Therapy for Life's new addition to Play Therapy for children... Why is Play Therapy good?

'Therapy for Life' have a gorgeous toy playhouse for the therapy room. In addition to our new Kinetic Sand Tray, toys, books, colouring pens and pencils.

Why is a model playhouse or a sand tray good for therapy?

Children don’t have the same cognitive ability as an adult to say what’s bothering them. The problem could be a behavioural issue, psychological issue, or maybe even medical. No matter what the problem is, they need a way to discuss it. The uses of play are very important, children can work on issues that are distressing to them, can play out issues of what they think the future will be, and can talk about trauma. If it’s too hard to put into words, they can work on it with play.

For example, many children under 12 years old can’t express what they’re feeling or really even be able to ask questions about what they’re feeling. They just know something is different and upsetting. Play therapy might be a way for them to express what they find troubling without using any verbal language. You can’t stick the child on a couch and ask them to start telling you what’s on their mind. Instead play therapy builds upon their normal communication level using play.

The range spans from a very non-directive child-centered play to a mixed approach and even a very direct approach such as cognitive behavioural play therapy. As children get older and become more verbal and able to think abstractly, they may be more able to use techniques common in cognitive behavioural therapy.

"Of course the most important aspect is enabling the child to feel safe, once they feel safe and relaxed, the playtime flows and the child can begin to tell their perspective on life through drawings and toy figures, recreating what they have experienced and what they predict might happen." Samantha Crook

The idea of being in control of the play can help give a child confidence. Since the child may feel out of control with the events playing out in the rest of his or her life, that sense of control during playtime is important.

It's even good for teaching parents how to use skills in play to help their children to open up.

Because of the way our society is today, a lot of parents are in the habit of turning play into an educational or learning experience, I see parents correcting their kids as they play, such as making them say ‘please’ or making them count items.

There’s this pressure on parents to use every opportunity to be a learning experience instead of just sitting and enjoying that playtime with the child. It can be hard to break that habit, but parents see how much kids value uninterrupted playtime at play therapy and we hope they’ll bring that experience home. For children to come to a place where they get to sit down and not only play but get 50 minutes of an adult’s complete attention is a rare thing.

If you think you're child is feeling lost and alone, or their behaviour is difficult or very quiet, please give us a call. We understand that all you want is your child to be happy, sometimes the help has to come from outside to bring the family together.

Sam & Jackie at Therapy for Life