curious about what has been filling their cup.
Because when we understand what led to the behaviour, we have a much better chance of knowing what they need from us.

And sometimes, the most helpful response isn't another consequence or another demand. It's helping to reduce the load.

ParentingSupport SensoryOverload

31/08/2026

What Play Therapy is and isn't about

30/08/2026

Your play piece for today is…

Know the difference!

What I see across multiple pages who ‘claim’ they embrace play as an approach to learning, are simply just setting up ‘adult led learning’.

There is an absolute place for this type of set up for sure but please don’t call it play!

Play is freely chosen, intrinsically motivated and highly engaging. It’s free from learning intentions and success criteria. It’s free from comments like ‘do it this way’ or ‘you can’t do that’.

If you’re new to play, learn the difference.

When you see an ‘activity’ set up, a beautifully designed tuff tray is a perfect example, remind yourself that it is adult directed and can never be classed as ‘play’

It’s a real bug bear of mine 🤣🙄

22/08/2026

When a child says “I don’t care,” it can be tempting to hear attitude.

But sometimes it means: “I care so much I’m scared to get it wrong.”
Or, “I don’t know how to start.”
Or, “I’m embarrassed.”
Or, “Please help, but don’t make a big thing of it.”

“I don’t care” can be a shield when feelings are too big or words are hard to find.

Instead of pushing harder, it can help to pause and say: “It sounds like something about this feels difficult. You don’t have to explain it all right now. I’m here.”

Children who shut down, avoid work, get defensive or refuse to try are not always being lazy or rude. Sometimes they are overwhelmed, anxious, or trying to protect themselves from failing.

A little curiosity can change the whole conversation.

FREE WHEN A CHILD SAYS ‘I DON’T CARE’ FEELINGS POSTER

LIKE the photo and comment "CARE" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.

22/08/2026

20/08/2026

Richard Cohen’s “Zen and the Art of Early Childhood" 💕

20/08/2026

Sometimes a child smiles when you’re speaking to them seriously.

It doesn’t always mean they think it’s funny.

That smile might be embarrassment.
It might be anxiety.
It might be uncertainty about what’s expected.
It might be an attempt to relieve tension.
Or it might simply be what happens when their brain is overwhelmed and doesn’t know how to respond.

A smile can be a nervous-system response, not a sign that a child isn’t taking you seriously.

So before assuming “They’re laughing at me”, consider what else might be happening underneath the smile.

The behaviour you see isn’t always a reliable window into what a child is feeling.

31/07/2026

Sometimes a child isn’t “overreacting.”
A teenager isn’t “being difficult.”
An adult isn’t “too sensitive.”

Sometimes their nervous system has already decided: “I don’t feel safe.”

That split-second scan is called neuroception — the body’s automatic way of noticing safety, danger, or uncertainty before the thinking brain has caught up.

It listens for things like tone of voice, facial expressions, body language, sudden changes, confusion, tension, predictability, and the general “feel” of a place.

A kind voice can be a safety cue.
A calm face can be a safety cue.
A predictable routine can be a safety cue.

But shouting, harsh tone, angry expressions, sudden movement, or uncertainty can feel like danger cues — especially for someone who has experienced stress, trauma, or repeated overwhelm.

And when the body senses danger, it may move into fight, flight, or freeze.

Not because someone is choosing to be dramatic.
Not because they are trying to cause problems.
But because their nervous system is trying to protect them.

This is why calm voices matter.
This is why gentle body language matters.
This is why clear explanations matter.
This is why safe, supportive relationships matter.

Regulation often starts with helping the body feel safe enough to listen, learn, connect, and cope.

Before we ask, “What’s wrong with this behaviour?”
Maybe we can ask, “What is this nervous system noticing right now?”

FREE NEUROCEPTION EXPLANATION PDF: SAFETY AND DANGER CUES

LIKE the photo and comment "NERVOUS" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.