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February marks Children’s Mental Health Month

February marks Children’s Mental Health Month, a time to shine a light on the unique challenges children face and explore meaningful ways to support their emotional well-being. At With Kids, we understand that in today’s fast-paced, digital-first world, children are navigating pressures that can leave lasting impacts on their mental health—from academic stress and social media comparison to struggles with socialisation and family stress. 

February marks Children’s Mental Health Month Throughout this month, we’ll be highlighting the transformative power of play therapy as a tool to address these challenges, offering insight into how positive play can foster resilience, build confidence, and enhance emotional health. Through a series of articles, we will dive into key issues experienced by children, such as anxiety, digital dependency, and social struggles, while providing practical tools and techniques for parents, teachers, and caregivers to create supportive environments where children can thrive.

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Children’s Mental Health and the Transformative Power of Play Therapy

This month, we’re delving deeper into the key mental health challenges faced by children in today’s complex world. From the rise of digital dependency to the pressures of academic achievement, we aim to shed light on how these issues affect young minds and offer practical ways to support them. Here’s a preview of the areas we’ll explore:

  1. Nomophobia and Digital Dependency: With smartphones and tablets becoming a staple in daily life, many children are developing an unhealthy reliance on their devices. We’ll explore the anxiety and isolation that come with being disconnected, and how this dependency affects sleep, focus, and emotional regulation.
  2. The Impact of Social Media: Social media can foster connection but often comes with downsides like unrealistic comparisons, cyberbullying, and a pressure for validation. We’ll examine how this environment affects self-esteem and what can be done to help children navigate it.
  3. Anxiety: There are many difficulties that today’s children face. In particular, we’ve noticed an increase in children reportedly feeling higher levels of anxiety or worries – and this is having a significant impact on their daily lives at home and in school. We’ll dive into these impacts and explore some strategies for tackling anxiety through play.
  4. Challenges with Socialising: In a digital age, face-to-face interaction can feel daunting for some children. We’ll highlight the importance of building real-world social skills and provide tools to help children foster friendships and manage conflicts.
  5. Family and Environmental Stress: From financial instability to exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) like trauma or loss, family dynamics play a pivotal role in a child’s mental health. We’ll explore how these factors shape behaviour and academic performance and offer guidance for creating supportive environments.

Play therapy plays a transformative role in addressing the diverse mental health challenges faced by children, nurturing resilience, emotional health, and a strong sense of self. 

Through play, children can learn to identify and regulate their emotions. Play therapy can also support children in fostering greater self-awareness and equipping them with tools to manage stress effectively. In a therapeutic play setting, children practice social interactions and problem-solving, building confidence and improving relationships at school and home. By offering an engaging alternative to screen time, play therapy reduces digital dependency, encouraging hands-on, imaginative activities that enhance focus, creativity, and patience. 

For children grappling with anxiety, trauma, or the stresses of modern life, play therapy provides a safe and supportive space to express their fears and process difficult experiences at their own pace under the guidance of a trained therapist. Ultimately, it empowers children to tackle challenges, recover from setbacks, and build the resilience they need to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

Together, we can create a brighter future for every child. If you’d like to learn more about our services, get involved, or support our mission, please reach out. Let’s empower children to grow, learn, and thrive—one play session at a time.

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With Kids Named as Thorntons Solicitors Glasgow’s Charity Partner for the Year

With Kids has been chosen as the official charity partner of Thorntons Solicitors Glasgow’s office. 

The partnership is a testament to both organisations’ shared commitment to supporting children and their families across Scotland. Together, we aim to make a lasting impact by raising vital funds to help young people overcome challenges, build resilience, and thrive in their communities.

A Shared Vision of Supporting Communities

Thorntons has a long-standing tradition of giving back to the communities it serves. As one of Scotland’s leading full service and independent law firms, it embodies a strong ethos of corporate social responsibility (CSR), with a particular focus on empowering young people, supporting health initiatives, and fostering positive community development.

For With Kids, this partnership offers an incredible opportunity to align our mission with Thorntons’ social vision and together, we will be improving the lives of hundreds of children across the country. By working collaboratively we will bring attention to the importance of early intervention and play therapy for children to build resilience. 

Thorntons Glasgow’s support of our organisation reinforces the importance of investing in Scotland’s next generation. The funds raised over the year will directly contribute to providing Play Therapy and family support services, giving children the tools they need to grow with confidence and thrive in their communities.

What’s Ahead: A Year of Fundraising and Collaboration

The partnership will see the Thorntons’ Glasgow team participate in a variety of fundraising events throughout the year. From bake sales and sponsored challenges to corporate donations and volunteering opportunities, 2025 promises to be an inspiring journey of collaboration.

Thorntons’ focus on collaboration and teamwork aligns perfectly with our relationship-based approach to creating lasting change in young lives. Every pound raised will directly fund play therapy programmes that help children process challenging emotions, develop resilience, and build confidence within their families, schools, and communities.

Commitment to a Better Future

Thorntons’ relationship with organisations such as Cash for Kids, CHAS, and various community trusts underlines its dedication to long-term partnerships. With Kids is proud to join this list of supported organisations, and we look forward to working together to help children and families across Scotland.

The Power of Partnerships

This partnership is an opportunity to create meaningful change. We are excited to see what this year brings and are deeply grateful to Thorntons’ Glasgow for choosing With Kids as its charity partner. With its support, we can continue to provide life-changing services to children and families ensuring they have the brightest possible start in life.