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Jamie Heimos | Child Therapist, Real Mom

@jamieheimoslpc

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Raising kids who feel safe, seen & steady 🫶Therapist Mom + Author | Scripts for the hard talks & tips on using play as practice
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Another stop on Going Pla(y)ces!

I’m always looking for places where kids can just PLAY… but where that play is also giving them opportunities to practice real-life skills.
At Grandma’s Playroom, my 5-year-old got plenty of practice with:
✨ sharing + turn taking
✨ asking to join in
✨ problem-solving
✨ cause + effect
✨ navigating play with other kids
And my little daredevil? He was mostly practicing how to make his mom’s heart rate spike. 😂
But that’s part of what I love about open-ended play. Kids get to make choices, test ideas, interact with other kids, and work through those little social moments that don’t always go perfectly.
Because play is never just play.
📍 Grandma’s Playroom | South County, St. Louis
🕘 Open Monday–Friday, 9–4
🧸 Designed for ages 6 and under

Thanks to Grandma’s Playroom for hosting us!

Where should we go PLAY next? 👇 by @jamieheimoslpc

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a month ago

Hi, I’m Jamie 👋🏻

I’m a child therapist, Registered Play Therapist, children's book author, and mom of two. And around here, I talk A LOT about play, big feelings, and the messy middle of raising actual human beings.

As a therapist, there are plenty of things I don’t care about.

I don’t care if your kid’s playroom is a disaster.
I don’t care if they don’t play with the toy the “right” way.
I don’t care if you didn’t make the Pinterest activity.
I don’t care if your kid doesn’t want to sit down and talk about their feelings--which may shock some.

But I DO care about connection.
I care that kids have opportunities to play.
I care that they know their feelings are safe with you.
I care that they’re allowed to make mistakes.
And I care that they know they have adults they can come to when things get hard.

Because childhood doesn’t need to be perfectly curated to be healthy.

It needs to have room for play, connection, curiosity, mistakes, big feelings, and a whole lot of being human.

So if you’re new here, hi. I’m glad you found me.

Stick around if you want practical, therapist-backed ways to support your kid’s mental health. by @jamieheimoslpc

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a month ago

Parenting is basically just walking through a haunted house of increasingly specific, oddly terrifying situations. 💀

From the school spirit day you find out about at 9 p.m. to the toy that plays a hundred sounds on repeat, there’s truly no shortage of jump scares.

What would you add to the parent haunted house? I know y’all have some nightmares to share. 😂

Follow for more parenting humor from a millennial mom with a therapy license. by @jamieheimoslpc

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9 hours ago

New toy on inventory sponsored by @jamieheimoslpc with Balance & Bloom Play Therapy. Cheery Lane set includes an amazing play guide from Jamie that give you tips on getting through day to day conversations. Rent today, try a new toy and get real life parenting talk points! taken in Swap the Playroom by @jamieheimoslpc

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2 days ago

My big girl turns FIVE today. Something about this age feels so big. I get it now when they say the days are long but the years are short.

While I don’t share her face here, she is truly such a sparkle in this world. She’s creative, curious, kind, and so very empathic. She’s the most incredible big sister and has the heart of gold. 💛

She’s taught me so much about motherhood and these last five years have been some of the absolute best of my life and obviously some of the most challenging too. That’s what happens when you cloned a version of yourself 😂 by @jamieheimoslpc

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3 days ago

Apparently, advocating for a childhood full of play, boundaries, and a little ✨boredom✨ is witchcraft now. 🧙‍♀️

Anyway, pass the crystals and put the iPad away. 🖤

Thanks to @jesswhitneytherapy for the inspo on this one by @jamieheimoslpc

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4 days ago

Come for the squishies. Stay for the emotional regulation.

Listen, when your job is literally playing with kids, having an elite squishy collection is basically a professional responsibility.

As a Registered Play Therapist, I love toys that give kids opportunities to slow down, explore sensory input, and figure out what helps their bodies feel regulated. And sometimes? That’s a Needoh. Sometimes it’s pretend play. Sometimes it’s throwing a dollhouse chair across the room. (We’re a judgment-free establishment.)

But let’s be real… I was collecting squishies before they became the Beanie Babies of our generation, and now suddenly everyone gets it. by @jamieheimoslpc

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4 days ago

Does it Earn a Spot?

Today’s contestant: FurReal Interactive Pet 🐶

And this one? It’s a NO for the playroom. 👀
As a Registered Play Therapist, I’m not just asking, “Will my kid think this is cool?” I’m looking at the play it invites and the skills kids get to practice.
When I’m putting a toy through the play therapist test, I’m asking:
✨ Does it encourage open-ended play?
✨ Can kids use it in different ways?
✨ Does it encourage creativity or problem-solving?
✨ Can kids practice social-emotional skills while playing?
✨ Will it grow with them?
With the FurReal Interactive Pet, the play is pretty limited by what the toy is programmed to do. Kids can interact with it, but the toy does most of the work for them.
And listen, I’m not saying your kid can’t have fun with it. Fun matters! But when we’re talking about what earns a spot in our playroom, I’m looking for toys that leave room for kids to take the lead, get creative, and make the play their own.
This one just doesn’t make the cut for me. 🚫
Because we don’t need more toys doing the playing for our kids. We want toys that let our kids do the playing!
👇 What toy should I put through the play therapist test next? by @jamieheimoslpc

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5 days ago

Fall activities that are fun for the kids AND sneak in a little skill-building? We love to see it. 🍂

We checked out the Kids’ Fall Fun Zone at the farmers market, and as a play therapist, you know I was watching all the little ways play was doing its thing.
🍁 Climbing, moving, and tackling physical challenges
🍁 Exploring textures and following curiosity
🍁 Figuring out how to take turns when everyone wants a turn
🍁 Practicing how to play alongside (and with!) other kids
🍁 Working through those little moments when things don’t go exactly as planned
Because making a friend, waiting for a turn, and figuring out what to do when someone else has the toy you want are REAL skills. And kids need opportunities to practice them outside of a therapy office, too.

The goal isn’t to turn every outing into a lesson. It’s to recognize that play is already giving kids opportunities to learn, grow, and figure things out.

And apparently, it’s also giving my 4-year-old opportunities to bring home souvenirs we did NOT purchase.
🌽 Specifically, corn in her pants.

Thanks for joining us @brittmooseslp

I can’t wait to show you how we’re going to take some of this play home with us in the next episode of Taking Play Home!

But first… where should we go PLAY next? 👇Tag some places you’d like to see an episode at! by @jamieheimoslpc

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6 days ago

The goal was always to teach her she could do it on her own.
I just didn’t know it would make me this emotional.

Follow along for more real-life parenting + big feelings. by @jamieheimoslpc

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12 days ago

🎃 We’re leaving these habits in the haunted house and making room for more connection, independence, and actual PLAY.

Which one are YOU ghosting? 👻 Tell me in the comments. by @jamieheimoslpc

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10 days ago

When it comes to capturing memories, it feel like I cannot capture enough.. my kids are growing with the blink of an eye. I want to bottle it all up, but like the seasons change… my kids are growing and changing too.

I’m so thankful for the ability to be present but still capture the joy of each moment with @campsnapcamera

Comment MEMORIES for a discount code and link in your DMs.

Use code Jamie-H10 for $20 off the CS-8!

#campsnappartner by @jamieheimoslpc

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11 days ago