PLAY is the language of children. Instead of words they express themselves through play.
Play therapy is dedicated to customizing therapy to each child.
How does play therapy help children?
- Become more responsible for behaviors and develop more successful strategies.
- Develop new and creative solutions to problems.
- Develop respect and acceptance of self and others.
- Learn to experience and express emotion.
- Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others.
- Learn new social skills and relational skills with family.
- Develop self-efficacy and thus a better assuredness about their abilities.
Coping skills are taught in a safe environment examples:
A child is taught to use play dough to express anger instead of an angry outburst.
A child is taught to use words “I am mad” instead of hitting a sibling
A child can learn to calm themselves down by learning which play therapy technique is best suited for that child.
Every child is unique. Helping that child find their inner power to communicate what they are feeling in the beauty of play therapy.
Play therapy helps a child communicate what the child has wanted to share but was unable to find a way to say it.
An anxious child may appear bossy and controlling or present as withdrawn or overwhelmed with worry. Play therapy gives them a safe place to express themselves and use their natural language of play to find solutions to help lessen anxiety.
“Although everyone benefits, play therapy is especially appropriate for children ages 3 through 12 years old (Carmichael, 2006; Gil, 1991; Landreth, 2002; Schaefer, 1993). Teenagers and adults have also benefited from play techniques and recreational processes. To that end, use of play therapy with adults within mental health, agency, and other healthcare contexts is increasing (Pedro-Carroll & Reddy, 2005; Schaefer, 2003). In recent years, play therapy interventions have also been applied to infants and toddlers (Schaefer et. al., 2008).” https://a4pt.site-ym.com/?PTMakesADifference
