Play Therapy
The Play and Early Intervention Team offer many different opportunities for children, families and communities to play: Play is a serious business and it’s a small investment now that will pay off in the future!
Without play your child is missing out on so many experiences and opportunities that not only help them learn, but also contribute to their happiness and wellbeing – now and into the future. Play doesn’t need to cost a lot, it doesn’t need lots of toys, equipment or high tech gadgets.
Contact us to find out how easy and valuable play can be. Find out more about the services we offer by clicking the links at the bottom of this page.
Play Therapy
Play Therapy is offered in one primary school per year. Children are referred by their class teacher, to help children with social, emotional and behavioural problems to help themselves. The Play Therapist works with individual children on a weekly basis using a mainly non-directive approach to help children:
- recover from and make sense of difficult and painful experiences
- express and explore difficult feelings
- achieve a more positive view of themselves and their own value
- improve relationships, behaviour and readiness to learn
- develop emotionally and socially
- improve communication skills and emotional literacy
For further information tel: 01563 576354 / 578124
Events
The Play and Parental Engagement Team regularly hold play events which take place in venues throughout East Ayrshire including:
- Grounds 4 Play - free outdoor events that allow children to learn and explore the world around them.
- Play-Times - indoor play events that include lots of fun activities for children aged 0-8 years. Please note there is a cost attached to this event
- Playday – running on the first Wednesday of August at the Kay Park is one of the biggest and best free play events in the country and maybe the world! It takes place every year in celebration of the child’s right to play (UNCRC).
All of our play events involve children and their parents/carers and supports family bonding, because at the end of the day, you’re never too old to play!
SHOUT card
The SHOUT discount card is for children from birth to 11 years old living, or attending primary school in East Ayrshire.
The discount card is to help improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people by ensuring that all children have the opportunity to access a wide range of activities, ensuring that cost is not a barrier.
SHOUT card benefits
The cards are free and the benefits include:
- discounted entry for various play, sport and leisure activities across East Ayrshire
- free SHOUT swimming during seasonal periods at Galleon Leisure Centre, Kilmarnock and Visions Leisure Centre, as well as the pools at Auchinleck, Doon Valley and Loudoun (where applicable)
- one off SHOUTcher special offers and deals
- continue to use your SHOUT card as a Library card across all East Ayrshire Library Services
Play @ Home
This is designed to provide parents and carers with activity ideas for playing with their child from the earliest days.
The programme:
- provides you with free information and guidance
- encourages children's enjoyment of physical activity and play from an early age
- encourages communication through talking and listening
- develops body awareness and promotes the development of physical movement, co-ordination and motor skills
- promotes the value of social interaction and stimulus so that children learn to interact socially and communicate
- promotes the value of physical touch and positive reassurance.
- provides you with a whole host of ideas on how to promote family play within the home
Befriending
Are you caring, reliable and flexible? Can you spare a few hours each week?
In return you will gain:
- comprehensive training
- ongoing support
- out-of-pocket expenses
- the satisfaction of making a difference to a young life
Young people
We offer a befriending for children and young people age 5-18 years old. Befrienders are volunteers who support befriendees to take part in positive social and recreational activities.
The outings include aspects of building trust, working towards intended outcomes and building confidence in the children and young people.
Danger Detectives
Danger Detectives is an experiential learning event that aims to reduce accidents amongst young people whilst building community resilience. It achieves this by creating a safe environment where young people can:
- become more aware of safety both indoors and outside
- learn how to react to dangerous situations
- know what roles the emergency services play
- make a contribution towards reducing both crime and accidents
The event is run by steering group led by the Play and Early Intervention team of Vibrant Communities in partnership with Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, Stagecoach, Ayrshire Roads Alliance, EAC Environmental Health and Trading Standards and the Dean Castle Countryside Ranger Service.
Pupils take part in a range of real life scenarios such as Internet Safety, Home Fire Safety, a Road Safety campaign, Hazard House, Safety when travelling on public transport, Countryside Safety and Flood Prevention set
Supporting Communities
Our aim is to support all groups and organisations to provide more and better play experiences for children. We do this in a variety of ways.
Training for parents and carers
We offer play and parenting workshops and events to increase knowledge and awareness of the value of play and to help build skills and confidence to take part in play. Contact us using the details below to find out more.
Play space toolkit
We have developed a step-by step toolkit, designed to inspire and support the communities of East Ayrshire to make the most of natural local play spaces. For your copy or for more information please contact us.
Play in Prisons
The Play and Early Intervention Team are represented on the Family Strategy Group within His Majesty's Prison (HMP) in Kilmarnock which helps to identify key areas of improvement and positive partnership opportunities in the delivery of services for the prisoner and their families. The team support and deliver family based initiatives within and outwith the prison through the following Big Lottery Funded projects.
Play and bonding sessions
Sessions allow standard and enhanced prisoners to spend quality play time with their family. The sessions use play as a medium to increase interaction and improve relationships between prisoners and their families. These informal, relaxed sessions provide free play activities for the prisoner to connect with their families.
Suporting Children & Vulnerable Families
We work with all three of the Children’s Houses across East Ayrshire to motivate and support children to take up sport, social or volunteering activities within the communities that they live in. The team supports children, young people and families to develop skills, confidence and increase involvement in community activities and clubs throughout East Ayrshire. They provide:
- direct support to children and young people within the Children's Houses, enabling them to attend community based activities.
- training and volunteering opportunities to encourage active citizenship and effective learning
- specific training and support to vulnerable families to build positive relationships, positive play, bonding and healthy lifestyle choices
Playday
Playday is the national day for play in the UK, a free day of activities for children and young people and traditionally held on the first Wednesday in August.
Playday theme
Playing is vital for children’s health, happiness, and creativity. Through play:
- children develop a sense of, and value for culture
- cultural exploration is encouraged, fostering an appreciation for diversity
- children work together, negotiate, and build relationships
- children feel connected to each other and their neighbourhoods
- children create and pass on games, songs and stories
Play is every child’s right – on Playday and every day.
