Introduction

Axlines play therapy principles, key playwork approaches and the effective use of play in early year's classrooms, hospitals, and child welfare services all rely on empowering children, enabling them to govern their own play choices, retaining autonomy and control. Children's emotional health is at the heart of their development across domains. One of the difficulties in identifying such commonalities is that research findings and the resulting knowledge base which underpins the work have tended not to be shared across disciplines or areas of professional practice. When children are in control of their play, they are free to set and alter their own challenges and goals. This minimises feelings of failure, protects children's sense of self and promotes emotional wellbeing. As such, play supports resiliency and acts as a resource that enables children to meet the physical, intellectual and emotional challenges of their daily lives.