Abstract

Using drama in the classroom is an effective way of supporting a child's social and emotional development. This book offers a wide variety of drama activities designed to provide children with a creative outlet to overcome emotional and behavioural problems.

Exploring the various challenges children can face at home such as parental separation, divorce and bereavement, this book explains how they can manifest in a child's behaviour at school. It describes how drama can provide appropriate avenues for confronting and dealing with these issues and suggests a wealth of captivating and practical drama-based games and exercises that will support the child's needs and promote growth.

This clear and accessible book will be an invaluable resource for teachers, teaching assistants, youth and social workers, counsellors, arts therapists and educational psychologists.

As a teacher of Technology, having such an accessible and easy to use resource, packed with information that helps with recognising the warning signs of emotional distress and how this can present in a child's behaviour, is fantastic. With super ideas for drama-based games and activities that provide creative and fun ways to overcome these challenges, and with the additional benefit of providing guidance on when and how to engage other professional help when necessary, it's a must read.
Tom Vaughan, Teacher of Design and Technology, South West England
This book is full of ideas for creative drama and games for use with individuals and groups to address challenges that children present in the classroom, due to their experiences of loss, separation, abuse, trauma, anger and anxiety.
Dramatherapy
I highly recommend this book to all school professionals, particularly Sencos and nurture assistants, as the issues will crop up in every school at some point. This book is a source of inspiration on how to support troubled children effectively.
Special Children
Deeply impressive, moving and accessible. This book takes the reader on an insightful journey into the world of the troubled child whilst demystifying creative drama, leaving you empowered with a tool kit of practical structured drama techniques which can be embedded into the heart of any nurturing classroom.
Debbie Shotter, Senior Educational Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society
Penny McFarlane worked as a teacher in primary and secondary education for over fifteen years before obtaining her Diploma in Drama Therapy from Exeter University. She founded a creative arts in therapy project in inner city schools and has subsequently worked as a drama therapist and supervisor on a multi-agency support team. She co-founded a children's bereavement charity and has worked extensively in the field of divorce and separation and its effect on children. Penny is also co-author of Dramatherapy and Family Therapy in Education: Essential Pieces of the Multi-Agency Jigsaw. She lives in Devon where she is a practising drama therapist in primary and secondary schools.
A remarkable resource which guides teachers and staff to skilfully utilize drama, a valuable but often overlooked means of supporting troubled children in the classroom. The author, a professional dramatherapist, deftly combines theory and practice by identifying familiar behavioral issues, providing insight regarding the issues, and clearly describing innovative techniques and drama activities to foster emotional growth and healing. Helpfully, a number of the activities are useable or adaptable for younger children. Whether coping with a stressful classroom problem or waiting for delayed special services, this much needed book is a life line for all.
Dr. Carol Woodard, Professor Emeritus, State University College at Buffalo, New York, and author of Make-Believe Play and Story-Based Drama in Early Childhood
An invaluable resource for all practitioners in schools who support the social and emotional development of children and young people. The wide range of issues and accompanying activities are presented in an informative and clear structure with guidance on potential safeguarding and child protection issues to help ensure "safe" practice. An absolute must for all those who deal with "challenging" behaviour in our mainstream schools; the book you have all been waiting for!
Alison Chown, Play Therapist, Supervisor and Educational Trainer