Breathing Through

Halloween play doesn’t have to be elaborate to be fun.

No Pinterest-perfect setup. No special Halloween Play-Doh. No need to buy a cart full of new materials.

For this setup, we used play dough we already had, old muffin tins, and random Halloween odds and ends we’ve collected over the years from places like the dollar store—eyeballs, creepy hands, little cauldrons, spiders, cutters and whatever else we could find.

We put everything out on our Tuff Tray from .play and let them take it from there.

That’s it.

They squished, created, pretended, experimented, mixed things together and made the play completely their own.

Sometimes we make play harder than it needs to be. Kids don’t need an elaborate setup to become completely immersed in what they’re doing.

Give them a few materials. Give them the space. Let them lead.

And use what you already have. Simple play can still be really good play.

What random Halloween items do you already have at home that you could throw into a play setup? Tell me in the comments.

When your child’s behavior suddenly changes, get curious before jumping to conclusions. 💛

A new behavior doesn’t automatically mean something is “wrong.” Behavior can be one of the ways children communicate that something has shifted—even when they can’t explain it themselves.

Instead of only focusing on “How do I make this behavior stop?” start looking at the bigger picture.

Has something changed at home or school?
Are they overwhelmed, anxious, tired, or overstimulated?
Has their routine changed?
Are they navigating something developmentally new?
Is the behavior getting more frequent, intense, or interfering with everyday life?

Sometimes the behavior is the part we see, but it isn’t necessarily where the story begins.

Get curious about the change behind the change. 🧠💛

And when your gut tells you something feels different, it’s okay to reach out for additional support.

ChildDevelopment

We’re taking Breathing Through beyond the playroom this October.

One of the things I love most about this work is getting to connect with children and families where they already are—in the community, through play, and sometimes right in the middle of a little Halloween fun.

Here’s where you can find us:

October 17 | 9 AM–12 PM
Love Riverbank Halloween Safety Boo Bash
Galaxy Theatre, Riverbank

October 30 | 5–7 PM
Macaroni KID’s First Annual Trunk or Treat
La Plazita Montes
4800 Elm St., Salida

At both Trunk-or-Treats, look for our Nightmare Before Christmas-inspired trunk. We’ll have candy, a spinning prize wheel, a sensory activity, and plenty of opportunities for kids and families to stop, play, and connect with us.

Because supporting children’s mental health doesn’t only happen inside a therapy room.

Sometimes it looks like sensory play. Sometimes it looks like connection. And sometimes it simply looks like showing up in our community and creating spaces where families can play, have fun, and learn a little more about supporting their children along the way.

We’re excited for some Halloween fun with all of you.

Save these dates, and if you see Breathing Through out in the community, come say hi!

“What can I do for my child?”

It’s probably one of the questions I hear most often.

And while the specifics are going to depend on your child, one answer comes up again and again: connection.

Connection through the hard moments.
Connection through the fun moments.
Connection through the silly moments.
Connection through uncertainty.
Connection through the everyday activities that don’t seem like anything special.

Every child needs something different at different times. But connection is the foundation.

Everything else layers on top of that.

What’s one simple way you connect with your child? Tell me in the comments. And save or share this with another parent who might need the reminder.

Veronica Tovar, LCSW, RPT®, is a child & teen therapist in Modesto, CA specializing in play therapy, anxiety, trauma, emotional regulation & infant mental health.

Being their safe person doesn’t always look pretty.

Sometimes kids hold it together at school, with friends, or around other adults—and then come home and completely fall apart.

More tears. More frustration. More attitude. Bigger reactions.

It can leave parents wondering, “Why do I get the hardest version of my child?”

Sometimes children release their biggest feelings with the people and in the places where they feel safest.

That doesn’t mean every difficult behavior is a sign of safety, and it doesn’t mean we ignore boundaries. But it can help us look beyond the behavior and get curious about what our child may have been holding onto all day.

Being their safe person can mean holding the boundary while also communicating:

“You can have a hard time here, and I’m still here with you.”

Because feeling safe doesn’t always look like being calm.

Does your child ever hold it together all day and then fall apart when they get home? Tell me in the comments.

Veronica Tovar, LCSW, RPT®, is a child & teen therapist in Modesto, CA specializing in play therapy, anxiety, trauma, emotional regulation & infant mental health.

Want to connect with your child… but don’t always know how to start?

That’s exactly why we created the Connection Sensory Play Set.

Sometimes parents want more intentional connection and play with their child, but figuring out what to do can become one more thing on an already-full plate.

So we took out the guesswork.

Inside the set, you’ll find sensory dough, play materials, play mats, and guided connection activities designed to give you a starting point—while still leaving plenty of room for your child to lead, create, and make the play their own.

No elaborate setup. No pressure to play the “right” way. Just an invitation to slow down, play together, and connect.

We give you the play. You bring the connection.

Ready to play? Find the Connection Sensory Play Set through the link in our bio.

It looks like they’re just playing with water and ice, but there’s a lot happening in this simple activity.

As children scoop, squeeze, pour, melt, and experiment, they’re getting opportunities to practice focus, concentration, problem-solving, fine motor skills, and sensory exploration.

And the best part? This doesn’t require an elaborate sensory setup.

Freeze small toys or objects in ice, add water and a few simple tools, and let them explore. No complicated instructions. No perfect outcome. Just an invitation to play, experiment, and figure things out.

Sometimes the simplest activities give children the most room to explore.

Save this for an easy sensory-play idea, and send it to a parent, teacher, or provider who is always looking for simple activities to try with kids.