The Blog
This is to be a place to share my thoughts on parenting and playing … through my lens of being a mom that is also a therapist who specializes in children. I want it to not only share the fun things we do, play, and create … but also WHY those things are SO important.
I post on the games we play, the places we go, our favorite toys, and the things we create together and for each other. It is also a place for me to advocate for children and the importance of play, as well as sharing ways parents and teachers can strengthen relationships with the children in their lives.
About Me
My name is Laura Hutchison.
I have been a practicing therapist since 1999 and obtained my doctorate in psychology (PsyD) in 2005 from The Center of Humanistic Studies (now called the Michigan School for Professional Psychology). I have additional training from the Association for Play Therapy. Play Therapy, in case you don’t know, uses play as a therapeutic tool to help clients/patients communicate and heal. Currently I work part-time in my private practice while I am a full-time mom!
My husband, HutcH, and I have been married since October of 2000. We have two kids … a son, Henry, born in March of 2006 … and a daughter, Honor, born in May of 2009.
I in NO WAY pretend to have all the answers! My life/kids/family/house is FAR from perfect. I may have some experience and education working with children, but … as a parent … I’m mostly flying by the seat of my pants like the rest of you!!!
You can contact me by leaving a comment here or on Facebook … or shoot me an email at playdr@gmail.com. And for more about my private practice you can check out my professional webpage.
Laura Hutchison
Latest posts by Laura Hutchison (see all)
- Hacked By GeNErAL - August 21, 2015
- ABCs of Easy Crafts for Kids - August 14, 2015
- What is Learned through PLAY - August 12, 2015
- ABCs of Playground Parkbench - August 7, 2015
- ABCs of Encourage Play - July 31, 2015
Hi! I just received your comment on my site and left you a note back. I was excited to come visit yours and am so glad that I did. I am always looking for other moms who enjoy spending as much quality time with their children as I do! I love new ideas and ways to make memories. The days are long but the years are short, right? Only some days, maybe! 🙂 Take care! I look forward to getting to know you better!
p.s. are you on twitter?
I’m not on Twitter. Just the blog, FB, and Pinterest. Thanks so much for visiting!
Great blog!! How does one get involved in the pinterest kids activities & crafts circle?
I just found your blog and look forward to following. I have 3 kids and we too are very play/interest/joy oriented. I hope we can share great ideas!
Amy
So glad you found it! Thanks for commenting!
hey! i am wondering if i can contribute to the kid blogger activity site you post to? your name came up first, so i thought you might be the owner? thanks!
Hi there! I have the same question as Amy. I love the network you’ve created for kid craft bloggers. I’ve found so many awesome ideas on there. I would love to be able to contribute to your board! 🙂 Here is my pinterest profile: http://pinterest.com/rlinda19/
Thank you so much!!
Linda
littlefamilyfun.com
Love your blog! Would love to be a contributor to your Kid Blogger Network Activities & Crafts Pinterest board! I’m {Lisa Nolan @ Mom-on-a-Budget} at http://pinterest.com/lnmontessori/ Thank you!
Thanks for responding! I joined the KBN group on FB! Love it! I’m at http://www.facebook.com/LisaLNolan (not sure if it shows which FB groups I’m in or not). Hoping you can now add me to Kid Blogger Network Activities & Crafts Pinterest board! I’m {Lisa Nolan @ Mom-on-a-Budget} at http://pinterest.com/lnmontessori/ Thank you!
Hi! I came across your blog and I love your ideas! I am a current behavior analyst and focus on incorporating learning via play. I am acquiring my Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and intend to continue my career focusing on the benefits of play. I also have a toddler 🙂 Thank you for sharing!!!!
Hi there! I just stumbled upon your blog and felt compelled to introduce myself. We seem to have quite a bit in common…for one thing, I too live in No. Va. and I am an art therapist with two kiddos (not quite so little anymore–10 and 13), and I have taken my background as a therapist and turned it into a developmentally appropriate art program for parents and their toddlers/preschoolers. I have also recently started blogging about it, so feel free to drop by, as you may find some of my ideas and musings relevant to your home life AND your play therapy practice. We might even be able to refer little people to each other, depending where you are located! I hold my classes in Herndon, Alexandria, and Falls Church.
Hi, Julie! Thanks for stopping by. It does seem that we have a lot in common. However, I don’t live in VA … I live in Michigan. I’m looking forward to checking out your blog.
I got confused…it was the woman featured on the ABC’s page that said she was from Northern Virginia. Oh well. Anyway, glad I found your blog and to see the good stuff you are doing! 🙂
Hi Laura!
Several of my mommy blogger friends contribute to your Kid’s blogger network activities board on Pinterest. I have really enjoyed following it the past several months and would love an opportunity to share some crafts and kid inspiration as well. Could you send me an invite? My pinterest name is http://www.pinterest.com/alicanwrite. Thanks so much for all your great ideas and for starting this fun board!
Alison Wood recently posted…Quick and Easy Meals Round-up!
Hi Laura! Love the site, and craft ideas!!
I have a home and family blog called wellnourishednest.com. I would love to be added to the Kid Blogger Network Activities and Crafts Board on Pinterest! I am on Pinterest as Well Nourished Nest. Thanks for considering me!
Hi, my name is Laura and I work with Fox Chapel Publishing, a craft and woodworking book publisher based in East Petersburg, Pennsylvania (www.foxchapelpublishing.com). We are publishing a book on crafts inspired by the game Minecraft and are including an inspiration gallery in the book full of ideas for parties, baking, decoration, and other cool things you can make and do with ideas and images from the game. We’d like to source the gallery from creative people like you! We saw the Minecraft lanterns on your site and loved them. We’d like to feature a photo of them in the gallery! Please contact me at my email address if you’re interested. This book will be printed very soon, so if you could get back to me as soon as possible, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!
Our playsilks are used by many play therapists, I would love to send you some to try and maybe you would blog about them? I have seen kids do so many amazing creative things with them!
Thanks for considering,
Sarah