Have you noticed your child struggling to express their big emotions like sadness, fear, anger, or worry? Perhaps you’ve wondered why they’re acting out or why they can’t just tell you what’s wrong.
For many children, identifying emotions, let alone talking about them, is incredibly difficult. Misbehaviour often masks unmet emotional needs or struggles that they cannot put into words.
What if there was a way for your child to communicate and work through their challenges without needing to rely on words? That’s where play therapy comes in.
Why is Play Therapy effective?
Play therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses play, children’s most natural and comfortable form of expression, to help them communicate emotions, solve problems, and explore their world in a safe and supportive space.
Safe Space for Emotional Expression and Exploration
Feelings play a significant role in shaping behaviour, and understanding these emotions is crucial for growth. Play therapy creates a space for children to identify, explore, and experiment with their thoughts and emotions in a non-judgmental, child-led setting. By meeting children on their level, play becomes the bridge that allows them to process their inner world in ways they might struggle to articulate verbally. Through free and creative play, children can better understand their experiences and discover ways to manage emotions.
The Power of Relationship
One of the most crucial aspects of play therapy is the relationship between the therapist and the child. This connection, built through acceptance and warmth, creates a secure environment where children feel safe to express themselves freely. Virginia Axline, a pioneer in child-centred play therapy, emphasised the importance of accepting each child as they are and respecting their pace. This deep level of acceptance fosters self-awareness, self-exploration, and self-discovery.
Child-Led and Individualised
Play therapy is uniquely flexible, adapting to each child’s individual needs and challenges. As a child-led approach, it empowers children to explore solutions for themselves in a way that feels natural and comfortable to them. The process allows them to discover their own answers rather than being taught externally imposed strategies. In doing so, children not only address their immediate difficulties, but also develop valuable life skills they can carry into adulthood.
Benefits of Play Therapy
Play therapy helps children create meaning from their past experiences and develop tools for emotional and behavioural growth. Encouraging child-led exploration and experimentation supports knowledge-building and emotional resilience.
Some commonly seen positive effects include:
- Improved emotional regulation: Helping children identify and manage their feelings.
- Enhanced confidence and self-esteem: Building a stronger sense of self.
- Better focus and performance: Supporting cognitive and behavioural development at school and home.
- Strengthened coping mechanisms and skills: Equipping children with tools to handle challenges effectively.
Play Therapy is most helpful to children between the ages of 4 to 14, and has been proven to be effective in addressing a range of difficulties, such as:
- Low Self-Esteem: Struggling with feelings of inadequacy or worthlessness, often seen in children who have difficulty believing in their abilities or feel “less than” their peers.
- Emotional Dysregulation: Challenges in managing emotions such as anxiety, stress, fear, depression, or PTSD. This can lead to overwhelming emotional reactions, mood swings, or difficulty handling everyday situations.
- Attachment Issues or Withdrawal: Difficulty forming secure relationships, which may result in avoidance or withdrawal from others. Children with attachment issues might have trouble trusting caregivers or peers, often due to early-life trauma or instability.
- Trauma or Grief: Experiences such as abuse, bereavement, or hospitalisation can lead to emotional scars, manifesting as anxiety, withdrawal, or difficulty processing loss and change.
- Social Challenges or Bullying: Struggles with social interaction, including difficulty making friends or fitting in, as well as being a victim of bullying or engaging in bullying behaviour.
- Family Transitions: Difficulties adjusting to major life changes like divorce, separation, or relocation. These transitions can lead to feelings of insecurity, confusion, or emotional stress.
- Behavioural Concerns: Issues like anger, impulsivity, defiance, or difficulties with attention (such as in ADHD). Children might struggle to follow rules, manage their behaviour, or get along with others.
How does Play Therapy work?
Play therapy is not a “quick fix” but a gradual process that unfolds at the child’s pace. Over time, children learn to recognise and process emotions, develop coping skills, and build emotional resilience in a way that feels natural to them.
What Happens in a Play Therapy Session?
In a play therapy session, children are given access to a variety of open-ended toys and creative art supplies designed to foster autonomy and expression. They might:
- Act out scenarios with dolls or figures to communicate situations they find difficult to verbalise.
- Build with blocks or sand to explore and process emotions symbolically.
- Engage in creative activities like drawing or painting to express thoughts or feelings they cannot put into words.
- Release emotions through activities such as music, movement, or role-playing.
The therapist observes the child’s play, using these interactions to understand their inner world and emotional needs. Sometimes, the therapist will join the play, reflecting on the child’s actions or gently guiding them to explore underlying emotions, patterns, or solutions.
Conclusion
Play therapy is a powerful tool that empowers children to express themselves, understand their emotions, and navigate life’s challenges with confidence. In a supportive, child-centred environment, children gain the skills they need to thrive emotionally and socially. It’s an exciting journey of self-discovery and growth, and it can make a lasting impact on their well-being.
If you think play therapy could benefit your child, we’d love to support you. Learn more about our Play Therapy services here: https://ohanatherapy.sg/play-therapy
References
- Axline, V. (1969) Play Therapy. New York: Ballantine Books.
- Landreth, G. L. (2012). Play Therapy: The Art of Relationships. Routledge.
- Martin, E. (2021). Pioneers: Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. Early Years Educator, 10 February.
- VanFleet, R, Sywulak, A. E., Sniscak, C. C. (2010) History, Theory, Principles, and variations of child-centered Play Therapy. Child-Centered Play Therapy. New York: The Guildford Press.
- Watts, R. E. and Garza, Y. (2008). A Constructivist Approach to Child-Centred Play Therapy. In: Raskin, J and Bridges, S. Eds. Studies in Meaning 3. New York: Pace University Press, pp. 145-164.
