“Play is the work of the child”
-Maria Montessori
The concept of play therapy is often confusing to parents. We don’t usually associate playing with something therapeutic. After all, play is something we do for fun. It is not unreasonable for anyone to wonder how playing can help someone address their issues. In fact, it makes sense to question how it works.
Play therapy is usually targeted toward younger children, ages 3-12, because of their difficulty in expressing themselves verbally. It can also be used with older kids—and even adults—who may have a disability or other issue that prevents them from being able to engage in effective verbal interaction. It can be used to treat a wide array of problems, including trauma, family conflict, and anxiety.
Play is the Language of Children
One helpful way to look at play therapy is to consider that play is the language of children. When most adults go to therapy they talk to their therapist to work through their problems. Children do not have the same command of verbal expression compared to adults. Instead, children often use play as a form of communication. Play helps them understand their world. In short, play therapy is for children what talking therapy is for adults.
Playing is what children do best. Play therapy allows kids to perform a comfortable behavior in a safe environment. Because it is often seen as fantasy and make-believe, play is much less threatening than discussing problems directly. Consequently, children may be more willing to address sensitive topics, such as abuse, death, and family crises.
Another critical aspect is how it permits children to have the freedom to express themselves. Children generally lack control in our society. Adults make decisions and children have to agree or face consequences. Pretend play provides children with the opportunity to control their narrative. It gives them the ability to express themselves rather than just see if they are good at following directions. As a result, you are more likely to see a true demonstration of their thoughts and feelings. That honesty leads to a more accurate assessment of problems and an ability to pinpoint appropriate treatment themes.
Types of Play Therapy
Play therapy can either be directive or non-directive. In directive play therapy, the therapist controls the structure and the content of the play. For example, they might suggest playing with dolls and guide the play towards a particular situation the client may have faced. In non-directive therapy, the child leads the play. The themes they bring up serve as a window into what they feel is important and how they interpret their world.
Also crucial to the process, play therapy allows clients to problem-solve how to best to attack their troubles. For example, a child that plays with puppets may role play—with therapist assistance—real-life behavioral options for dealing with specific situations. Repeated play scenarios can result in increased confidence and mastery of coping skills.
The value of play cannot be underestimated. It is a primary way that children communicate and show understanding. Therapists use play to assess and treat clients who would otherwise have difficulty with talk therapy. It has been proven to be a unique, safe, and effective format to help younger children address their problems.
