Using attachment enhancing activities based on the principles of Theraplay® to improve adult-child relationships and reduce a child’s ‘overall stress’ as measured by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

ABSTRACT

The study investigated whether 10 minutes of attachment enhancing play delivered daily over 2 weeks could improve adult-child relationships and whether this bettered the way they functioned socially and emotionally. The attachment enhancing play was based on Theraplay® principles and utilized the 4 dimensions of ‘Structure, Engagement, Nurture, and Challenge’. The sample was of 5 different adult/child dyads in 5 different schools. All the children had identified Social, Emotional, Behavioural Difficulties and each adult led the attachment activities with the children they were supporting. Following the 2-week intervention there was a real change in each of the adult/child relationships. The Goodman’s SDQ and a Boxall Profile were completed, a month apart, before and after the intervention. The SDQ overall stress scores reduced for all the children and on average by 29%. The Boxall Profile showed improvement in scores that indicate that the children were more able to ‘accept constraints’ and ‘accommodate and respond constructively to others’. Pianta’s ‘Student-Teacher Relationship Scale’ results indicated an improvement in closeness and an even better reduction in conflict in the relationships. The activities were the only change to the children’s routine, so the inference is that the intervention created the conditions for change.

KEYWORDS:

• Attachment enhancing activities
• Theraplay®
• adult-child relationship
• secure base
• overall stress

Acknowledgments

Consultative support from, Fiona Peacock BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor, Certified Theraplay® Therapist, Trainer & Supervisor, Teaching Associate, Faculty of Education University of Cambridge.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan Salisbury

Susan Salisbury is the Head of Behaviour Outreach Support in Central Bedfordshire supporting schools  and providing training to help children maintain their mainstream school place by avoiding exclusion. She is also a tutor on the Social Emotional Behavioural Difficulties Association, Masters in Education course specialising in Social, Emotional Mental Health at Oxford Brookes University.