Canopy Children's Therapy Geelong

✨ The magic happens behind this door.

But it isn’t just magic.

It’s neuroscience.
It’s child development.
It’s therapeutic relationship.
It’s carefully considered play.

Behind this door…

🧠 Brains are developing.
💬 Communication is happening.
🤝 Relationships are being built.
🎭 Experiences are being explored.
🌱 New skills are being practised.
❤️ Safety and trust are being experienced.

Blocks become buildings, puppets have parts,
Slime gets squished and drawings become art.
Games are invented, little worlds come alive,
And through every kind of play, children explore and thrive.

A child may think they’re just playing.

And that’s the point.

Play is the language of childhood.

The magic is that play can do what words sometimes can’t.

🌿 Under our canopy, every child can thrive.

Today is International Day of Play, a day established by the United Nations to recognise every child's right to play.

Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that all children have the right to rest, leisure and PLAY 🥰

Why is play considered so important?
Because decades of research have shown that play is not simply a way for children to pass the time. Through play, children learn, connect, create, problem-solve, develop relationships, express emotions and make sense of their experiences.

Play supports social, emotional, cognitive and physical development. It helps children build confidence, resilience, communication skills and emotional understanding.

Yet opportunities for free, child-led play are becoming increasingly limited. Busy schedules, growing screen use and reduced access to safe play spaces mean many children have less time for the kind of play that research tells us is so important.

While today focuses on children, play remains important throughout life.

For children, play might look like cubby building, imaginative adventures, climbing trees or getting muddy.

For teenagers, it may be sport, music, gaming, creativity or spending time with friends.

For adults, play might be gardening, making art, exploring nature, playing games, learning new skills or simply sharing moments of joy and connection with others.

Play looks different for each of us, but its value remains the same.

Today is a reminder to protect children's opportunities to play, and perhaps to make a little space for play in our own lives too.

What does play look like for you?

Hi, I’m Kierra
Master’s qualified Registered Play Therapist and principal therapist at Canopy Children’s Therapy.

I’m passionate about creating a safe, supportive space where children feel understood and can build confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of self.

Through play therapy, I support children to express themselves, work through their feelings and experiences, and develop the skills they need to navigate big emotions. Play offers a natural and safe way for children to explore what’s going on for them, especially when words are hard to find.

I’ve recently moved into a new space in Newtown, Geelong, which means I now have the capacity to welcome new clients and referrals.

I work with private clients, as well as NDIS self-managed and plan-managed participants, and no referral is needed.

If you’ve been thinking about support for your child, please feel free to reach out 💜

Ps: Thanks to the wonderful for my cute illustration 🫶