What is Original Play™?
Original Play is the courage to be kind and safe in all situations. This practice is a way of relating to the world that transforms patterns of fear, aggression and violence into love, kindness and belonging.
This program focuses on enhancing individual and community relationships. This skill-based program provides a powerful model of moving beyond self-defense with kindness, clarity and courage.
Original Play demonstrates how to better invest your energy in improving relationships, decreasing stress and enhancing productivity instead of exhausting your resources in self-defense. The skills learned from Original Play are applicable to relationships with your family, your neighbors and the business world.
What is not Original Play?
Original Play is not about games, sports, winning, losing, playing a game or having fun. These culturally-based behaviors are not part of Original Play.
How does it work?
In this program participants actively progress through a series of interactive exercises to reconnect with behaviors that promote safety, trust and belonging. Participants identify the differences between responding to others with kindness, clarity and safety instead of reacting with frustration, aggression and other unproductive behaviors. Practicing this skill is not a better survival strategy; it is a better way of living.
Who is it For?
The benefits of Original Playä are not limited to children but are available to all of us. This workshop welcomes:
a. executives, middle and top managers, directors, entrepreneurs
b. team leaders and team members
c. marketing and sales executives & managers
d. human resource executives & managers
e. consultants, trainers, therapists, counsellors, doctors, well-being enthusiasts
f. principals, teachers, parents, volunteers, special needs caregivers and other adults
Tools you gain:
• Development of an inclusive sense of belonging and emotional flexibility which can reduce anxiety and defensiveness, promote acceptance of differences, an ability to think and act beyond contest, aggression and revenge.
• Emotional and physical kindness skills that help keep people emotionally and physically safe.
• An ability to re-pattern the habits of violence and revenge that disrupt our attachment and decision-making skills.
• An active habit of kindness that is not dependent on language or socio- cultural traditions
• An awareness of the importance and benefits of positive touch and play with children, spouses, and colleagues.
• Positive effects on immune, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems.
• Calmness, compassion, and self-control which enable us to connect with the world without relying on self-defence strategies
• Mental and physical balance, resilience, flexibility which decreases anxiety, stress, fatigue, and illness.
•Increased brain plasticity
Facilitator
O. Fred Donaldson, Ph.D.
Dr. Fred Donaldson is a former professor who taught at the Universities of Washington and California State Hayward and the California School of Professional Psychology. He pioneered the study of Original Play, having researched the subject with children, adults and wild animals for over the past 25 years.
Dr.Donaldson travels extensively, lecturing and playing with diverse groups of people, organizations, and institutions.
Companies like Procter & Gamble, Burlington Northern, Kroger Food Stores, Grinakers South Africa, Justine, Ltd. South Africa, Toyota of South Africa have benefited from Fred’s very insightful training and guidance.
He is the author of the Pulitzer-Prize nominated book, Playing By Heart and has authored numerous articles on Original Play.
What participants say…
'The work that Fred does is so unique that it will alter your life forever-he invites you to play and you become a more alive and full human being"
Ray Napolitano, business executive
I have had the pleasure and privilege of attending a number of Fred's workshops over the years. His ability to engage and inform every single participant is quite remarkable. I have been continually amazed at how a group of complete strangers ends up feeling genuinely connected in an incredibly short time.
With his years of experience working in many different countries, with a wide range of diverse audiences, he is able to provide people with a sense of hope for a better way (kinder, gentler, more playful) to be with each other. I have been consciously and unconsciously integrating much of what I learned from Fred in my consulting practice for almost 15 years now.
I work in a wide variety of sectors on four continents and can confidently say that "Yes, there is room for CEOs, Board Chairs and employees at all levels to benefit personally and organizationally from Fred's work!"
David Gouthro, CSP
The Consulting Edge: Movers & Shakers, Inc. Canada
