When Should a Parent Consider Play Therapy for Children?

Counsellor's Diary | 22-Oct-2024

Sometimes, parents find themselves wondering when it might be time to try play therapy for their child. It's really common to ask this question-after all, every child has ups and downs! Generally, play therapy can be a good idea if you notice ongoing changes in your child's behaviour, mood, or the way they handle everyday life, and these changes seem worrying or are making things more difficult at home or at school.

Here are some of the typical reasons parents think about play therapy:

• Your child is showing challenging behaviours-maybe being more aggressive, withdrawn, or defiant than usual.
• They seem to be struggling with tough feelings like anxiety, sadness, or grief, and it's not getting any better over time.
• There's been a big change in their life, like a divorce, a new baby in the family, or sadly, the loss of someone close.
• They're dealing with the aftermath of something traumatic, such as abuse, illness, an accident, or even a natural disaster.
• Making or keeping friends seems especially hard for them, or they're facing other social difficulties.
• They're finding it tough to cope with things related to ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or learning difficulties.

If any of these challenges are hanging around or seem to be affecting your child's wellbeing or your family life, it's worth having a chat with our roster of top play therapists in Mumbai. Sometimes, just having that outside perspective can make a big difference.

What is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is a specialized form of counselling designed to help children process complex emotions and experiences through the natural language of play. Play therapy is necessary because unlike adults, children often lack the verbal skills to express their feelings and struggles directly. In play therapy, toys, creative art, and games become the tools for communication. Our therapists are trained to observe and engage children in activities that allow them to symbolically express their inner world and work through challenges at their own developmental pace. In therapy, play becomes a bridge between a child's inner world and the therapist's understanding, allowing children to process confusing feelings, fears, and experiences that may otherwise remain unresolved.

Play therapy is generally suitable for children ages three to sixteen, encompassing a variety of approaches such as directive or non-directive techniques. The flexibility of these approaches makes play therapy adaptable to each child's unique needs and circumstances.

How Does Play Therapy Benefit Children?

Play therapy brings a host of benefits for kids which are both broad and profound:

• Understanding and handling feelings: In play therapy, children get to practise spotting and talking about their feelings-like anger, sadness, or worry-in a relaxed, safe setting. This helps them become better at managing their emotions.
• Coping skills: It gives kids gentle ways to work through scary or upsetting experiences, so things don't feel quite so overwhelming.
• Solving problems: Through play, children can experiment with different ways of dealing with situations and come up with their own solutions.
• Getting along with others: Play therapy gives them a chance to learn and practise social skills, making it easier to build friendships and get along with people.
• Boosting confidence: As kids work through their challenges and see themselves making progress, it gives their self-esteem a nice boost and helps them feel good about who they are.

In summary, play therapy offers a developmental and age-appropriate avenue for children to heal and grow, while providing parents with tools and insights to support their child's emotional well-being. If a child is struggling to cope, communicate, or thrive, play therapy can be a gentle yet powerful step toward positive change for the entire family.