Pour exprimer ses émotions, l'enfant joue - Pause éducative - Sylvie d'Esclaibes

"When a child plays, they're not just doing nothing. They often reveal a great deal about themselves." What if, by observing the stories they invent, the characters they choose, and the sometimes repetitive gestures, we could decode a true emotional language? Play is much more than a simple pastime. It's a genuine language that allows children to express what they can't yet put into words. Emotions, whether joy, anger, or fear, are often expressed through the scenarios they invent and the roles they adopt. In this episode, Sylvie d'Esclaibes shares her observations on the role of play in understanding and supporting children's emotions. Whether it's separation scenarios, role-playing games where they become "the bad guy," frantic races, or a pillow fight, these moments hold incredible inner richness. Far from being insignificant, these rituals sometimes reveal what the child is going through or trying to understand, like "emotional processing." Why do some children reenact the same scene over and over again? How can we welcome these rituals without overinterpreting or stifling their creative flow? To support the child in their play: 1️⃣ Observe attentively and without judgment: which games are frequently repeated? What emotions seem to dominate in the enactments or repetitions? 2️⃣ Welcome their imagination: resist the temptation to "correct" or "frame" them unnecessarily. 3️⃣ Offer spaces for release: obstacle courses, chase games, laughter rituals. 4️⃣ Put words to what you perceive ("This doll looks very angry…"), without overinterpreting. Supporting the child in their play means offering them a safe space to explore, understand, and soothe their inner world. To delve deeper into the topic, Sylvie recommends two books: "Who Wants to Play with Me?" by Lawrence Cohen (preface by Isabelle Filliozat) "Developing the Parent-Child Bond Through Play" by Aletha Solter 🌟 Thank you for your continued support. Our work is entirely independent. If you enjoyed this episode, the best way to support us is to subscribe, leave a review and a 5-star rating on your favorite podcast platform, or share the podcast! You can also follow us on Instagram @lesadultesdedemain, LinkedIn @stephaniedesclaibes, or find video episodes on YouTube on the @lesadultesdedemain channel. To sponsor Les Adultes de Demain, click here: https://www.lesadultesdedemain.com/so... Les Adultes de Demain is the podcast that explores childhood, education, and parenting. Each week, diverse personalities share their expertise to reinvent childhood and adolescence together. Every other Tuesday, Sylvie d'Esclaibes, founder of a Montessori school, presents the "Educational Break" segment. Play • child's emotions • Montessori • parenting • emotional release • creativity • child development • education • symbolic play • motor skills • parent-child connection • positive pedagogy • growing up