Anya uses Play to help children heal
themselves online and in Bengaluru, India.
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Whoever wants to understand much must play much.”
In the Press
Fostering Mental Health Awareness in Children
Written by Yashaswini Krishna
Published by NewsTrail in Doha on May 16, 2024
Written by Esha Lohia with quotes from Anya Reddy
Published by Deccan Chronicle on 22 Feb 2024
Written by Vishalakshi M. with quotes from Anya Reddy
Published by Happiest Health on 29 Nov 2023
It is rare to see members of a family get together to play games, be it indoors or outdoors. Till a couple of decades or so ago, it was common for family members — parents and children bridging the generation divide — to huddle in the evenings for a game of badminton or basketball outdoors and carrom or the like indoors.
“During my childhood, my dad, brother and I, along with some cousins, used to play badminton every evening,” says Priya Deleep, an IT professional from Bangalore. “Sometimes, we also played chess. Besides being fun, it also helped with family bonding and fitness. But now, giving the same amount of time to play with my children is difficult.”
Reasons for decline in family games
Time crunch is cited as the biggest reason for it. However, the idea of games or play itself has transformed significantly in the past few years. Children, or the younger lot, prefer digital recreational activities, while the older members of the family opt for physical sports. This divergence might be the reason for family games becoming rare, despite their apparent and widely accepted benefits.
Play is very important in a child’s life. From playing with soft toys alongside parents and getting soiled in the sand pit to basketball, football, etc., with friends — the type of game and the preferred company change with time. “My child, who is 14 now, is more comfortable playing with her teenage friends,” says Reethu Chandy from Bangalore. “The company she wants is different now. But earlier, she wanted me to be with her.”
The advancement and gradual infusion of technology into the lives of children and adolescents has led to mobile phones and video games taking precedence over interaction with family members. Also, most children today prefer to play outdoor games with friends who fall into the same age group. This is, no doubt, important to build social skills and friendships. However, playing games with kin is also important, for they help build family ties.
Types of family games to play
Indoor family games such as board games or card games help develop problem-solving and cognitive skills. Outdoor activities such as singles or doubles badminton or even a walk in the neighborhood parks increase physical fitness along with family bonding.
If elder members of the family pay attention to fitness and actively participate in physical activities, it can have a positive impact on the child as well.
Benefits of playing family games
Home is where you find people of different ages, probably even two or three generations, living together. And playing engages the members on multiple levels.
“We have a self-driven motivation to play together,” says 24-year-old Ananya Rajaram, a quality assurance executive from Bangalore. “Everyone in the family sits together at the table to play business, chess or carrom on holidays and weekends. Many a times, discussions would start during a game, and we get so immersed that we forget the game itself. It acts as a conversation starter, helps us understand each other better and the quality time spent together always brings joy.”
Spending time with each other by playing games can change the family dynamics in the following ways:
• Strengthens family unity
Playing family games imbibes teamwork and unity among the family members. “Playing as a family strengthens the bond by creating shared experiences and memories,” says Anya Reddy, a play therapist from Bangalore. “It promotes a sense of unity, fosters communication and builds a foundation of trust and understanding. It provides an opportunity for relaxation and stress relief, enhancing overall family well-being.”
• Causes the secretion of feel-good hormones
Many of the feel-good hormones are secreted while playing. “Shared play through collaborative [family] games stimulates oxytocin release, which promotes feelings of attachment, trust and intimacy, fostering a stronger emotional bond between family members,” says Reddy.
“The playful and enjoyable experiences activate the release of dopamine, which reinforces positive behavior and creates a sense of enjoyment, making family interactions more rewarding,” she adds. “The endorphins secreted contribute to a sense of well-being, and engaging in collaborative, enjoyable activities as a family can increase serotonin levels, which contributes to improved mood and emotional balance, creating a positive atmosphere for communication and connection.”
Playing family games also helps regulate stress hormone (cortisol) levels, reducing stress. If left unchecked, it can result in weight gain and several other health issues. “These neurochemical responses to shared play enhance joy and satisfaction associated with family interactions and create a neurobiological foundation for strengthened emotional bonds,” explains Reddy.
• Bridges generation gaps
It is not always the case that one will have fun only while playing in the same age group.
“While age-appropriate activities are essential, intergenerational play has its benefits,” shares Reddy. “It allows for the exchange of skills, knowledge and perspectives between different age groups. Playing together can bridge generation gaps, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect within the family.”
“Games provide a purpose and a feeling of belonging, which brings us closer,” adds Rajaram.
• Creates better understanding between family members
With age differences and living in a fast-evolving world, understanding each other’s point of view is getting increasingly tough. “Engaging in play allows parents and children to see each other in different roles and contexts,” says Reddy. “It provides insight into individual personalities, preferences and strengths. Through play, parents can better understand their children’s thought processes, while children gain a deeper appreciation for their parents’ perspectives. This mutual understanding contributes to a more harmonious family dynamic.”
• Positively impacts child development
Family play has a positive impact on child development as it enhances their cognitive, social and emotional skills. “It also teaches important values like teamwork, communication and sportsmanship. Additionally, the emotional support gained through family play contributes to a child’s overall well-being and self-esteem, laying the foundation for healthy growth and development,” explains Reddy.
• Regularizing family play is vital
Most children get enrolled to play sports in schools or colleges, while the elders in the family take up physical activities (like walking and running) or hit the gym to keep fit. One should not let that get in the way of family time and play. “The frequency of family playtime can vary based on individual schedules and preferences. However, regular engagement is key to building and maintaining a healthy family relationship. Aim for a balance that fits your family’s routine, ensuring that playtime becomes a consistent and anticipated part of your collective experience,” advises Reddy.
Takeaways
• Playing family games ensures a strong bond and healthy relationship with family members.
• Family games to play include indoor games such as card games or board games and outdoor activities such as badminton, evening walks in the park or even running or cycling.
• Playing together with family members bridges generation gaps, ensures unity within the family and promotes better development of the child and the overall fitness of all the members.
Written by Athul Krishna with quotes from Anya Reddy
Published by Happiest Health on 15 Sept 2023
It is indeed fascinating to observe how newborns stop crying when their parents gently caress them, making one wonder whether parental touch can ease pain in children. Whether it’s the pain of a heel prick, the sting of a vaccination or the ache from a fall, a parent’s gentle embrace has the magical ability to calm the baby down. However, it’s not just magic, say experts, explaining the various psychological and physiological mechanisms involved in parental touch.
Parental touch and pain relief
Regardless of whether a newborn is pre-term, full-term or post-term, they perceive pain and respond to it in the same way that adults do. And much like adults, many pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods are employed to either avoid or lessen several forms of pain in children.
“One of the non-pharmacological methods used to alleviate pain in newborns is touch,” says Dr Bharath N, junior consultant, neonatology, DHEE Hospitals, Bangalore. “Touch therapy is associated with reduced pain response in neonates [newborns] as it stabilizes their heart rate and respiration. In addition, it also reduces crying time, leading to improved sleep duration and reduced adverse consequences, both immediate and long-term.”
Dr Bharath explains how certain neurotransmitters (bodily chemicals) play a crucial role in reducing pain response in newborns through skin-to-skin touch. “Skin-to-skin touch or physical contact with parents increases endorphin and serotonin levels in infants, which are neurotransmitters that play a significant role in the regulation of pain perception,” he adds.
Another form of touch — baby massages — help manage pain by regulating stress, which reduces the levels of hormones such as norepinephrine, epinephrine and urinary cortisol.
Psychology behind parental touch and pain relief
Parental touch can act as a means of diversion. A parent’s touch can provide reassurance to the child and help divert their attention away from the pain. This, in turn, lessens how intense they perceive the pain to be.
“A child’s mental well-being is greatly influenced by parental touch since it promotes a secure attachment and gives them a sense of security and comfort,” says Anya Reddy, a play therapist from Bangalore. “This emotional safety may have a direct effect on pain control. In general, children who have a strong attachment to their parents tend to be less anxious and distressed. When a kid feels emotionally connected to their parents, they can be relied upon to comfort and support them in difficult circumstances. Parental touch teaches kids how to regulate their emotions and can provide them with better coping mechanisms.”
Children who turn to their parents for support are more likely to be able to handle themselves during distressing situations.
When is parental touch effective?
Since younger children (infants and toddlers) are more dependent on their caregivers for emotional control and comfort compared to older ones, parental touch has a greater impact on them in reducing pain.
“Children may diversify their coping techniques as they get older and become more independent. As a result, the effect of parental touch on pain reduction can become less evident,” says Reddy.
Even though there is a common notion that pre-term babies cannot perceive pain, Dr Bharath asserts that it is not true.
“Since preterm babies spend more time outside the womb, they are more likely to be exposed to painful procedures. They respond to touch in an equivalent way to full-term infants,” he adds.
How to ease an infant’s pain through touch
Skin-to-skin contact is seen to be beneficial in routine baby care procedures like measuring weight, changing diapers and recording vitals, along with vitamin K injections and heel pricks. Other methods like hand swaddling, facilitated tucking, etc. can also help manage pain in infants, say experts.
Sometimes, combining other methods with skin-to-skin touch can show improved results. “These techniques include letting the infant nurse on the mother’s breast during painful procedures, swaddling, providing oral sucrose [a mild analgesic used to reduce short-term pain and discomfort during simple procedures], etc.,” adds Dr Bharath.
Takeaways
• One of the non-pharmacological approaches for neonatal pain management is parental touch. It raises the level of neurotransmitters (like endorphin and serotonin) in infants that help regulate pain perception.
• Through regulating stress levels, baby massages also help manage pain in infants by lowering the levels of hormones like norepinephrine, epinephrine, and urinary cortisol.
• Parental touch also ensures the emotional safety of children, providing them with better coping mechanisms to manage pain.
• Parental touch has a greater impact on pain reduction among infants and toddlers compared to older children, as they depend more on their caregivers for emotional control and comfort.
LonePack Conversations, Spotify: May, 2021
“When asked to think about the significance of playing, we probably think of it as a way to help us with creative thinking, expelling our energy and social interaction. Let’s dig a little deeper on that thought today as we talk about Play Therapy. Welcome to LonePack Conversations!
In this episode, we talk to child and adolescent psychologist, Anya Reddy, on the impact of Therapeutic Play.”
I invite you to listen to my informal, impromptu chat about Play Therapy with Valerie from LonePack. The episode is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and SoundCloud, and the transcript here. As always, I would love to hear your thoughts!
Mount Carmel College Autonomous, Bengaluru: November, 2020
An introduction to Play Therapy — its application, origin, theory and neurobiology with examples — for the Department of Human Development at Mount Carmel College, Bangalore on ‘Therapeutic Intervention through Play!’
MiniRoo: August, 2020
Aditi and I discuss Play Therapy and dealing with anxiety in children.
Indigrow: July, 2020
Akhila and I chat about all things Play!
Written by Gokul M. G.
Published by Deccan Chronicle on 11 July 2020
Biggest thank you to Apsara Reddy for this feature!