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.