Transcript: A guided sensory exploration of a teaspoon Take your spoon Whatever your spoon is made from imagine that it was carved with human hands. No tools, just gently shaped over time. Inspect the spoon; shape, colour, blemishes, texture, reflections, refractions and then bring a part of your body, perhaps a thumb, finger or chinContinue reading “Teaspoon- A Guided Sensory Exploration”
Author Archives: Max Alexander
What We Say When We Prioritise Inclusive Play.
There are lots of important fantastic reasons to prioritise play for disabled and/or neurodivergent children and young people. I’m sure you can list off a bunch of them without having to think too much; there’s developmental reasons, physical wellbeing, opportunities to develop peer relationships, therapeutic benefits, sensory regulation and educational reasons… But there is oneContinue reading “What We Say When We Prioritise Inclusive Play.”
Working Towards an Anti-Racist Practice (as a White Practitioner)
“Being antiracist results from a conscious decision to make frequent, consistent, equitable choices daily. These choices require ongoing self-awareness and self-reflection as we move through life. In the absence of making antiracist choices, we (un)consciously uphold aspects of white supremacy, white-dominant culture, and unequal institutions and society. Being racist or antiracist is not about whoContinue reading “Working Towards an Anti-Racist Practice (as a White Practitioner)”
Play Diary: Cups
Stackable re-usable paper or plastic cups are a favourite of mine to introduce into a space. They’re recognisable but novel; especially in large numbers or unexpected contexts. They’d be easy to dismiss but offer up endless possibilities. This play diary is made up of observations from various sessions where I’ve bought cups into the space.Continue reading “Play Diary: Cups”
A Playful Manifesto- Now available online!
A refreshingly short blog post today as i’m sharing some news! My illustrated Call to Play is now available online to view. One of the first posts on Play Radical was the first version of this piece of writing and I’m so excited to share this update, it also features a series of my drawingsContinue reading “A Playful Manifesto- Now available online!”
Communal Space as an autistic person or: What’s the big deal about other people?
For a long time I didn’t really understand what the big deal was about being with other people. Yes, they could be funny, kind and interesting. But frankly, as far as I was concerned, I was already all of those things for myself. The other people bit, especially when there was more than one, justContinue reading “Communal Space as an autistic person or: What’s the big deal about other people?”
Untangling “Consulting” with Children
I’ve recently had the opportunity to expand my practice into what was a new area for me; consulting with children. In some ways it wasn’t new area at all; ongoing consultation with children is a part of my everyday practice; I’m always seeking to get to know the children I’m working with and learning aboutContinue reading “Untangling “Consulting” with Children”
Autistic Nuances; A personal perspective
This month I wanted to write something a little different.April is a month of ‘Autism Awareness’ campaigns; the good, the bad and theconfusingly misguided. I am fully behind those who call for this month to beabout acceptance not awareness. I hope celebration will follow, and then, oneday, maybe our society and culture will function inContinue reading “Autistic Nuances; A personal perspective”
Playful Communication Part 3: Wordplay
Previously I’ve written about the importance of recognising and valuing different forms of communication and the need for us to allow for expressive as well as functional communication. In this piece I’m going to take a specific look at language as a form of expressive communication and in particular what this can look like inContinue reading “Playful Communication Part 3: Wordplay”
Play (and/or art?!) diary: Who framed the Pineapple
“the ambiance of play is by nature unstable. At any moment ‘ordinary life’ may prevail once again. The geographical limitations of play is even more striking that its temporal limitation. Every game takes place within the boundaries of its own special domain” Guy Debord from On the Passage of a Few Persons Through a Rather BriefContinue reading “Play (and/or art?!) diary: Who framed the Pineapple”
Play Radical 