Episode 4: Supporting Anxious Children Through Play and Books

Hi everyone, we are half way through the series already! I hope you have enjoyed the first three episodes to date, and we are delighted to bring this fourth episode of “Pages and Play” where Freya and I explore how bibliotherapy and play therapy can support a child by enabling them to externalize their fears through story and symbolic play, and support their nervous-system regulation and emotional literacy. We discuss research from Jonathan Haidt on the decline of play-based childhood and the rise of phone-based childhood, urging adults to be curious about children’s online lives. We also share practical guidance including validating feelings, being transparent about what to expect, and building adult and child emotional regulation tools, including sensory strategies and narrative reflection prompts. Our bibliotherapy client story illustrates the use of the picture book “Wemberly Worried” by Kevin Henkes to help a child label worry as a transitory visitor and practice reflective questions to navigate this worry/anxiety. We end this episode, like all the others, with book recommendations for children, teens, and adults on anxiety, emotional literacy, and regulation.We hope you enjoy this episode and Pages and Play Series! And as always we’d love to hear your reflections and thoughts. Chapters:00:00 Anxiety Hidden Signs00:47 Anxious Feelings Explained03:18 Books And Play Heal05:21 Play Therapy Benefits07:17 Why Anxiety Rising11:04 Support At Home14:39 Wemberly Worried Story20:48 Transparency Builds Safety24:09 Adult Nervous System Check28:25 Rewrite Your Inner Story33:32 Book Picks For Anxiety41:54 Closing ThoughtsBook Recommendations:The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne BrysonRaising An Emotionally Intelligent Child by John GottmanAnxious Kids, Anxious Parents by Reid Wilson & Lynn LyonsNurturing Natures by Graham MusicRuby’s Worries by Tom PercivalThe Huge Bag of Worries by Virginia IronsideThe Invisible String by Patrica KarstThe Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen RutterThe Worry (Less) Book: Feel Strong, Find Calm, and Tame Your Anxiety! By Rachel Brian The Final Year and The First Year by Matt GoodfellowFirst, We Make the Beast Beautiful by Sarah WilsonThe Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtWemberley Worried by Kevin HenkesThe Girl Who Thought in Pictures (Young Aspiring) By Julia Finley MoscaThe Lion Inside by Rachel Bright and Jim FieldThe Art Cure by Daisy FancourtWhat to do when you worry too much by Dawn HuebnerThe Anxiety Workbook for Kids by Robin Alter & Crystal ClarkeBreathe like a Bear by Kira WilleyFeelings by Aliki Support the show-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Find out more at Book Therapy or Play RefugeOr email us at [email protected] or [email protected]