Play Connection - Galway

12/04/2026

Transitions can be surprisingly hard for kids… especially when the world feels unpredictable.

What we might see as “just moving on” can feel like a loss of control, or even fear for a child’s nervous system.

When we are able to slow down, prepare them and stay connected, we’re not just preventing meltdowns.:… we’re building a sense of safety.

Safety first and then behaviour follows.

07/03/2026

Many parents feel unsure about how to choose the right therapist for their child.

In Ireland, there are different professionals who support children’s emotional wellbeing, each with their own training pathways and approaches.

This post is a simple guide to help you understand,

• the different types of training
• the professional standards to look for
• where to find a qualified play therapist
• questions you can ask before starting therapy

The most important thing is finding the right fit for your child and your family.

You can find a qualified play therapist through the Irish Association of Play Therapy and Psychotherapy directory: www.iaptp.ie

For transparency, I am a pre-accredited Play Therapist, trained through the Children’s Therapy Centre.
I follow the professional standards of the Irish Association of Play Therapy and Psychotherapy and hold professional indemnity insurance.

I am currently completing my accreditation and expect to become a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist in August.

18/01/2026

When children struggle, it’s not bad behaviour….. it’s a nervous system asking for some help.

So often we think “What’s wrong with my child??”
when the more helpful question is:
“What does my child need right now?”

There is no one right or wrong response.
What helps one day might not help the next (which can also be frustrating 🤯).

Regulation isn’t about fixing or stopping feelings.
It’s about meeting the child where their body is and offering safety through connection.

Sometimes that looks like movement.
Sometimes it looks like presence.
Sometimes it looks like play, rhythm, or simply being nearby.

When we slow down and follow the child, their nervous system learns:
💚 I am safe.
💚 I am understood.
💚 I don’t have to handle this alone.

Save this post for the days that feel hard…. for you and for them 🥰

04/01/2026

04/01/2026

🥰 New Year, Gentle Transitions 🥰

We had a lovely family trip to London over the holidays, full of excitement, walking, new sights, and precious time together. And like many families, we also felt that familiar pull afterwards… the need to slow down, get outside, and reconnect before the back-to-school and work routines kick back in.

After the buzz of Christmas, travel, family catch-ups, late nights, and a break from routine, many children’s nervous systems are simply overloaded.

So if your child feels more emotional, dysregulated, tired, or reactive right now, this is often part of them finding their way back to balance.

As school and structure return, gentle things really matter:
- play and games together
- time outdoors
- patience and predictability
- kindness - to our children AND to ourselves

A calm transition, rather than a rushed one, can help children feel safer and more settled as they re-enter routine.

Here’s to starting the new year with connection, compassion, and a little more breathing space for everyone 💛

-transitions psychotherapy

15/11/2025

Sometimes the “I hate you!” moments are the ones that hit us right in the chest....🥹💔

But so often, those words aren’t about hatred at all…. they’re a sign that your child has flipped their lid.
Their thinking brain has gone offline, and their emotional brain is doing the talking.

In that state, children aren’t trying to hurt us… They’re trying to cope.

And they cope with the tools they have in that moment…. big words, loud voices, door slams, tears.

Underneath it all is usually a child saying,
“This feeling is too big for me… can you handle it with me?”

It’s also completely normal for us to feel triggered, hurt, or overwhelmed when this happens.

But when we can pause, breathe, and respond to the feeling underneath the behaviour, we show them that love really is a safe place to land…. even when their lid is flipped.

Connection first. Correction later.
Repair always!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

25/10/2025

Last night I attended a talk with and on parenting in the digital age, and I wanted to share some interesting insights and practical advice they provided.

Children today are growing up in a world that’s faster, more digital, and less connected to movement and face-to-face interaction than ever before! 😵‍💫

Maggie shared some concerning trends being seen in Australia:
• A drop in vocabulary among 5-year-olds
• A 60% increase in myopia (short-sightedness)
• Reduced ability to initiate play and poorer gross motor skills

These statistics aren’t just numbers…. they reflect how much brain development relies on real-world experiences: outdoor play, social connection, creativity, and unstructured time. Screens aren’t the only factor, but they often replace these essential experiences.

One of the points that really stood out was about “techno tantrums”, the meltdowns kids often have when screens are turned off. These aren’t defiance; they’re a nervous system response to overstimulation.

When children engage with screens… games, videos, or social media…. their brains release dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical that reinforces pleasure and motivation. This is similar to how we feel during a gripping movie or winning a game or completing a challenge

When the screen suddenly stops, the dopamine flow drops quickly. Children haven’t yet developed the skills to manage this sudden change, and the result can be frustration, tears, or anger….. a techno tantrum. 🫠😱

What can you do?
Model calm regulation - children learn from watching how we respond. Staying calm, patient, and connected teaches them how to manage their own emotions.

Other key advice:
🚫 No phones in bedrooms
📵 Delay smartphones if possible

The key takeaway?
Connection, calm guidance, and consistent boundaries are far more effective than punishment or sham.

A regulated, present adult is the greatest support a child can have in navigating screens, social media and modern life.

04/10/2025

So, Age 8…

I thought it might be useful to start covering different ages and stages, and the one I’m currently living through (and finding tricky) is 8. So let’s start there… 🙃

Eight year olds are in a fascinating stage.

This is when children step firmly into what Piaget called the concrete operational stage.
Translation? They love logic, rules, and fairness, but still struggle with grey areas. Hence the constant: “BUT that’s not fair!” ⚖️

Emotionally, they’re starting to experience more layered feelings.
An 8 year old can be both excited and anxious about a football match, or happy and sad about a sleepover. Wonderful, but also overwhelming, cue meltdowns over “small” things (that feel huge in their world).

Socially, friendships take centre stage. Peer acceptance matters, and a small conflict at school can feel catastrophic at home. Erikson called this the stage of Industry vs. Inferiority, children want to feel competent and accepted.

What I’ve noticed (at home and in the therapy space)....
• Professional negotiators (everything is a deal 📝)
• Grammar police (ready to correct you mid-sentence 🤓)
• Endless “5 more minutes!” requests ⏰
• Sibling rivalry champions (“But they got more than me!”)
• Future union leaders (petitioning against chores ✊)

Top Tips for parents of 8's:
• Validate messy emotions: “I see you’re both nervous and excited.”
• Keep boundaries clear and consistent (arguing is normal!).
• Offer small choices to support growing independence.
• Listen to friendship dramas, they really are huge in their world.
• Celebrate effort, persistence, and trying, not just outcomes.

So if age 8 feels tough, you’re not alone. This stage is dramatic, funny, exhausting… and full of growth. If your child is keeping you on your toes, chances are they’re right on track. 😉

👉 Parents of 8-year-olds, what’s been the hardest (or funniest) part for you?

01/09/2025

For autistic children, school can feel like an unpredictable, overwhelming place.
The sounds, the social rules, the constant change, it’s a lot to hold for one little mind.

We’ve made huge progress in supporting regulation in schools.
Calm corners, sensory tools, and visual supports are becoming part of everyday classrooms 💛.

But one piece is still often missing, which is CONNECTION.

🙌🏼 Connection is what gives children a FELT SENSE OF SAFETY (a term from Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory).

Safety isn’t just about being objectively safe, it’s about whether the nervous system perceives safety through human connection, warmth, and trust.

When a child feels that safety, regulation follows.
And with regulation, learning and belonging can grow.

Connection before regulation. Because belonging comes first. 🥰

31/08/2025

Children often “show” their feelings through behaviour, especially in the classroom. What looks like anger, defiance, or shutting down is more likely to be anxiety, sadness, or overwhelm.

When we pause and ask “What’s the feeling beneath this behaviour?” we can respond with compassion instead of just correction.

- Children can only learn when they feel safe. Regulation and connection are not “extras” in school, they are the foundation for learning. A calm nervous system makes space for attention, memory, and growth.

- Teachers and caregivers become co-regulators: when we offer steady breathing, gentle tone, and predictable routines, children’s bodies learn safety through us.

- Every behaviour tells a story. If we listen carefully, we can support the child to move from dysregulation to connection, which means they are moving from survival mode into learning mode.

👉 Swipe to see how big feelings may show up in school, and gentle ways we can support.