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Skill BuildingSocial Emotional/BehavioralResilience/Compassion

Tina Payne Bryson and Georgie Wisen-Vincent

Early Childhood Event -- The Way of Play: Little Moments -- Big Connections

Noon CST 7 p.m. CST

12:00 pm CST 7:00 pm CST

When

Thu, Jan 30, 2025 @ noon and 7pm CST

Where

Virtual Event

Program Takeaways

The Power of Play – Play is more than just entertainment for children; it is essential for cognitive, social, and emotional development, helping kids process emotions, solve problems, and build resilience.

Dyadic Play Matters – Beyond free play and structured play, dyadic (parent-child) play strengthens relationships, fosters emotional intelligence, and enhances communication.

Practical Strategies for Parents – The discussion highlighted three key strategies from The Way of Play:

- Think Out Loud – Narrate what your child is doing to help them develop self-awareness and communication skills.
- Make Yourself a Mirror – Reflect your child’s actions and emotions subtly to create connection and engagement.
- Bring Emotions to Life – Use play scenarios to help children explore and express emotions in a safe way.

Playfulness is a Parenting Superpower – A playful approach to discipline and everyday challenges can foster cooperation, reduce stress, and create joy in family interactions.

Play is for All Ages – While play changes with age, engaging with teens through humor, shared interests, and digital interactions can maintain strong emotional bonds and encourage meaningful connection.

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NOTE: The full recording (below) will be available for viewing until April 20.

Most parents understand that unstructured play time is essential for a child’s growth and creativity, but new science has discovered that little moments of deliberate, playful interaction with parents is key to their healthy emotional development and later resilience.

New York Times bestselling co-author of “The Whole-Brain Child” Tina Payne Bryson and renowned play therapist Georgie Wisen-Vincent come to GPS to share how short, daily playful interactions with your kids can help them let go of anxiety and drama, reduce chaotic behavior and help kids better face their fears, handle big emotions and bolster social skills. Learn how to foster calm listeners, cooperative problem solvers and respectful communicators all while having fun as a family!

Dr. Tina Payne Bryson is a renowned psychotherapist, who speaks internationally. She is the distinguished co-author with Dan Siegel MD of five New York Times best-selling books including “The Whole-Brain Child” and “No-drama Discipline.” Payne Bryson is the Founder/Executive Director of the Center for Connection in Pasadena, California. She has an unusual knack for taking attachment science, child rearing theory, and the emerging field of interpersonal neurobiology and offering it in a way that’s clear, humorous, and immediately helpful.

Georgie Wisen-Vincent, LMFT, RPT-S, is a licensed child and adolescent psychotherapist specializing in play and creative arts therapies for children from the early years to adolescence. She is an active member of both the American and the British Association of Play Therapists and has presented at numerous workshops and conferences for professionals and parents.