Child and Family Psychologist, Family Works

"In my work as a Child and Family Psychologist at Family Works, I am fortunate to meet many of the children and families in our local community. I meet these children and families for a wide range of reasons, from them feeling really worried or sad, to having trouble with relationships, in their family or with their peers. Some simply need more skills in their ‘toolbox’ for dealing with life. I am confident that CPlay will help the children and families I meet to strengthen their relationships and to build their ‘toolbox’ of life-skills.

I believe that CPlay can become a fun place where families want to be, and that play, and all the benefits that go with it, will flow in our community.

A physical environment, such as CPlay, that allows children and adults to play together sets the stage for the building of strong and positive relationships. It allows children and adults to be together, to try out new ideas, to experience new feelings, to problem solve, and to gain a sense of mastery and control. They can develop language and social skills, develop feelings of confidence and self-worth. Through play, children, and adults, can build a store of shared positive experiences to draw upon when times get tough.

For many of the parents I work with, play feels really tough – like it doesn’t come naturally. Some parents feel that they just don’t know how to play. I believe that CPlay will motivate families to want to play and be an accessible place to do it; it will make play that bit easier and more natural.

I am very excited to support the building of the new CPlay playground."