The Anna Freud Centre has received funding to help develop the work of Play Therapy Africa. Play Therapy Africa is based in Ethiopia and is currently carrying out a project on play therapy for mothers of malnourished infants.
Our Chief Executive Professor Peter Fonagy has developed a protocol in order to evaluate this promising intervention with the hope that this inexpensive, practical and readily accessible intervention technique can be recommended and rolled out across Ethiopia, and potentially into other counties where malnourishment is prevalent.
We ask Peter more about play therapy and why this project is so important.
What is play therapy?
Play therapy is a well validated technique whereby a closer relationship between a mother and her child is created by showing them how they can play together and the pleasure it will give them.
Why combine play therapy with nutritional supplementation?
Nutritional supplements alone, can lead to the desired weight gain and a healthy looking infant. However, they do not provide the emotional stimulation needed by infants if they are to develop a sense of self esteem and sociability.
Why is this project so important?
It is well known that severely malnourished children often die. Consequently, when infants are starving the mothers almost switch off from them as a protective factor because they are likely to lose them. If these babies survive, they often exhibit delayed physical and emotional development. They also have little appetite and limited or no capacity for affection or enjoyment. Yet, crucially, when attention is focused on severely malnourished infants by their mother through play along with nourishment the infant wakes up with a return of appetite, a will to live and the development of a loving relationship in an increasingly secure environment.
Do you already shop online or are you thinking about giving it a go? The good news is that you can fundraise for the 
