Therapeutic Play Time for Children: Enhancing Development at A Ray of Hope

On more than one occasion, parents have scheduled an appointment for their child at A Ray of Hope and questioned why I played games and drew pictures with their child instead of using traditional psychoanalysis techniques. In situations like these, it's important to explain the purpose of play therapy in child therapy.

When adults think of therapy, they often imagine sitting in a chair, talking about life stressors, thoughts, and emotions. However, therapy for children looks different. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for problem-solving and communication skills, doesn't fully mature until around age 27. This means children often lack the insight and vocabulary to identify and express their stressors, thoughts, and emotions. Imagine being an adult trying to communicate complex feelings using only high school-level Spanish. Similarly, many children struggle to articulate their emotions as adults do. Play therapy provides a more effective way for children to express themselves and address their developmental and emotional needs.
 

The Role of Play in Child Therapy at A Ray of Hope

While some children are happy to come to my office at A Ray of Hope, sit in a chair, and use their words to express themselves, the vast majority do not. Instead, they communicate through the medium they know best: play.

When a child is unable to articulate emotions due to family dynamics, I ask them to draw or use toys to recreate what happened and how it made them feel. For children suspected of having a cognitive delay that makes it difficult to count, identify numbers or letters, or read, playing an age-appropriate board game like "Sorry" or "Battleship" provides insight into the extent of the delay. For children experiencing inattentiveness due to ADHD, playing games that demand focus, such as "Chess" and "Simon," exercises this part of the brain, helping improve attention at home and school.

Benefits of Play Therapy in Child Development

At A Ray of Hope, our child therapy services use play therapy to understand and support your child's unique developmental needs. Whether addressing emotional expression, cognitive delays, or ADHD symptoms, our approach ensures your child receives the personalized care they need to thrive.

I will admit that play therapy is not always as straightforward as adult therapy. However, even as children, we experience very deep and powerful emotions. At A Ray of Hope, we recognize the importance of slowing down and engaging in play therapy with a child. Through this process, we often uncover impressive insights and knowledge that children can share. Our child therapy services are designed to help children express their emotions and address their developmental needs through the power of play.

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