Child Therapy: Play is the Language of Children
In order to understand Child Therapy we must first understand how best to communicate with a child. Child Therapy is based on the premise that play is the language of children.
I use the term ' play' in a broad sense to encompass each time a child interacts with the world around them. This would include sucking ones fingers, playing with food, hitting a sibling, playing & make believe or playing a board game. Learning and development that take place well before language skills develop exist in this realm of play. Children of all ages not only receive, but also send communications via play.
Emotions are difficult for children to understand and even more difficult to express. Even highly verbal children are less likely to verbally describe emotional problems and more likely to express distress through play. Play is the work of childhood and provides a non-threatening way for children to express themselves and work through problems.
In Child Therapy, play allows the child to express true thoughts and feelings in ways best suited to his or her developmental level, in a setting in which the child has the time, space and freedom to work on issues that may be getting in the way of development. With a young child the Psychologist may not even directly discuss problems, but will communicate with the child about them via play. Play in Child Therapy is both a form of communication and a method of healing.
Child Therapists have used play since the 1930s when Anna Freud first proposed symbolic play as a psychiatric intervention for children. In 2003 Sandra Russ of Case University summarized the findings of her longitudinal studies of children which supported the premise that in play children learn to express emotion and solve problems. She also noted that among other natural benefits of play, children also can use it to diffuse strong emotion or calm down.
Parents who are puzzled by a child's description of fun in the therapist's office should be aware that the play is a means to an end. Much more than play is taking place.
I use the term ' play' in a broad sense to encompass each time a child interacts with the world around them. This would include sucking ones fingers, playing with food, hitting a sibling, playing & make believe or playing a board game. Learning and development that take place well before language skills develop exist in this realm of play. Children of all ages not only receive, but also send communications via play.
Emotions are difficult for children to understand and even more difficult to express. Even highly verbal children are less likely to verbally describe emotional problems and more likely to express distress through play. Play is the work of childhood and provides a non-threatening way for children to express themselves and work through problems.
In Child Therapy, play allows the child to express true thoughts and feelings in ways best suited to his or her developmental level, in a setting in which the child has the time, space and freedom to work on issues that may be getting in the way of development. With a young child the Psychologist may not even directly discuss problems, but will communicate with the child about them via play. Play in Child Therapy is both a form of communication and a method of healing.
Child Therapists have used play since the 1930s when Anna Freud first proposed symbolic play as a psychiatric intervention for children. In 2003 Sandra Russ of Case University summarized the findings of her longitudinal studies of children which supported the premise that in play children learn to express emotion and solve problems. She also noted that among other natural benefits of play, children also can use it to diffuse strong emotion or calm down.
Parents who are puzzled by a child's description of fun in the therapist's office should be aware that the play is a means to an end. Much more than play is taking place.
