There may be a tendency for people to see play as something that children do just to have fun, and to dismiss it as little more than that. In some ways, it can be understandable why we’d think this way. We often don’t give much importance to play as it’s seen as something only children engage in. It’s easy to forget that play is important to a child’s development. In fact, even in adults, play still aids in learning and development.

Play therapy is a form of psychotherapy and counselling that allows children experiencing loss, trauma, emotional, or behavioural issues to open up their emotions in a safe space. This safe, play space is where they are allowed to face their thoughts and emotions nonverbally through play. It can help ameliorate effects of the child’s deeper emotional issues and helps them to deal with stress and anxiety.

Some people may think that Play Therapy is just children playing with toys and having fun, but it’s important to note that play is a form of communication and used for learning. Even young animals like lion cubs engage in play to learn the skills they need to function properly when they mature. As adults, we can sometimes forget how important and effective play is in the learning process.

Play therapy is a therapeutic approach that involves using play and creative activities to help children process their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. This type of therapy has been used for decades and has been proven to be effective in helping children overcome a wide range of psychological and emotional issues.

If you have ever tried to help loved ones experiencing prolonged, acute stress or someone trying to deal with a past traumatic experience, you may have noticed and realised that talking to them doesn’t seem to yield much success. These issues can so deeply affect people that verbalising them may be so difficult that it no longer becomes an option.

Children experiencing trauma are particularly vulnerable as they do not have the means to understand what is happening, how to process the trauma, and their ability to vocalise and communicate their trauma may be limited or non-existent. They are too young to have developed the coping mechanisms to deal with their trauma or stress. Read more

Some people believe that letting children play is unproductive, and that it wastes their potential to learn other more important things. Play is often used as a reward for doing something approved by parents and also to be taken away as a punishment. However, play can be so much more than that.

Some people may think that Play Therapy is just children playing with toys and having fun, but it’s important to note that play is a form of communication and used for learning. Even young animals like lion cubs engage in play to learn the skills they need to function properly when they mature. As adults, we can sometimes forget how important and effective play is in the learning process.

If you have ever tried to help loved ones experiencing prolonged, acute stress or someone trying to deal with a past traumatic experience, you may have noticed and realised that talking to them doesn’t seem to yield much success. These issues can so deeply affect people that verbalising them may be so difficult that it no longer becomes an option.

Some people believe that letting children play is unproductive, and that it wastes their potential to learn other more important things. Play is often used as a reward for doing something approved by parents and also to be taken away as a punishment. However, play can be so much more than that.