Playing with games and toys can stimulate a child’s creative thinking, help them regulate their emotions, and relieve them of boredom. Having play time during therapy helps children feel comfortable and can make them more likely to express their emotions. There are a variety of benefits that play therapy offers, such as growing social and motor skills and fostering a healthy connection between the therapist and the child. Let’s dive further into play therapy so that you can discover all the benefits it offers.
What Is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a counseling practice that allows children to play with games and toys to express their feelings during therapy sessions. While adults often use talk therapy to discuss their emotions, play therapy allows children to express themselves, including their feelings, thoughts, behaviors, and experiences, while in a comfortable environment where they are playing with a therapist.
Therapists have several goals for children to achieve in play therapy. Generally, they want to assist children in developing better coping mechanisms. For example, if a child in play therapy becomes upset after losing a game or breaking a toy, the therapist can step in and help them develop healthy coping strategies. Another goal involves building a child’s creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
How Does Play Therapy Work?
Typically, therapists start play therapy by creating a safe and comfortable atmosphere for the child. They often try to let the child play with as few limits or rules as possible to better allow the child to express themselves fully. Therapists provide children with a variety of games, toys, or activities. Then, they observe the child as they play. During playtime, therapists observe how the child expresses their emotions, makes decisions, and responds to their environment. As the child plays, they may become less guarded, which can allow them to express their emotions verbally with the therapist.
Depending on the child’s needs, play therapy can take place in a group setting or one-on-one with the therapist. Here are some of the common toys, games, and activities that therapists use during play therapy:
- Therapeutic storytelling.
- Dramatic role-playing.
- Coloring.
- Listening to music.
- Dancing and body movement.
- Creating clay figures.
- Playing board games.
- Playing with stuffed animals or dolls.
What Are the Benefits of Play Therapy?
According to Play Therapy International, 71% of children referred to play therapy will show a positive change thanks to its variety of benefits. Therapists can build trust more easily with children during playtime since children are often less reserved while playing. Playtime may also ease a child’s anxiety during therapy sessions, which can allow them to be more receptive to their therapist’s guidance and feedback. Play therapy can also teach children how to have respect for themselves and their space. Therapists often encourage children in play therapy to handle the toys appropriately and clean up after themselves.
Play therapy provides children with a safe, comfortable, and positive atmosphere where they can form a trusting connection with their therapist. If this sounds like a good fit for your child, contact us to set up an appointment.
