Watch Me Play! (DAM001)

Unlock the power of child-led play and infant observation

Watch Me Play!

Course type: Masterclass

Fee: £45

Duration: 3 hours

Delivery: Online: self-study

Qualification: CPD certificate

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Explore the Watch Me Play! approach with our masterclass series, presented by Dr Jenifer Wakelyn. This accessible introduction is now available to watch on our video on demand platform, Vimeo.

Over three hour-long masterclasses, child and adolescent psychotherapist Dr Wakelyn presents the fundamentals of the Watch Me Play! method as well as its background in child development research and links to infant observation.

Aims and learning objectives

Helpful in a wide range of contexts, Watch Me Play! is a simple method for supporting babies, young children and their caregivers – promoting child-led play, individual attention from caregivers, and talking with children about their play in order to enhance relationships and create a better understanding of each child’s strengths and needs.

This masterclass series introduces the Watch Me Play! approach – summarising the method, exploring how to introduce the approach to caregivers and colleagues, and examining the research and principles which underpin its development and application. Over the course of each stand-alone masterclass, you will gain an understanding of how the approach might be used to help parents and caregivers support their child’s development through play.

Who is this course for?

This masterclass series will be of interest to anyone who is curious about the subject or is considering undertaking Watch Me Play! training.

In particular, these masterclasses are for you if you work with babies, young children and their families and wish to enhance your understanding or practice or are considering further training.

You may be working in:

a school, preschool or nursery
social services
healthcare
the voluntary sector
perinatal, infant or child mental health
or considering work with babies/young children in the future

Course details

The first masterclass (DAM001) introduces Watch Me Play! – outlining how practitioners can establish and model the approach and discussing a range of practical examples from mental health, social care and educational settings.

The second masterclass (DAM002) explores the child development research which supports the Watch Me Play! approach – including the benefits of child-led play, the nature and consequences of childhood adversities, and the need for flexible intervention.

The third masterclass (DAM003) examines the roots of the Watch Me Play! approach in infant observation, discussing the role and significance of ‘attention’ and the relevance of observation in perinatal, early years and social care practice.

These masterclasses originally took place live on Zoom between November 2020 and January 2021, but are now available to watch individually or as a bundle from our video on demand platform, Vimeo.

There are no requirements or assessment for this masterclass series, and there’s no assumption that you’ll have prior knowledge in this area.

Find out more about Watch Me Play!, training in this approach and download the free manual.

Testimonials

“I have really enjoyed the masterclasses for Watch Me Play! They are easily accessible and very well organised. This enables you to fully immerse yourself in the world of Watch Me Play! and to learn the different aspects of this intervention. I am certainly interested in using this approach in my work and am keen to learn more. I hope that there will be further masterclasses in the future.”

Masterclass attendee