One a Penny, Two a Penny (#10)
An update on my progress through the weeks
Hello again!
‘The mother is engaged with her newborn baby and dances their dance. Mother and baby then take turns to lead the dance, as they respond to each other in a playful way.’ (Jennings 2011, p. 134).
This piece from my first book on Neuro-Dramatic-Play is a good example of what I term ‘Performative Play’. This performative relationship is played out, especially during the first year of the infant, and is where there is total absorption and mutual affirmation. This is where, and how, we learn to be playful.
I realised this week, that this is also true of Andre Rieu and his performances with his Johann Strauss Orchestra. I went to his new film in the local cinema, just a few days ago and was struck how he induces playfulness in his audiences, (and in his musicians!). People get up to dance to the waltzes or play with a deluge of snow or confetti or balloons! Many don’t like his style and he has come in for heavy criticism from some classical musicians, BUT he attracts audiences of 12,000 plus and has received many awards. If you want to hear popular classics in a playful way, then go to a concert or watch YouTube or Sky Arts on Monday nights. You will finish with a smile and a feeling that maybe life can be light-hearted, for a while at least!
And I have an apology, saying in the last ‘One a Penny’ that Moose and Mouse and the Ducklings would be finished in the Substack episodes early this month! Well it won’t! Now that Mouse has started telling Moose about her own childhood trauma, we shall need several more instalments!
Seeing the fencing on the Paralympics reminded me of the days when I fenced and was even encouraged to go beyond foil combat and learn sabre. I had a retired cavalry officer as a fencing teacher. I was later teaching drama in a special school in St Albans, and we were having difficulties with aggressive teenagers, so I suggested to the head teacher that I could teach them simple sword fighting. He mumbled something about insurance, but essentially wasn’t going to stop me. I wrote to the manufacturers of fencing equipment, Leon Paul, and asked if they could help us with resources. What I call my ‘citizens of the future’ letter.
To my astonishment, a large parcel arrived after a couple of days with two masks, foils, jackets and gloves and a good luck letter. Of course it caused great excitement with the students (and some apprehension with the Head, and perhaps a tinge of envy from some staff), and I immediately insisted on very firm ground rules. No-one was allowed to touch a sword unless they were wearing a mask, otherwise they would be banned for life. I taught them very simple foil techniques and they showed extraordinary self-control.
A few days later I had a ‘phone call from the local library; several of the boys were there, studying a Hungarian fencing manual, as they wanted ‘to beat Miss at fencing’. And none of them were able to read! There will be more about the sword fighting in the next edition!
With love,
Dr Sue
News and Views:
There are still some new free resources for newly qualified arts and play therapists – if you live/work in Somerset or Devon and can fetch them from Wells: free puppets, toys and books for arts and play therapists, and others who work with children – please write in with your request: admin@ndpltd.org Perhaps you know of Somerset nurseries and infant schools who would like some additional resources?
Please get in touch if you would be interested in a daytime, monthly supervision group, probably on a Wednesday morning: online with Zoom.
We have two new webinars coming up soon: on Attachment (with included book) and Dramatic Play and Role Play (with included Role Play Cards). With tickets for just £35, including the resource, these are a real bargain!! See links below for more information.
The Wisdom of Clients
At the fertility clinic where I worked in a teaching hospital… a 10 year-old girl translating at her mother’s gynaecological examination:
‘Mummy can‘t make any babies, she has too much air in her stomach!’
Huge thanks to all you people who are paid subscribers of my Substack (members of ‘The Nest’) – it makes such a difference to enable me to write, instead of chasing other free-lance work. It is only £65 per year or £6 per month. As well as your own Newsletter every 10 days or so, you get 4 free webinars per year, and 10% reduction on any UK course. If you become a Founder Member then it is £120 per year, with all the above, and free consultations, and 6 free Webinars per year. Do join us!