Big Feelings, Better Connection: Using Play to Help Kids Thrive

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How can play help children heal, regulate big emotions, and strengthen attachment? We talk with Georgie Wisen-Vincent about ways that adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers can use playfulness to build connection, support emotional growth, and help children impacted by trauma thrive. She is a nationally recognized play therapy expert, co-author of the new book , The Way of Play, and the Founder/Director of The PlayStrong Institute.

In this episode, we explore why play is essential to children's emotional development, how trauma, loss, neglect, and disrupted attachment can affect a child's ability to play, and what caregivers can learn from the stories and behaviors that show up during play. Georgie also shares practical ways to use playful connection to build trust, respond to big feelings, and strengthen attachment—even when a child resists play or a caregiver doesn't naturally consider themselves playful.

Resources:

• The PlayStrong Institute
• The Way of Play: Using Little Moments of Big Connection to Raise Calm and Confident Kids 
• How Do I Handle All These Big Feelings & Big Behaviors?
• The IDEAL Response: How to Maintain Connection When Correcting Your Child

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