364 | CCPT Gamechangers: How to Handle Children Who Dart Out of the Playroom
Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy
In this Game Changers episode, I address one of the most stressful moments for play therapists: children who dart out of the playroom. I explain why "runners" are not a failure of the model and why a child leaving the room is sometimes developmentally, emotionally, or practically driven—not always resistance or defiance. Before jumping to limits, I emphasize the importance of understanding the why behind the behavior and responding thoughtfully rather than reactively.
I also walk through concrete, practical strategies to increase safety and containment without trapping the child or violating child-centered principles. From using a spinny rolly chair and strategic positioning to recognizing when a child needs accommodation versus a limit, this episode focuses on creating barriers to unsafe behavior—not barriers to autonomy. Managing runners is about safety, attunement, and clinical judgment, and when those pieces come together, children gradually no longer need to escape the playroom.
CCPT: The Field of Dreams | Live Training Event at Steinbrenner Field More Info. & Registration go to https://corewellceu.com/tampa. For more information and to register for this LIVE training event in Tampa, FL on Saturday Jan 31, 2026.
PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click!
Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them.
If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you.
Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast
Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
Available Results
Generated results are saved to the knowledge database for reuse and search.
Extract Knowledge
Pick what you want extracted first. Model, scope, and chapter options appear after a template is selected.
Transcript
0 00:00:00,519 --> 00:00:04,280 You're listening to the Play Therapy Podcast with Dr. Brenna Hicks, 1 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:08,260 your source for centered and focused play therapy coaching. 2 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:08,760 Hi, 3 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:09,920 I'm Dr. Brenna Hicks, 4 00:00:10,029 --> 00:00:10,750 The Kid Counselor. 5 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:12,869 This is the Play Therapy Podcast where you get 6 00:00:12,869 --> 00:00:15,140 a master class in child-centered play therapy 7 00:00:15,319 --> 00:00:17,520 and practical support and application for your 8 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:19,340 work with children and their families. 9 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:20,829 In today's episode, 10 00:00:21,030 --> 00:00:23,420 we are continuing with the Game Changer series 11 00:00:23,420 --> 00:00:26,139 and we are going to talk about runners. 12 00:00:26,979 --> 00:00:27,549 i.e., 13 00:00:27,790 --> 00:00:29,129 kids that dart out of the room. 14 00:00:29,870 --> 00:00:30,030 My, 15 00:00:30,110 --> 00:00:31,219 my name for them is runners, 16 00:00:31,270 --> 00:00:32,509 you may call them something else. 17 00:00:32,990 --> 00:00:33,729 Kids that 18 00:00:33,860 --> 00:00:34,490 will just 19 00:00:34,709 --> 00:00:35,830 in one split second, 20 00:00:35,959 --> 00:00:38,509 disappear from your playroom and you're chasing them 21 00:00:38,509 --> 00:00:40,630 down the hallway into the parking lot, 22 00:00:40,750 --> 00:00:41,250 wherever. 23 00:00:42,450 --> 00:00:43,369 But before we get there, 24 00:00:43,450 --> 00:00:44,880 I want to say a couple of things. 25 00:00:44,889 --> 00:00:47,069 For those of you that have been 26 00:00:47,740 --> 00:00:50,159 curious about the live event. 27 00:00:50,409 --> 00:00:53,290 We're actually putting together a curriculum video for you. 28 00:00:53,450 --> 00:00:53,599 So, 29 00:00:53,610 --> 00:00:55,930 if you want to know what you're going to learn, 30 00:00:56,279 --> 00:00:57,290 we're gonna have that out soon. 31 00:00:57,409 --> 00:00:57,450 So, 32 00:00:57,470 --> 00:00:58,909 I wanted to make you aware of that. 33 00:00:59,409 --> 00:01:00,830 And if you can't come in person, 34 00:01:01,330 --> 00:01:03,430 please do the webinar or the on-demand. 35 00:01:03,689 --> 00:01:05,349 It's gonna give you 12 CEs 36 00:01:05,610 --> 00:01:07,169 and it's nothing but CCPT. 37 00:01:07,650 --> 00:01:08,169 And so, 38 00:01:08,250 --> 00:01:10,089 I hope that that would be important to you. 39 00:01:10,419 --> 00:01:13,959 I hope that even if you can't come and hang out with me in person, 40 00:01:14,540 --> 00:01:18,349 that you would want to have those CEs and the CCPT training. 41 00:01:18,459 --> 00:01:18,800 So, 42 00:01:19,339 --> 00:01:20,959 make sure you get that before the end of the year. 43 00:01:21,059 --> 00:01:24,260 The prices will go up after the early bird pricing through December. 44 00:01:24,819 --> 00:01:25,519 And 45 00:01:25,620 --> 00:01:28,160 we're trying to make this an annual event. 46 00:01:28,250 --> 00:01:28,599 And so, 47 00:01:28,610 --> 00:01:29,089 hopefully, 48 00:01:29,139 --> 00:01:30,300 if you can't come this year, 49 00:01:30,419 --> 00:01:32,279 we would love to have you plan for 50 00:01:32,459 --> 00:01:33,089 next year, 51 00:01:33,099 --> 00:01:33,959 2027. 52 00:01:34,739 --> 00:01:35,290 OK, 53 00:01:35,589 --> 00:01:37,150 let's talk through runners. 54 00:01:38,230 --> 00:01:39,099 And 55 00:01:39,669 --> 00:01:44,830 really what I'm trying to do with this episode is equip you with strategies. 56 00:01:45,230 --> 00:01:47,790 There's never a way to completely prevent 57 00:01:48,529 --> 00:01:50,309 A child from leaving the playroom. 58 00:01:51,260 --> 00:01:52,069 And 59 00:01:52,220 --> 00:01:53,239 we set limits 60 00:01:53,379 --> 00:01:56,459 and we do things strategically so that it makes it 61 00:01:56,459 --> 00:01:58,440 a little more tricky for the child to leave. 62 00:01:58,830 --> 00:02:03,620 But a part of CCPT is that a child is going to leave the playroom at times. 63 00:02:04,730 --> 00:02:05,000 So, 64 00:02:05,010 --> 00:02:05,949 before I dive into 65 00:02:06,059 --> 00:02:07,089 strategies, 66 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:08,750 we're going to talk about the why, 67 00:02:09,089 --> 00:02:10,570 cause that's all I ever want to talk about. 68 00:02:11,929 --> 00:02:14,509 I think that when we see a child 69 00:02:15,369 --> 00:02:17,929 asking to leave or trying to leave or leaving. 70 00:02:19,339 --> 00:02:20,779 We sometimes react 71 00:02:20,940 --> 00:02:22,899 and we're sometimes quick to 72 00:02:24,039 --> 00:02:24,440 Say something, 73 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:25,309 set a limit 74 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:27,779 where we feel like there's pressure to do something. 75 00:02:28,479 --> 00:02:30,820 I think one of the most important things that we can do 76 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:31,759 is to 77 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,160 Comment about the fact that the child is over at 78 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,460 the door or opening the door or trying to leave 79 00:02:37,839 --> 00:02:39,440 and pseudo limits it. 80 00:02:40,509 --> 00:02:40,669 Oh, 81 00:02:40,710 --> 00:02:41,509 you're opening the door, 82 00:02:41,589 --> 00:02:44,089 but you know that our special playtime is just for the playroom. 83 00:02:45,139 --> 00:02:46,279 And see 84 00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:47,889 what it's all about, 85 00:02:48,259 --> 00:02:49,800 because sometimes it's, 86 00:02:50,339 --> 00:02:50,460 oh, 87 00:02:50,500 --> 00:02:51,720 I just forgot my water. 88 00:02:52,589 --> 00:02:52,600 Or, 89 00:02:53,830 --> 00:02:53,949 oh, 90 00:02:53,990 --> 00:02:55,910 I just have to give mom my blah blah blah, 91 00:02:55,990 --> 00:02:57,649 it's in my pocket and it's bothering me. 92 00:02:58,330 --> 00:02:58,610 Or 93 00:02:58,910 --> 00:02:59,949 I need to go to the bathroom. 94 00:03:00,839 --> 00:03:04,320 Or I'm just trying to go fill this cup so that I can make paint. 95 00:03:05,630 --> 00:03:06,330 Whatever 96 00:03:06,750 --> 00:03:08,179 the reason is, 97 00:03:08,309 --> 00:03:09,070 often 98 00:03:09,309 --> 00:03:10,570 it is not 99 00:03:11,070 --> 00:03:12,009 to be resistant, 100 00:03:12,110 --> 00:03:12,990 to be avoidant, 101 00:03:13,190 --> 00:03:15,449 to challenge limits and boundaries. 102 00:03:16,330 --> 00:03:17,309 Many times, 103 00:03:17,570 --> 00:03:18,669 it's a legit reason. 104 00:03:19,619 --> 00:03:21,440 And in those scenarios, 105 00:03:21,860 --> 00:03:23,440 we have to make a judgment call. 106 00:03:24,949 --> 00:03:26,869 How can I remain CCPT 107 00:03:27,229 --> 00:03:28,669 but honor the child's needs? 108 00:03:28,710 --> 00:03:29,309 If a kid, 109 00:03:29,710 --> 00:03:30,589 for this is for me, 110 00:03:30,669 --> 00:03:32,050 I'm not saying this is universal, 111 00:03:32,149 --> 00:03:32,449 but 112 00:03:32,589 --> 00:03:34,889 if a kid needs to go get water, 113 00:03:35,470 --> 00:03:37,529 if a kid wants to have snack early 114 00:03:37,910 --> 00:03:40,419 and they choose to get snack mid-session instead of 115 00:03:40,419 --> 00:03:42,330 at the end of the session because they're hungry, 116 00:03:43,020 --> 00:03:44,190 obviously the bathroom. 117 00:03:44,910 --> 00:03:46,520 If they choose to. 118 00:03:47,710 --> 00:03:50,089 Take their jacket off and go give it to mom. 119 00:03:51,110 --> 00:03:52,940 If it is a legit reason, 120 00:03:53,559 --> 00:03:55,580 and you don't perceive the why 121 00:03:55,759 --> 00:03:57,619 to be related to limits 122 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,240 or boundaries or avoidance or resistance. 123 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:02,869 In my 124 00:04:03,279 --> 00:04:03,699 practice. 125 00:04:04,740 --> 00:04:05,139 I say, 126 00:04:05,300 --> 00:04:05,539 oh, 127 00:04:05,619 --> 00:04:07,360 you're choosing to go give that to mom, 128 00:04:07,820 --> 00:04:09,179 and then the child gives it, 129 00:04:09,300 --> 00:04:10,360 comes right back. 130 00:04:11,339 --> 00:04:12,690 It's not disruptive. 131 00:04:12,899 --> 00:04:14,039 It's not prohibitive. 132 00:04:14,100 --> 00:04:16,238 It doesn't cause any issues. 133 00:04:17,488 --> 00:04:19,269 There are absolutely times 134 00:04:19,848 --> 00:04:21,088 when I know, 135 00:04:21,528 --> 00:04:23,109 I don't even think I know 136 00:04:23,209 --> 00:04:24,748 that a child is 137 00:04:25,199 --> 00:04:25,769 resistant, 138 00:04:25,968 --> 00:04:26,438 avoidant, 139 00:04:26,639 --> 00:04:27,329 pushing limits, 140 00:04:27,449 --> 00:04:28,209 testing boundaries, 141 00:04:28,289 --> 00:04:28,868 whatever. 142 00:04:29,128 --> 00:04:30,389 In those scenarios, 143 00:04:30,968 --> 00:04:32,368 I would immediately go to, 144 00:04:32,489 --> 00:04:32,648 oh, 145 00:04:32,769 --> 00:04:34,609 but you know that the playroom's not for leaving. 146 00:04:36,660 --> 00:04:39,440 Because those are the kids that are not going to come back in. 147 00:04:39,980 --> 00:04:41,829 Those are the kids that are not going 148 00:04:41,940 --> 00:04:43,510 to abide by a limit, 149 00:04:43,739 --> 00:04:45,079 because here's what often happens. 150 00:04:45,700 --> 00:04:45,859 Oh, 151 00:04:45,899 --> 00:04:47,859 you'd really like to go out and give that to mom, 152 00:04:47,940 --> 00:04:50,339 but you know that our playtime is just for the playroom. 153 00:04:50,429 --> 00:04:52,459 If you choose to go out and give that to mom, 154 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,380 You choose to come right back into the playroom. 155 00:04:56,290 --> 00:04:56,799 Yes. 156 00:04:58,019 --> 00:04:59,329 Then they go out to the lobby, 157 00:04:59,420 --> 00:05:00,339 then they sit down, 158 00:05:00,420 --> 00:05:01,920 they curl up on mom's lap, 159 00:05:02,179 --> 00:05:04,579 and they never leave that lobby for the remainder of the 160 00:05:04,579 --> 00:05:07,220 35 minutes that you still hadn't finished in the session. 161 00:05:09,380 --> 00:05:13,440 Those are the kinds of kids that you have to recognize it for what it is, 162 00:05:13,630 --> 00:05:15,410 and you change your tactic a little bit. 163 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:18,690 As far as strategies for in the playroom. 164 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:22,339 Unequivocally you need a spinny rolly chair. 165 00:05:22,869 --> 00:05:23,720 It can be a stool. 166 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:24,679 It can be a chair. 167 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:25,559 It can have a back, 168 00:05:25,679 --> 00:05:26,399 no back, 169 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:28,230 whatever you want it to be, 170 00:05:28,559 --> 00:05:29,940 but a spinny rolly chair. 171 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,059 And you remain within 2 to 3 ft of the child 172 00:05:34,399 --> 00:05:35,420 in the playroom. 173 00:05:35,959 --> 00:05:37,959 So as they're navigating the playroom, 174 00:05:38,989 --> 00:05:41,339 You roll and spin yourself wherever you need to be. 175 00:05:42,570 --> 00:05:46,209 If there is a child that has already darted out 176 00:05:46,209 --> 00:05:49,510 in earlier sessions or an earlier part of that session, 177 00:05:49,929 --> 00:05:51,559 if they are prone to be a runner, 178 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:53,589 if you know that they're testing boundaries, 179 00:05:53,929 --> 00:05:56,320 if they're wild and crazy and they're doing all kinds of things, 180 00:05:56,329 --> 00:05:58,329 and you think this is a kid that would probably 181 00:05:58,329 --> 00:06:00,450 just open that door and run out into the hallway. 182 00:06:01,730 --> 00:06:04,950 You strategically position yourself in front of the door. 183 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:07,179 Not the whole time, 184 00:06:07,679 --> 00:06:08,059 but, 185 00:06:08,239 --> 00:06:08,440 OK, 186 00:06:08,519 --> 00:06:08,640 look, 187 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:09,200 let's be real. 188 00:06:09,239 --> 00:06:11,320 If the kid's on the other side of the playroom, 189 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:12,720 nowhere near the door, 190 00:06:12,799 --> 00:06:14,250 you don't need to be in front of the door. 191 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:15,940 But if the child 192 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:17,739 is testing boundaries 193 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,779 and is dysregulated and is trying to break as many limits as possible, 194 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:24,459 because they don't have any self-control at this moment, 195 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:25,380 and 196 00:06:25,549 --> 00:06:28,500 you think this kid could just dart out that door. 197 00:06:29,540 --> 00:06:31,100 Roll yourself over 198 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,119 in front of the door if the child is close to the door. 199 00:06:34,309 --> 00:06:36,239 If they're over behind the puppet theater, 200 00:06:36,359 --> 00:06:38,459 obviously you can be over by the theater. 201 00:06:38,959 --> 00:06:40,029 So I wanted to make that really clear. 202 00:06:40,119 --> 00:06:42,019 I actually watched a coaching video 203 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:43,579 last week or so, 204 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:44,339 and 205 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:45,480 I had just, 206 00:06:45,559 --> 00:06:47,359 I don't think I'd been clear enough that you don't 207 00:06:47,359 --> 00:06:49,899 have to position yourself by the door the whole session. 208 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:51,899 It's just for kids that you think might 209 00:06:52,299 --> 00:06:52,820 run out. 210 00:06:54,079 --> 00:06:55,899 And the goal is 211 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:57,140 barriers 212 00:06:57,679 --> 00:06:58,339 to. 213 00:06:59,149 --> 00:07:00,779 The disregulated behavior. 214 00:07:01,119 --> 00:07:01,600 In other words, 215 00:07:01,670 --> 00:07:04,859 the child is still going to want to break limits and test things 216 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:06,980 and avoid compliance 217 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:08,500 and be all over the place. 218 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:09,380 We're not 219 00:07:09,519 --> 00:07:10,899 doing anything about that. 220 00:07:12,589 --> 00:07:14,059 We're not even stopping the child from leaving. 221 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,500 But if we are positioned in front of the door 222 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:20,040 and they fling the door open and it hits the back of our chair. 223 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,820 They can't just dart out into the hallway and run. 224 00:07:24,670 --> 00:07:26,910 So it's just one extra barrier. 225 00:07:27,510 --> 00:07:29,100 We're not trapping the child in there, 226 00:07:29,239 --> 00:07:31,089 we're not insisting that they stay, 227 00:07:31,309 --> 00:07:31,929 we're not 228 00:07:32,109 --> 00:07:34,309 tying their hands and saying you're never going 229 00:07:34,309 --> 00:07:36,089 to leave this playroom until time is up. 230 00:07:36,940 --> 00:07:38,079 This is just 231 00:07:38,459 --> 00:07:40,320 a physical barrier 232 00:07:40,779 --> 00:07:42,959 to them opening the door and darting, 233 00:07:43,540 --> 00:07:44,140 because many of you, 234 00:07:44,260 --> 00:07:45,600 I watch enough play sessions, 235 00:07:45,739 --> 00:07:46,559 many of you. 236 00:07:47,059 --> 00:07:48,010 Don't have a lobby. 237 00:07:48,220 --> 00:07:48,950 Many of you 238 00:07:49,290 --> 00:07:51,070 have stairs or elevators 239 00:07:51,290 --> 00:07:56,239 or all kinds of other colleagues' therapy rooms that are not seeing children, 240 00:07:56,450 --> 00:07:56,690 you know, 241 00:07:56,809 --> 00:07:58,589 there's a couple meeting next door 242 00:07:58,769 --> 00:08:01,049 and the kid runs out and flings open that door, 243 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:02,369 runs into an elevator, 244 00:08:02,450 --> 00:08:03,529 up a stairwell, 245 00:08:03,769 --> 00:08:04,920 out into a parking lot. 246 00:08:05,010 --> 00:08:09,010 I've watched plenty and had plenty of discussions about sessions where the kid 247 00:08:09,010 --> 00:08:12,390 opens the door and is outside before the therapist can blink an eye. 248 00:08:13,679 --> 00:08:15,000 So there are safety concerns, 249 00:08:15,079 --> 00:08:16,549 there are liability concerns, 250 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:17,880 there's all kinds of stuff. 251 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,130 You're just trying to make sure that it's not quote, 252 00:08:21,239 --> 00:08:21,859 easy 253 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:23,059 to 254 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:24,480 run out of the playroom. 255 00:08:25,260 --> 00:08:27,880 And the hope is that over time, 256 00:08:28,959 --> 00:08:30,880 You continue to set neutral limits, 257 00:08:31,279 --> 00:08:33,380 you continue to give appropriate choices. 258 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:35,960 You continue to reflect feelings. 259 00:08:36,859 --> 00:08:39,938 And the child no longer needs or wants to test boundaries, 260 00:08:40,058 --> 00:08:42,359 no longer needs or wants to escape the playroom. 261 00:08:43,308 --> 00:08:45,140 And everything is more settled, 262 00:08:45,359 --> 00:08:46,859 but until we get there, 263 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:49,820 we're just trying to accommodate 264 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:52,219 for the need that some children have 265 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:53,700 to escape. 266 00:08:55,030 --> 00:08:57,380 So my hope is that that encourages you, 267 00:08:57,590 --> 00:09:00,210 we all have kids that are prone to 268 00:09:00,429 --> 00:09:01,130 dart out. 269 00:09:01,710 --> 00:09:02,969 The why matters though. 270 00:09:04,030 --> 00:09:04,039 Because 271 00:09:04,479 --> 00:09:05,260 if a child 272 00:09:05,799 --> 00:09:06,979 opens the door 273 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:09,059 to look down the hallway 274 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:10,539 because they're playing 275 00:09:11,159 --> 00:09:12,380 espionage 276 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:15,280 and all they want to do is pretend like they're 277 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:17,500 checking to see if anyone's out in the hallway, 278 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:19,390 and as soon as the door opens, 279 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:19,969 we're like, 280 00:09:20,119 --> 00:09:20,270 Oh, 281 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:21,340 you really want to leave. 282 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:23,580 They may not really want to leave. 283 00:09:24,710 --> 00:09:26,309 Having their hand on the handle, 284 00:09:26,580 --> 00:09:27,919 opening the door a crack, 285 00:09:28,020 --> 00:09:28,979 all of those things, 286 00:09:29,119 --> 00:09:30,679 we don't want to presume intent. 287 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:33,479 We don't want to immediately go to, 288 00:09:33,489 --> 00:09:35,049 they're trying to leave the playroom. 289 00:09:35,159 --> 00:09:36,090 Often they're not. 290 00:09:36,979 --> 00:09:39,099 And even if they do leave the playroom, 291 00:09:39,179 --> 00:09:40,919 often there's a valid reason. 292 00:09:41,599 --> 00:09:42,219 And 293 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:43,900 in my practice, 294 00:09:44,159 --> 00:09:44,940 I 295 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:46,289 am OK 296 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:48,260 with them doing those things 297 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,020 when I understand what the child's needs are 298 00:09:51,159 --> 00:09:51,979 and the why. 299 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:54,719 There are other times when I'm going to immediately set 300 00:09:54,719 --> 00:09:56,630 a limit because I know where the child is. 301 00:09:56,859 --> 00:09:59,500 This is a clinical instinct issue as well. 302 00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:01,520 So it's strategy and skill. 303 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:03,080 It's also clinical instinct. 304 00:10:03,140 --> 00:10:04,669 And when those all come together, 305 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:07,479 we can better manage kids that want to run. 306 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:08,760 So, 307 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:11,159 hopefully that gives you some hope. 308 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:11,760 If, 309 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:14,070 if you've had kids that are darting out of your playroom, 310 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:16,580 maybe that gives you some marching orders. 311 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:17,640 Also, 312 00:10:18,030 --> 00:10:19,140 Merry Christmas. 313 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,460 I hope that you all have a wonderful time. 314 00:10:21,510 --> 00:10:22,859 If you're celebrating Christmas, 315 00:10:22,919 --> 00:10:25,739 I hope that you have a wonderful time with your family and your friends. 316 00:10:26,650 --> 00:10:30,510 And that you enjoy just taking a moment to pause 317 00:10:30,890 --> 00:10:33,650 and recognize the gifts that we've been given. 318 00:10:34,500 --> 00:10:35,280 And 319 00:10:35,700 --> 00:10:37,020 from my family to yours, 320 00:10:37,099 --> 00:10:38,880 I hope that you have a really merry Christmas, 321 00:10:39,299 --> 00:10:41,239 and I'm looking forward to 322 00:10:41,780 --> 00:10:43,159 kicking off the new year 323 00:10:43,330 --> 00:10:43,919 really soon. 324 00:10:44,219 --> 00:10:44,580 Love y'all. 325 00:10:44,659 --> 00:10:45,559 We'll talk again soon. 326 00:10:45,700 --> 00:10:45,940 Bye. 327 00:10:47,150 --> 00:10:50,940 Thank you for listening to the Play Therapy Podcast with Dr. Brenna Hicks. 328 00:10:51,190 --> 00:10:53,109 For more episodes and resources, 329 00:10:53,270 --> 00:10:58,030 please go to www.playtherapypodcast.com.