The Importance of Play in Child Development

Online Webinar: 31st May 2023 at 7pm

In a world where we are very ‘device heavy’, it is important to remind ourselves of the importance of play in child development. This webinar hopes to inform you of the reasons why play is important for children and how it ultimately leads to their healthy development and healthy relationships with their adult world.

Workshop objectives:

• Offer a neurodevelopmental perspective on why play is beneficial.
• Introduce you to the different types of play.
• Outline the benefits of unstructured play in the lives of children and parents.
• We will look at what may be going on in the lives of children that may be getting in the way of play.
• The importance of being role models to children and the importance of play for adults.

Who will benefit from attending this webinar?

Parents, foster carers, teachers, social workers, social care workers and other professionals working with children, who like further information as to why play is so important in healthy child development.

Workshop Presenter: 

Darragh Mahoney, Play Therapist, Counsellor & Psychotherapist, at Sensational Kids, Clonakilty

Darragh is an experienced professional who has worked primarily with children, adolescents, parents and foster carers throughout his career. Between 2010 and 2018, Darragh worked in the area of child protection within the HSE and Tusla, Child and Family Agency, in both Kerry and Cork. Within this role, he worked in various residential units for children and adolescents, in an assessment and resource unit and in an intensive family support centre. Between 2018 and 2022, Darragh worked as a school counsellor with children and teenagers between the ages of 11-16 years old.

In 2016, Darragh graduated from the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) with a Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy and he also completed a B.A. (Hons) Degree in Counselling & Psychotherapy in Munster Technological University (MTU). Darragh works both one to one with children and adolescents. Engagement with parents or carers is vital and this can be done via regular review meetings and by having parents or carers attend sessions with the young person. Darragh also works with adults on a one to one basis.

Darragh has completed extra training in the area of Theraplay, where he is qualified to use the basic techniques to assist in his practice. Darragh is also a Registered Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator, which is an attachment based parent reflection training course. Darragh runs this course in small groups or on a one-to-one basis with parents and carers.

Workshop Cost:

• Early Booking Rate for bookings before 31st March: €20
• Regular Rate for bookings from 1st April – 30th April 2023: €25
• Late Booking Rate for bookings after 30th April 2023: €30

This workshop will be delivered on Zoom and will last approx. 1 hour from 7-8pm