‘Talking through Toys’ is a gentle yet powerful way for children to express themselves and receive the help they need in a positive, non-judgemental environment.
This experience for children of being seen, known and held in positive regard by a safe, supportive, non-judgemental adult, is like superfood for the developing brain.
Talking through Toys is all about helping ALL children to heal their brains and bodies following difficult life experiences. This program is provided free of charge to some of QLD’s most vulnerable young people.
Unresolved trauma disrupts development and can lead to a host of social issues including difficulties with impulse control and attention, aggression, anxiety and externalising behaviours just to name a few.
Early intervention can prevent avoidable future involvement in crime and other destructive behaviours.
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Children heal through play. Play is a way for them to ‘talk about’ their experiences and to process them.
Using evidence-based practices, Talking through Toys is all about supporting young people to ‘do what they need to do’ in order to heal. Our Giant Stuffed Bears are here to help us do this
After observing a significant decrease in the age of our clientele, Student Care Welfare QLD Inc. identified the need for a program designed to assist the very young (approximately 4 to 9 year olds) to verbalise their thoughts and feelings in a non-threatening way.
Combining tried and tested practices such as play therapy with a wealth of experience and the latest in affective neuroscience, the SCWQ counsellors designed an innovative program, which has been proven effective time and time again.
The Bears can serve as a tackle pad, a role-play participant, an intermediary or a bodyguard. The counsellor can ask the bear questions, taking some of the pressure off the child. The counsellor can ask such things as “I wonder why that Beau Bear is sitting away from the other animals?” or “I wonder what he might be feeling at the moment?” – “What might the bear say or do when the other bear bullies him?” or “has there been a time when you have found yourself in a similar situation?”-
Techniques such as reframing can be used to help the child to see the world from different perspectives. Somatic techniques can help children to process trauma and consider new possibilities.
When children play, they can move the toys around and practice new and alternative behaviours to ‘see how it feels’ and to imagine what it might be like if they did that in real life. The counsellor can then role play the scenarios with the child and practice the skills required for the child to feel more empowered and confident in real life.
Talking through Toys is 100% funded by The Care Community – individuals and businesses in South East Queensland who have discovered that “True wealth is found not in what you possess, but in what you belong to”.
Click here to learn more about the Care Community and what you can do to make a difference.