Play Plus Therapy

19/06/2026

With the school holidays coming up, what a great time to engage PLAY!

Structured and Unstructured PLAY. In and Outdoors….and the best way to support your child engaging in play, JOIN them! Start by inviting them to play, grab a board game or ball. Set a tea party or shop.

Children need to engage in play for their development.

30/05/2026

Play Plus Therapy has an office just minutes from the NSW / QLD border, and is an essential therapy access for many families located on the NSW / QLD border. We strongly support all parliamentary voices that advocate for therapy services for children and families in the fight for inclusion in the planning of Thriving Kids. Thank you Justin Clancy MP for working so hard ti be the voice for many essential services that provide early intervention. Very grateful!

18/05/2026

Kristen loves writing about what fills her cup and her passion in life.

Take a read here. “Why ‘Just Playing’ is the most important work your child will ever do”

Pretend play: why ‘just playing’ is the most important work your child will ever do ☠

If your living room looks like a coloured explosion of building blocks, dollhouse furniture, and dress-up clothes, consider it not a mess, but a highly sophisticated developmental laboratory!



LEARN MORE: https://kidsonthecoast.com.au/health-wellbeing/pretend-play-why-just-playing-is-the-most-important-work-your-child-will-ever-do/

Play Plus Therapy

22/04/2026

“Play Therapy is evidence-based and designed for children’s developmental pathways” 👏

Play Therapy being advocated for in Parliament. No Child Left Behind

Thank you Dr Kate Renshaw (Play & Filial Therapy) for providing the foundation for this parliamentarian voice.

18/03/2026

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWA_ds9gdS5/?igsh=MWx5eWVvcjFqZGZtaQ==

09/03/2026

In a groundbreaking move, Australia introduced age restrictions on certain social media platforms to protect youth from the potential harms of online use and interactions. This decision is not just a national initiative; the world is watching closely. As we approach 100 days since the legislation introduction, Kristen was approached by producer Sue Padget from ARD Television (Germany) after her insightful article in Kids On The Coast. In her piece, she provided psychoeducation to parents about the new legislation, emphasising the importance of reducing social media exposure and understanding the nervous systems of both themselves and their children when navigating implementing the restrictions. ARD Television sought her perspective and observations as an Australian mental health professional and as a parent of children both impacted and not impacted by the legislation changes. Kristen highlighted the need for continued transparency and awareness among parents about the impact of social media on their children's mental health, and the need for support for parents on brain development to be forthcoming and consider the importance of this information right from conception, as well as the continued need for research. "Much like there being age restrictions for alcohol consumption due to impacts on a developing brain, parents also need to know the impacts of social media and the high use of screens on developing brains." As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, Australia sets a precedent that could influence global policy on social media usage. It’s a pivotal moment for safeguarding our children’s mental health and ensuring their safety online. Let’s engage in constructive dialogue about the role of social media in our lives and the responsibility of platforms to prioritise user safety.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVo_V2pkq6f/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

11/02/2026

10/02/2026

Just like a child, we’re growing and developing. Meet the Team!!

Read their Bio’s on our website, or better still, give us a call to chat or ask any questions.

www.playplustherapy.com.au

10/02/2026

Schools, educators, and curriculum writers have access to valuable data. It's time they leverage this information to bring about positive changes that support our children's cognitive development.

We MUST focus on promoting learning through PLAY rather than screens, which is aligning to the way that data also shows children learn best!

Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath: "Even in schools, it doesn't matter what the size of the screen is...and it doesn't matter who bought it...All of these things are ...

05/02/2026

Austin Appelbee is 13 years old.

He recently failed his swimming assessment because he couldn't swim 350 metres continuously.

Last week, he swam about 4 kilometres through choppy ocean waters - where sharks are known to frequent - to save his family's life.

When their inflatable paddleboards drifted out to sea off the WA coast, Austin's mum - with her heart in her mouth and as a last-hope desperate prayer - sent him back in a leaking kayak to get help. When that failed, he ditched the kayak and then the life jacket (it was slowing him down) and swam.

For four hours. Through waves and wind. Who knows what was in the water. In open ocean.

He told himself, "Not today. I have to keep going."

When his legs buckled on the sand, he ran another 2km to call emergency services. His family was rescued just as darkness fell.

Police called his efforts "superhuman." (His swimming instructor probably wishes they'd seen this side of him.)

This is a heroic story. I love it. But I'm sharing this because:

Austin didn't become a different kid in that moment. The same determination, grit, and love that got him through those waters was already there. The crisis just revealed it.

I'm constantly reminding parents - you don't know you're resilient until you have to be resilient. And being resilient doesn't usually feel resilient. It feels like "I can't" far more than it feels like "look at me being awesomely resilient".

We spend so much time worrying about whether our kids are ready for life's challenges. Whether they're tough enough. Capable enough. Whether we've done enough.

Austin's story reminds me that kids have reserves we can't always see in the everyday moments. And that when it really matters, they'll find what they need.

What an incredible young man.