Best Relationship with your child DVD launch

This week we were lucky enough to be invited to an intimate workshop with Dr Margot Sunderland, Director of Education and Training at the Centre for Child Mental Health to help launch her three films in the Best Relationship with you Child DVD series. Dr Sunderland is a hugely respected child psychotherapist with over 30 years experience of working with children and families. Using the latest neuroscience research and illustrated throughout with wonderful footage of parent-child quality time, this new series of films has been created to help support parent-child relationships in amazing ways and being able to listen to Margot explain her ideas was a fantastic opportunity.
The event was held at the Centre of Child Mental Health in Islington (which is a beautifully decorated place by the way!) and when we arrived we were shown into an amazing room filled with huge inflated balls, dark tents, sand boxes and so much more. Bubba ran straight off to play whilst I listen to Margot explain some of the techniques that she speaks about in this series of films.

We discussed the importance of sensory and messy play as well as physical play and listening. The parts that I found most interested though was when she was speaking about how sometimes as parents we ask our children too many questions. I am the worst at this as when I am playing with Bubba I am asking asking ''Whats that?'', ''How fun is that?'' or ''Do you like that?''. I do it without even thinking and Margot explained that asking too many questions to a child who can't answer or process the answers that quick may actually cause more stress for them than good. She suggested that for every question we ask our child we should try to follow it with 4 comments or commentary. This gives the child time to digest the question and not get overwhelmed.

I also loved how she mentioned solitary play. I was a little worried that this event was going to focus on parent lead play and would brush lone play under the carpet but it didn't. Margot said that even though adult accompanied play is very important, solitary play is also important for a child's development, as it child to child play. I love that even though this event was focused on the adult to child play techniques, the others were mentioned.

The event was so insightful and I learnt so much more than I thought I was going to. Bubba had so much fun playing with all of the different toys and areas that had been set up and we even managed to get quite a bit of it on camera so I hope you enjoy :)


This series of DVDs cover's play techniques for babies all the way up to children of 12 years old so it's never too late to give them a watch and learn some new skills. If you want to get your hands on these DVDs then click here to get yours now!