Polly Hannah Play Therapy

31/03/2026

Exciting things to come! 💜

24/02/2026

Great creative group last night with chosen theme by the children of Puppets

20/02/2026

05/02/2026

🌈Pre-School Educational Psychologist Appointments🌈

📅Wednesday 11th February
⏰9.30, 10.30 or 11.30am
📍Family Hub at Clifton Street, Wigan, WN3 5HN

Please contact 01942 486238 to book an appointment.

05/02/2026

Great resources on this site
www.socialworkertoolbox.com

01/02/2026

Please Note: Our new email address is now live.
All our other email addresses will soon be deleted.
Thank you.

30/01/2026

Virginia Axline devised eight core principles of non-directive, child-centered play therapy.

30/01/2026

Why children regress when they feel overwhelmed 💛

“When life gets too big, children get small.”

Regression isn’t misbehaviour.
It’s a child asking for safety.

Children may regress when:
• life feels unpredictable
• there’s too much change
• they need calm, co-regulation

Through play therapy, children can slowly rebuild their sense of safety – in a way that feels natural and gentle.

🖼️ 🎨 🎶 🎳 🥁 🧚🧶🐈‍⬛🌴🍄🎭🪇🧩🚑

26/01/2026

Hi @ everyone

There will be a group next weekend 31 st and 1 st Saturday and Sunday if anyone would like to join us
🎨

Saturday and Sunday

10-11 younger age 3-7 and 11:30-1 older group 8 upwards

Also Mondays starting tonight creative group have commenced a different theme each week supporting the children’s wellbeing.

5-6 pm for younger age group 3-7

6-7 pm for older age group 8 plus

Please message for more information or to book on the session.

18/01/2026

Cold can calm the body faster than words ever could.

When emotions spike, the thinking brain goes offline.
So trying to “talk yourself calm” often doesn’t work.

But the body listens.

Cold is a shortcut straight to the nervous system.

A splash of cold water on your face.
A cold drink.
An ice cube in your hand.
A cool pack on your wrists or neck.

It’s not about being tough.
It’s about sending a clear signal:

“Pause. Reset. You’re safe.”

Cold activates something called the dive reflex.
It slows the heart.
It shifts the body out of fight or flight.
It brings attention back into the body instead of the spiral.

That’s why it can help with:

• Sudden anxiety
• Emotional overload
• Meltdowns or shutdowns
• Waking from nightmares
• Feeling wired or panicky

You are not calming with thoughts.
You are calming through sensation.

For adults, some people use short cool showers or cold water at the end of a shower. Not as punishment. Not as bravado. Just as a gentle nervous system reset.

For children and young people, keep it soft and safe:

Cold cloth on face
Cool drink
Splashing hands
Wrapped cool pack on wrists or neck

Never force cold.
Never scare the body into calm.
Regulation comes from safety, not shock.

Cold is just one tool.
It doesn’t replace connection, care or emotional support.

But sometimes, when feelings are loud and words are quiet…

Cold helps the body remember the way back.

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