Learn to Play uses the overarching theories of Play Therapy, including Axline’s principles of universal positive regard (UPR) for the child, developing a therapeutic relationship, and creating a safe and permissive environment. It works within the child’s zone of proximal development, scaffolding them to build upon their existing skills. There is a sequence of development of each skill, built upon through the principles of meeting the child where they are at, modelling and tracking play, repetition of activities with variation, and enabling the child to lead play as they are able. In time, your child will transfer these skills into other play situations.

The Learn to Pay program can benefit a range of children including:
-  Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Expressive and Receptive Language delays
- social anxiety or lack of social awareness
- are highly anxious in social situations
- want to sociall interact with others but do not yet have the skills
- interfere or destruct play scenes of siblings or peers
- have poor narrative language and understanding

Learn to Play can help your child prepare for a positive start to schooling and support many NDIS goals involving play skills, emotional regulation, language skills and communication skills d 

Shannon is a certified Learn to Play therapist and will help you decide in the initial parent intake meeting to see if Learn to Play could benefit your child.
In some cases, pretend play skills must be developed to participate in Humanistic Play Therapy as a level of play is required. Your therapist will discuss this with you if needed.