Building Connections with Kids Through Play: An Interview with Kim Feeney

When was the last time you had a dedicated playtime with your child? Life gets so busy so we can’t blame parents for not being able to squeeze this in-between school, dinnertime, sports or dance at the weekend but it is vital to a child’s development. Kim Feeney is the guest on this episode, she is a licensed independent social worker and a registered play therapist supervisor. I wanted to discuss playtime with her and how to build a connection with your child. 

The topics we cover in this episode are:

Why play matters so much?

The benefits of having a dedicated playtime with your kids

How to set up a dedicated playtime with your kids

Validating your child during playtime

The four crucial C’s; Connection, Capable, Count, Courage 

Modeling the courage to be imperfect

How can we build empathy with sibling relationships?

How Kim relaxes and recharges

About The Guest - Kim Feeney, LICSW

Kim Feeney is a licensed independent social worker and a registered play therapist supervisor in Davenport, IA. She has over ten years of experience helping children and families lead healthier emotional lives so that they can effectively cope with big emotions. Believing all behavior is purpose-driven, she works with parents and children to find alternative ways to meet social and behavioral needs.

Website - https://www.butterflybeginningscounseling.com

Instagram - www.instagram.com/butterflybegin

Facebook - www.facebook.com/butterflybeginningscounseling

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coachingcaregivers/

6 Ways Parents Can Help Their Kids Cope With Big Emotions: www.butterflybeginningscounseling.com/coping

Parenting class- Being With https://www.butterflybeginningscounseling.com/beingwith/

Book- Emily's Emotional Empathy. https://fanatic4feelings.myshopify.com/products/copy-of-emilys-emotional-empathy-softcover

About The Host - Janine Halloran

Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, an author, a speaker, an entrepreneur and a mom. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Janine has been working primarily with children and adolescents for over 15 years. She loves to create products and resources, so she started two businesses to support families and professionals who work with children and teens. ‘Coping Skills for Kids’ provides products and resources to help kids learn to cope with their feelings in safe and healthy ways. It’s the home of the popular Coping Cue Cards, decks of cards designed to help kids learn and use coping skills at home or at school. Janine’s second business ‘Encourage Play’ is dedicated to helping kids learn and practice social skills in the most natural way - through play! Encourage Play has free printables, as well as digital products focused on play and social skills.

Coping Skills for Kids - https://copingskillsforkids.com

Encourage Play - https://www.encourageplay.com

Interested in reading my books?

The Coping Skills for Kids Workbook - https://store.copingskillsforkids.com/collections/coping-skills-for-kids-workbook/products/coping-skills-for-kids-workbook-digital-version

Social Skills for Kids - https://store.copingskillsforkids.com/collections/encourage-play/products/social-skills-for-kids-workbook

Connect with Janine on Social Media

Instagram: @copingskillsforkids

Facebook: facebook.com/copingskillsforkids and facebook.com/encourageplay

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JanineHalloranEncouragePlay