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You've seen it: that student who can't express trauma, that client stuck in anxiety, that team member struggling after a setback.
When words fail and emotions overwhelm, play creates pathways where traditional approaches can't reach.
Research shows that play activates neural pathways that shut down trauma. A powerful study found 71% of participants experienced breakthroughs through structured play when conventional methods stalled.
This approach works everywhere - classrooms, therapy offices, team settings - requiring no specialised training.
This week, discover practical play techniques you can immediately implement with your students, clients, and teams for healing and growth. Ready? Let's dive in!
#356: From Little Things, Big Things Grow: A Journey of Community Impact
Healing, like growth, starts small. A single moment of trust. A simple game. A shared song. This week on Energetic Radio, Paul Campbell and I explore how tiny sparks of connection can ignite powerful change.
Fresh from celebrating my 40th birthday, I reflect on a week filled with inspiration, including a moving encounter with Tom Richardson from Find Your Voice.
Tune in to hear personal stories on how passion and persistence can create an extraordinary impact. Because when it comes to healing and connection, the little things grow into something truly powerful.
Listen now and be inspired!
Daily Mission Cards
Healing doesn’t always come from doing but begins in stillness. Trauma can leave the mind constantly alert, making it hard to feel safe in the present moment.
Today’s mission: Find a comfortable place outdoors, close your eyes, and focus on breathing for 10 minutes.
As you inhale and exhale, let the weight of the day settle. Notice the sounds, the air on your skin, the rhythm of your breath. This small act of mindfulness helps regulate emotions, ease tension, and create space for healing.
Want more simple, healing activities? Get the Creative Play & Movement Mission Cards for more ways to restore balance through play!
Empathy Walk
One of the deepest wounds of trauma is the feeling of being unseen, carrying pain alone. Empathy Walk helps break that isolation by creating a space where emotions are acknowledged and understood.
Through real and imagined scenarios, players step into experiences of loss, frustration, or loneliness. They practice listening, validating, and offering support, learning that sometimes, the greatest gift we can give is our presence.
Download Empathy Walk now and bring the power of understanding to your classroom, team, or group!
Andy McNeilly – Building Connected Relationships – At Home School and the Workplace
Healing happens in connection. But when stress, trauma, or daily life pull us apart, how do we rebuild the bonds that matter most? Andy McNeilly has spent decades answering this question.
In this course, Andy shares powerful, real-world strategies to strengthen relationships at home, in schools, and the workplace. Learn how to foster trust with children, create emotionally supportive learning environments, and build deeper connections in professional settings.
If you’ve ever felt the strain of disconnection or simply want to strengthen the relationships that shape your life, this course is for you.
Save this course for later and start building the connections that transform lives!
Fueling Leaders, Strengthening Schools
What a way to kick off the 2025 Peninsula Principals Conference! With over 170 school leaders in the room, our Staff FunShop brought energy, laughter, and a powerful reminder: you can’t pour from an empty cup.
We focused on “Connection before content”, helping principals prioritise self-care and meaningful relationships before diving into their work. Through engaging activities and play-based connection starters, we set the tone for a conference filled with collaboration, inspiration, and renewed purpose.
Join us on this global journey of joy and connection! If you want to bring The School of Play to your community, fill out the form here ➡
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