Play isn't just recreation - it is therapy incognito.
Play is more than a way for children to pass the time; it is crucial for how children explore and interact with their surroundings, manage feelings, and form healthy ways to cope. Play therapy is a structured approach used by trained professionals to help children work through emotional and behavioural difficulties. Here are a few powerful techniques of play therapy that parents, shadow teachers, educators can use in their sessions.
Let's dive into exploring how you can transform everyday moments into healing moments by sharing five imaginative play therapy ideas - all of which are intended to promote emotional awareness, communication, and resilience in your child.
Understanding Why Play Therapy Works
Children do not always possess the words to describe how they are feeling - but they do have imagination. Dr. Garry Landreth, a leader in child-centred play therapy, stated: "Toys are the child's words, and play is the child's language." (Landreth, 2012). Through play, children are able to express thoughts and feelings that might be difficult to convey otherwise.
Play also teaches children how to problem solve, allows children to learn emotional regulation, and keeps them focused on play. By integrating play therapy in the home, you are not taking the place of professional support - however you are establishing a safe, open, and emotionally intelligent space for your child to grow.
5 Play Therapy Activities You Can Do at Home
1. The “Feelings Jar” Game:
Write different feelings (i.e., happy, sad, angry, confused, or excited) on slips of paper and place them in a jar. Invite your child to pick one and then either;
- act it out like in charades,
- draw a picture of what that feeling looks like,
- or tell a short story where someone is feeling that way. Helping kids recognize, label, and express feelings is a key factor in emotional growth, as well as helping kids with building empathy and self-awareness.
2. Make a “Worry Box”
Here’s how it works:
Decorate a small box together and explain that it is an “special” place for “worries”. Your child can draw or write down whatever is bothering them and place it in the box. Set aside a certain time every day to discuss why worries in a calm and supportive time and space. Externalizing their anxiety gives kids more control over their worries, acknowledges their feelings, and shows them it is acceptable to discuss difficult feelings.
3. Role Play with Dolls or Action Figures:
Encourage your child to act out real-life situations (starting a new school, visiting the dentist, or resolving a conflict - using their favourite toys. Ask these guiding questions:
- "What do you think the toy is feeling right now?"
"What could help them feel better?" This truly enables kids to work through experiences, increases their empathy, and allows them to try out solutions to problems in a safe and creative way.
4. Build a Safe Space Fort:
Let your child create a "safe space" made out of blankets, pillows, and furniture. It might be a quiet fort, a tent, or even a corner crammed with calming items, like stuffed animals, books, or sensory toys. This will become the space they retreat to when they feel upset or overwhelmed. This safe space is to provide children with a degree of self-control and safety, and will offer them a way to self-soothe and cope with big feelings on their own.
5. Use Art to Have a Conversation Starter:
Instead of asking the usual question, "How was your day?", provide your child with some paper and crayons and ask them to draw their day. Once they are finished drawing you can begin with open-ended questions, like:
- "Tell me what's happening here."
- "Who's this character?"
- "How were they feeling?"
Art provides a non-verbal avenue to show how they were thinking and feeling, and I find this helpful when children aren't talkative. Art offers an opportunity to talk about something relatable and meaningful to your child, without the pressure to share.
Expert Insight
“Toys are the child’s words, and play is the child’s language.”
— Dr. Garry Landreth, Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (2012) When adults meet children in their world of play, we open doors to deeper connection and understanding. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or educator, simply being present and intentional can significantly support a child’s mental well-being.
Tips for Parents
- Let your child lead. Don’t overanalyse or direct too much. Trust their play.
- Be present. Even 20 minutes of distraction-free play can strengthen your bond.
- Keep it simple. No need for fancy toys—paper, markers, and imagination work wonders.
- Stay consistent. Making these activities a routine builds trust and predictability.
Final Thought:
Play is powerful. When used with care, it becomes a bridge between your child’s inner world and the support they need. By integrating just a few of these techniques at home, you’re not only having fun—you’re fostering growth, healing, and lifelong emotional skills.
References
Landreth, G. L. (2012). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (3rd ed.). Routledge.