What makes play therapeutic

Drawing, on the other hand, allows children to get in touch with their inner self and can be used to illustrate the development of their strengths. Children can be asked, for instance, to create a representation of what is troubling them.

A child may also show in a drawing the development of their learning from infancy to the present day to highlight memorable milestones and how much they have grown and accomplished over the years. Finger painting tends to promote emotions of joy, celebration, and happiness.

Imaginative pretend play helps children learn about social skills and observe situations in a safe environment. Puppets and soft toys can help them to learn and practise behaviours that are socially accepted. By getting involved in puppet play with the child, adults can mimic situations that motivate children to respond in a variety of ways, so the children can indirectly explore the appropriateness of their own social behaviour.

Communication By expressing themselves symbolically through toys in play or play therapy , children are able to separate themselves from complex feelings and memories that are too difficult for them to directly communicate to others. Creating an opportunity for children to bring their problems, wishes and desires to the surface, even if it is done symbolically, can be very beneficial.

An imaginary journey taken with the children, a personal story, allows them to get in touch with their memories in order to relate critically to their perception of the events, through dramatic role play. Miniature animals and sand play provide visual pictures by touching the psyche, encouraging children to talk about whatever may be troubling them. The use of symbols in the sand tray can help them develop a visual picture of events they have experienced. Telling stories can encourage children to create their own story: it is highly likely that children will project ideas from their own lives onto the characters and themes in the story, and may even include themselves in events.

Telling stories enables children to express their wishes, fantasies and hopes. This is particularly useful for children who are experiencing traumatic happenings in their lives, as it gives them an opportunity to express their hurt. Sign up to find out more in our Healthy Mind newsletter.

What is play therapy? An exploratory study of child-centered play therapy with aggressive children. International Journal of Play Therapy. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

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Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. What Is Play Therapy? Types of Play Therapy. Benefits of Play Therapy. Things to Consider. How to Get Started. How Art Therapy Works. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Related Articles. They may also want to conduct separate interviews with the child, parents, or teachers. After a thorough assessment, the therapist will set some therapeutic goals, decide on what limits may be necessary, and formulate a plan for how to proceed. Play therapists pay close attention to how a child handles being separated from the parent, how they play alone, and how they react when the parent returns.

Much can be revealed in how a child interacts with different types of toys and how their behavior changes from session to session. They may use play to act out fears and anxieties, as a soothing mechanism, or to heal and problem-solve. Play therapists use these observations as a guide to the next steps. Each child is different, so therapy will be tailored to their individual needs.

As therapy progresses, behaviors and goals can be reassessed. At some point, the therapist may bring parents, siblings, or other family members into play therapy. This is known as filial therapy. It can help teach conflict resolution, promote healing, and improve family dynamics. Sessions typically last 30 minutes to an hour and are held once a week or so. How many sessions are needed depends on the child and how well they respond to this type of therapy.

Therapy can take place individually or in groups. Play therapy can be directive or nondirective. The therapist will guide the play with a specific goal in mind. The nondirective approach is less structured. The child is able to choose toys and games as they see fit. The therapist will observe closely and participate as appropriate.

Sessions must take place in an environment where the child feels safe and where there are few limitations. The therapist may use techniques that involve:. Depending on the child and the situation, the therapist will either guide the child toward certain methods of play or let them choose for themselves. There are any number of ways the therapist can use play therapy to get to know the child and help them cope with their problems.

For example, the therapist might offer the child a dollhouse and some dolls, asking them to act out some problems they have at home. Or they might encourage the child to use hand puppets to recreate something they found stressful or frightening. This is referred to as bibliotherapy.

It could be as simple as asking questions while your child is drawing or painting to try to gain insights into their thought process. Or play various games with the child to encourage problem-solving, cooperation, and social skills.