Using play to express emotions, fear, anxiety or to copy behaviour

Chwarae i fynegi emosiwn, ofn, gorbryder neu gopïo ymddygiad maen nhw wedi’i weld

Babies holding books and wearing glasses

Children can express their feelings through their behaviour and in their play. They use a variety of communication methods to convey meaning and expression. This can vary from using the whole body and moving in a specific way or using the face.

Expressing emotion

Children learn and develop naturally through play, and it provides a good opportunity to express feelings and practice how to manage those feelings. When taking part in role play activities, children can see themselves from a different perspective. They may imitate their daily personal experiences, such as going to school, having breakfast or going shopping. Some events may have caused concern to some children and this allows them to consider their emotions. This could include being bullied at school or suffering abuse at home and they can use play as a therapeutic element in order to deal with their emotions. They will also be able to discover and explore the emotions of the other children they play with. Children occasionally play in an energetic manner as they do not have the words to describe their feelings. The children will be able to release their emotions outdoors by running, jumping, rolling on the grass. They may take part in dancing activities and sing songs such as 'If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands'.

Expressing fear and anxiety

The children form an attachment with their main carer and being separated from the carer can cause fear and concern. However, if the attachment formed with the main carer is strong, the child is more likely to deal with this in a positive manner. They will trust their carer/carers to protect them in a situation where they feel uncertain.

A child may feel scared and concerned about going to the dentist or hospital for the first time. Children can be prepared for such situations by considering them as a part of their play. Children will need an opportunity to use their imagination and to express themselves through play so that they are able to express their feelings. Specific areas can be provided for role play so that the child can familiarise themselves with the situation. Books are also a good way as they show images and explanations of what will happen in specific places.

In the same way, children can feel scared and concerned when they start school for the first time, or when they move from primary school to secondary school. They can also express their feelings through role play using a school setting, painting a picture of themselves in the new school uniform, inviting a friend over to play, or taking part in activities similar to those that they will be undertaking in school. This will all help the child to relax and make the process easier.

Copying behaviour

When playing, we often see that children imitate other people, such as a teacher, friend, member of the family/carer or personal hero. This can be both positive and negative and it is therefore essential that adults provide positive role models for the children. The child will watch others carefully and will use play to imitate what they see.

If the mother works as a nurse and the father is a carpenter, then the child will often want to wear the same, use the same tools and imitate their parents/carers when playing. The children will then be able to create their play depending on the occupation of their parents/carers or will pretend to be teachers in a school situation.

Young children often like to copy activities from the home e.g. brushing the floor, washing dishes and cleaning. Resources can be provided to do so that are suitable for their age and development stage. This will build the child's confidence as they will know how to use the equipment and create a realistic situation.

Unfortunately, children can also copy bad behaviour when playing and it is important to intervene and to teach them the difference between right and wrong.

Children make sense of the world around them by imitating situations that they see. This will allow them to experience situations for themselves when playing, before they actually happen.

Gall blant fynegi eu teimladau trwy eu hymddygiad a thrwy chwarae. Maent yn defnyddio amrywiaeth o dulliau cyfathrebu i gyfleu ystyr a mynegiant. Gall hyn amrywio o ddefnyddio’r corff cyfan gan symud mewn ffordd benodol neu ddefnyddio’r wyneb.

Mynegi emosiwn

Mae plant yn dysgu a datblygu yn naturiol trwy chwarae ac mae’n gyfle da i fynegi teimladau ac ymarfer sut i’w rheoli. Wrth ymgymryd â gweithgareddau chwarae rôl gall blant weld eu hunain o bersbectif gwahanol. Efallai byddant yn dynwared profiadau personol bob dydd megis, mynd i’r ysgol, cael brecwast neu fynd i siopa. Efallai bydd ambell ddigwyddiad wedi peri gofid i rai plant sydd yn caniatáu iddynt ystyried eu hemosiynau. Gallai hyn gynnwys cael eu bwlio yn yr ysgol neu wynebu trais yn y cartref a gallant ddefnyddio’r chwarae fel elfen therapiwtig i ddelio gyda’u hemosiynau. Byddant hefyd yn medru darganfod ac archwilio emosiynau eraill sydd yn eu cwmni chwarae. Gwelir fod plant weithiau yn chwarae yn egnïol gan nad oes ganddynt eiriau i ddisgrifio eu teimladau. Bydd plant yn medru cael gwared â’u hemosiynau yn yr awyr agored wrth redeg, neidio, rolio ar y borfa. Gellir cymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau dawnsio a chanu caneuon megis ‘Os wyt ti’n hapus gad i’m wybod trwy roi clap’.

Mynegi ofn a gorbryder

Mae plant yn ffurfio ymlyniad gyda’u prif ofalwr ac mae cael eu gwahanu oddi wrth y gofalwr yn medru achosi ofn a phryder. Fodd bynnag , os yw’r ymlyniad sydd wedi ffurfio gyda’r prif ofalwr yn gadarn bydd y plentyn yn fwy tebygol o ddelio gyda hyn mewn ffordd bositif. Byddant yn ymddiried yn eu gofalwr/gofalwyr i’w diogelu mewn sefyllfa ble maent yn teimlo’n ansicr.

Efallai bydd plentyn yn teimlo’n ofnus ac yn pryderu am fynd at y deintydd neu i’r ysbyty am y tro cyntaf. Gellir paratoi plant ar gyfer sefyllfaoedd o’r fath trwy ystyried hyn yn ei chwarae. Bydd angen cyfle ar blant i ddefnyddio eu dychymyg ac i fynegi eu hunain wrth chwarae fel eu bod yn medru mynegi eu teimladau. Gellir darparu ardaloedd penodol wrth chwarae rôl er mwyn ymgyfarwyddo’r plentyn â’r sefyllfa. Mae llyfrau hefyd yn ffordd dda gan ddangos delweddau ac esboniadau o’r hyn fydd yn digwydd mewn mannau penodol.

Yn yr un modd, gall blant deimlo’n ofnus a phryderus wrth ddechrau’r ysgol am y tro cyntaf, neu symud o’r ysgol gynradd i’r ysgol uwchradd. Gallant hefyd fynegi eu teimladau wrth chwarae rôl ysgol, peintio llun o’i hunan yn y wisg ysgol newydd, gwahodd ffrind draw i chwarae, neu gymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau a fydd yn debyg i’r rhai yn yr ysgol. Bydd hyn oll yn ymlacio’r plentyn gan wneud y broses yn haws.

Copïo ymddygiad

Wrth chwarae gwelir yn aml fod plant yn dynwared eraill, megis athro, ffrind, aelod o’r teulu/gofalwyr neu arwr personol. Gall hyn fod yn bositif neu’n negyddol ac felly mae’n hollbwysig bod oedolion yn arddangos model rôl dda gyda’r plant. Bydd plentyn yn gwylio eraill yn ofalus ac yn defnyddio chwarae i ddynwared yr hyn maent yn gweld.

Os yw’r fam yn gweithio fel nyrs a’r tad yn saer yna bydd y plentyn yn aml am wisgo, defnyddio'r un offer a dynwared y rhieni/gofalwyr wrth chwarae. Bydd plant wedyn yn gallu creu eu chwarae yn dibynnu ar swyddi eu rhieni/gofalwyr neu gymryd arnynt fod yn athrawon mewn sefyllfa ysgol.

Mae plant bach yn aml yn hoffi copïo gweithgareddau yn y tŷ, e.e. brwsio’r llawr, golchi llestri a glanhau. Mae modd rhoi adnoddau iddynt wneud hyn sydd yn addas ar gyfer eu hoed a’u cam datblygiad. Bydd hyn yn adeiladu hyder y plentyn gan y bydd yn gwybod sut i drin offer a chreu sefyllfa realistig.

Yn anffodus gall blant hefyd gopïo ymddygiad gwael yn eu chwarae ac mae’n bwysig ymyrryd gan ddysgu iddynt y gwahaniaeth rhwng da a drwg.

Mae plant yn gwneud synnwyr o’r byd o’u hamgylch drwy ddynwared sefyllfaoedd maent yn gweld. Bydd hyn yn caniatáu iddynt brofi sefyllfa eu hunain wrth chwarae, cyn iddo ddigwydd.

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Using play to express emotions, fear, anxiety or to copy behaviour

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Chwarae i fynegi emosiwn, ofn, gorbryder neu gopïo ymddygiad maen nhw wedi’i weld

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