Play Therapy for Children: Benefits and How It Works

Childhood is the season of life when we are least burdened by problems. Or at least, it is meant to be. The author Patrick Rothfuss wrote in one of his novels titled The Name Of The Wind that “When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.”

Unfortunately, children go through experiences that rob them of their innocence, and they need help to process those experiences to make sense of them and overcome emotional and mental obstacles to their well-being.

What is play therapy?

One of the therapeutic techniques that therapists use to help children is called play therapy. Because of their young age, children are not always able to process their own emotions or articulate themselves enough to share their problems with parents or other adults in their lives.

Play is one of the main ways that young children express themselves and navigate their world, and play therapy leverages this to create space for the child to explore their feelings and experiences.

In everyday life, whether it is with or without the guidance of a mental health professional such as a therapist, children like to communicate through their play. For instance, a child who’s playing violently with their toys may be dismissed as simply being aggressive when he might be mirroring a violent domestic situation he has witnessed.

If you know what to look for, toys can act as symbols and take on greater meaning as they allow a child to act out their inner feelings and deepest emotions. Play is a tool that children use to act out their fears and anxieties, to heal and problem-solve, or as a soothing mechanism.

While play therapy is typically and primarily used with children aged between 3 and 12, it can also be used with adults. It is a type of psychotherapy that is designed to help children through unresolved trauma as well as other difficult mental and emotional challenges.

During playtime, the therapist can observe and gain insights into a child’s situation. With the insights they glean, they can then help the child as they explore their emotions, learn new coping skills and mechanisms, and grow in redirecting and overcoming any inappropriate behaviors.

Play therapy can be used by itself, but it isn’t a replacement for other therapies, medications, and treatments that your child may need. As such, if your child has a diagnosed mental or physical illness, play therapy can be used alongside these other therapies and interventions.

How play therapy works

Every child is different, and therapy will be tailored to their unique needs and situation. To begin with, the play therapist will want to observe the child as they play. They may also conduct interviews with the parents to assess the child and begin setting some therapeutic goals.

A typical weekly play therapy session usually lasts between 30 minutes to an hour, and the number of sessions your child needs will depend on the issues your child is facing and how they respond to this form of therapy. The sessions can be done individually or in groups. D

During your child’s play therapy session, the therapist will foster a safe and comfortable environment for your child to relax and play in. It may take a bit of time for your child to feel comfortable, and your child’s therapist will then observe how your child interacts with the toys provided. A lot can be revealed in how a child interacts with different types of toys and how their behavior changes in each session.

There are two different types of play therapy: directive and non-directive. In the non-directive type, the environment is less structured as the child is given room to express themselves with limited interference, interruptions, or instructions from the therapist.

The therapist will limit their participation as they observe the child at play. During directive play therapy, the therapist will take a more hands-on approach, guiding the child by specifying the games or toys the child will use in the session and guiding them with specific instructions with a goal in mind.

Whichever type of therapy the therapist deems appropriate for the session, there are several different techniques they can apply during the session. Your child will have certain mediums of play they prefer and are more comfortable using, and your child’s therapist will use those to target the issues your child is facing and get the most out of the sessions. The most common techniques that play therapists use involve:

• Building blocks and construction toys.
• Arts and crafts.
• Role-playing.
• Creative visualization.
• Sand and water play.
• Board games.
• Toy phones.
• Play with Legos, dolls, and action figures.
• Puppet play, and play with stuffed animals as well as masks.
• Storytelling.
• Tea party play.
• Musical play.
• Card games.
• Dance and creative movement.
• Strategy games like chess or checkers.
• Hide-and-go-seek.

The possibilities vary greatly, and the therapist will choose what is most helpful for your child.

Who can benefit from play therapy?

Play therapy is helpful for people who have difficulties communicating complex experiences and emotions. This makes it particularly useful for helping children, who are often too young to articulate their thoughts and feelings well. In this way, it is beneficial for children who have experienced abuse, or other traumatic and stressful events. Play therapy can help them work through their experience and regain a sense of normalcy in their lives.

Play therapy is also beneficial for children with behavioral disorders or learning disabilities which hinder their emotional and social expression. Play therapy is effective for children with conditions such as depression, anxiety and anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Play therapy is helpful in circumstances that include:

• Family issues such as divorce, separation, or the death of a close family member.
• Pending medical procedures, and when going through chronic illness or palliative care.
• Grief.
• Developmental delay or learning disabilities.
• Eating and toileting disorders.
• Problematic behaviors in school.
• Sexual, emotional, or physical abuse.
• Aggressive or angry behaviors.
• Natural disasters or other traumatic events.
• Domestic violence, abuse, or neglect.

There are many benefits of play therapy, and these include encouraging a child in their use of language or improving their fine and gross motor skills. Other benefits of play therapy are:

• Helping your child to take more responsibility for certain unhealthy behaviors.
• Building your child’s sense of self-respect.
• Giving children who are struggling with verbal communication a chance to express themselves through play activities.
• Helping your child grow in their empathy and respect for others.
• Creating a space for your child to feel at ease in a way that other more traditional forms of psychotherapy may not accomplish.
• Strengthening family relationships.
• Allowing your child to use toys and mediums they are most comfortable with and go at their own pace.
• Creating the opportunity for your child to take charge of their therapy and healing process.
• Helping children understand their own emotions and teaching them to fully experience and express their feelings.
• Helping children develop their communication and social skills.
• Developing their coping strategies and creative problem-solving skills.
• Alleviating your child’s anxiety.

Finding help for your child through play therapy

Play therapy can help your child overcome serious emotional and mental challenges they face in their life. All forms of therapy take time to begin yielding results and for the effects to be felt. For parents and caregivers, that time can be nerve-wracking because of the seeming indeterminacy. You can come alongside your child by supporting them on their journey toward healing through therapy.

You may have tried other forms of therapy for your child but haven’t found something that works for them as you’d want. If you want to find out more about play therapy, reach out today. One of our Christian counselors can help you explore play therapy and whether it’s appropriate for your child.