Traumatic events: Using play to manage the present and prepare for the future

Building on the neuroscientific assumption that play is an innate motivational circuit (Panksepp, 2009) and a fundamental tool for children's growth and well-being, this training presented by Isabella Cassina and Claudio Mochi introduces the application of the therapeutic powers of play (Schaefer & Drewes, 2014) in educational settings for managing highly stressful and potentially traumatic events for children.

Among the various reasons supporting play as a versatile and ideal tool for managing the present and preparing for possible future stressful experiences is the evidence that play represents a space and time that the child can control, and it is this feeling of control, rather than actual control, that is an essential element in the development of a positive mental health condition (Landreth, 1995).

Moments of free play as well as specific play activities appropriate to children's needs and age allow them to provide needed experiences in one or more areas of the brain allowing them to mitigate adverse circumstances such as extreme stress and trauma (Mochi & Cassina, 2021). Play facilitates communication, promotes emotional well-being, strengthens social relationships, and enhances individual skills while also providing opportunities to express and process strong emotions, actively recreate situations that have caused anxiety or trauma, transform them, and obtain relief from pain and tension.

Experiential training involves involving participants in creative, fun and introspective activities from the Play Therapy field with the aim of experiencing firsthand the "power of play" and expanding their awareness and knowledge of its potential for application in the educational context during traumatic events.

In collaboration with the Antenne Eventi Traumatogeni (Antennas for Trauma Events) of Italian-speaking Switzerland.