Are you looking for ways to support your child through emotional struggles? These simple play therapy techniques help children express their emotions and feel understood.
Many children struggle to explain what they’re feeling.
And when they can’t explain — those emotions often come out through behavior. Tears, frustration, withdrawal, or meltdowns seem to appear from nowhere. Getting to the bottom of what’s going on can feel impossible.
But one of the most powerful ways to help children make sense of their feelings is through play.
That’s because play is a child’s natural language. As adults, we tend to talk through our experiences. But children find it easier to express their inner world through play, imagination, art, and movement.
This is what makes play therapy such a powerful approach. It uses this natural language to help children explore feelings, process experiences, and develop emotional skills.
While formal play therapy is delivered by trained professionals, many of the play-based principles behind it can inspire simple, supportive activities at home.
These playful moments can help children feel safer expressing themselves — and also help you as a parent understand what’s happening beneath the behaviour.
In this guide, I’ll share 21 play therapy techniques you can use at home to support your child.
These ideas aren’t a replacement for professional therapy when it’s needed. Instead, they offer simple ways to create space for emotional expression, understanding, and connection in everyday family life.
If you’d like a simple way to start using these ideas, you can download my free Crazy Beautiful Emotional Toolkit here.
Here’s what we’ll cover…
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is an approach where trained therapists use play to help children work through emotional challenges.
Across regular sessions, children are given freedom to play in their own way. Through this child-led play, issues that are troubling children will often come to light.
And when children feel heard and understood – problematic behaviors tend to decrease.
Many of the simple activities in this guide are inspired by some of the play therapy techniques used in sessions.
Why These Play Therapy Techniques Work So Well for Children
Play-based approaches are powerful because they meet children where they are. Through play, children can:
- Express emotions they don’t yet have words for
- Process confusing or overwhelming experiences
- Build confidence and self-awareness
- Develop healthier ways to handle big feelings
- Strengthen problem-solving skills and self-control
- Build emotional intelligence
As a parent, you are in a unique position to use therapeutic play – because you know your child best.
Now before you jump into the 21 play therapy techniques…
If you’d like a simple way to actually use these ideas (without second-guessing yourself), I’ve created a free resource to help.
The Crazy Beautiful Emotional Toolkit gives you:
• Simple scripts to help your child open up
• Easy ways to respond to big emotions
• Printable tools you can start using straight away
• A short insider guide to play therapy principles, so you can use these techniques with more confidence and clarity
Includes:
• Emotions picture cards
• A feelings thermometer and body map
• A weather-based emotions check-in
• Calming scripts like The Magic Moonbeam
Some of these tools can be used alongside the techniques below—so you don’t have to figure everything out from scratch.
So instead of trying to piece it all together, you’ll have clear, supportive tools.
You can download it here →
21 Powerful Play Therapy Techniques Parents Can Use at Home
These techniques can be easily used in everyday playtime and work well for children aged 3–12.
Remember, the goal isn’t to “fix” your child. It’s to create moments where they feel safe enough to express what’s going on inside.
1 The weather forecast check-in
Invite your child to pick a type of weather that matches how they feel. Perhaps they feel sunny or stormy or like a whirlwind. Benefit: It’s incredible how this symbolic approach enables children to open up. It allows them to talk much more freely about their emotions, than a direct question such as, ‘how are you feeling?’ would. That’s because symbolism helps us identify and express emotions that lie in our subconscious. Try this activity with other sorts of things too, such as types of transport or different colors.
If you’d like a worksheet version of this for your child to write and draw on, there’s a printable weather emotions check-in inside the Crazy Beautiful Emotional Toolkit.
2 Magic wand wishes
Give your child a wand and invite them to make 3 wishes. Then listen carefully. Benefit: Hearing the things they wish for may give you insight into issues your child might be struggling with. (There again, it may just give you insight into their silly, frivolous side! – But that’s okay.) As before, though, encouraging a child to talk in this way is much more effective than asking direct questions.
3 Emotions ball play
Create a set of cards with different facial expressions (happy, sad, angry, scared, etc.). Then throw a ball back and forward with your child. When someone drops it, they get to choose an emotion and talk about a time they felt that way. Benefit: Rhythmically attuned moments such as ball tossing, are known to break down defensiveness. It creates a small safe place where children connect and open up more freely. In therapy sessions, this technique always blows me away by its power to help kids open up. I’m always amazed at how much I hear from even the most guarded of children, when using this technique!
If you don’t have emotion picture cards, you can use the ones in my toolkit—they work great for this activity.
4 Sand Play
Set up a small sandbox with various toys and figures. Without giving any instructions (non-directive), allow your child to create scenes or stories in the sand. Benefit: This type of play is great for expressing emotions and exploring different scenarios. It comes from what’s on the child’s heart. Do this over several sessions and watch carefully for the themes that emerge.
5 The Calm Down Jar
Fill a jar with water, glitter, and a few drops of glue. When your child feels upset, shake the jar and encourage them to watch the glitter settle. Benefit: This activity can help them focus and calm down.
6 The Worry Box
Have your child decorate a small box. When they feel worried, they can write or draw the worry on paper and put it in the box. Benefit: This helps them feel like they have control over their worries.
(Discover why the worry box technique is so extremely effective here.)
7 Puppet Play
Use puppets or even dolls, action figures, or stuffed animals to act out scenarios that reflect your child’s experiences or emotions. Benefit: This can help them process difficult situations and rehearse different responses. It can also help them express feelings through the toys that they might not be comfortable sharing directly.
8 Storytelling Play Therapy Techniques
Encourage your child to create a story, either verbally, in writing or through drawing. Benefit: You can guide the story to touch on issues they might be dealing with. This allows them to process these experiences in a safe space.
9 Drawing Feelings
Provide your child with paper and crayons and ask them to draw how they’re feeling. Benefit: Discuss the drawing afterward to help them verbalize their emotions.
If your child finds it hard to explain where they feel emotions, a simple body map (like the one in my toolkit) can really help bring this to life.
You can also learn how I help kids externalize anxiety with a fun monster drawing activity here.
10 Building a Safe Place
Using pillows and blankets, help your child create a “safe place” where they feel protected. Benefit: This can be a physical space or an imaginary one that they can visualize when they need to feel secure.
11 Music and Movement Play Therapy Techniques
Play music and encourage your child to move or dance to express different emotions. Benefit: This activity is particularly good for children who have difficulty sitting still or expressing feelings verbally.
12 The Balloon Breathing Technique
Teach your child to take deep breaths by pretending to blow up a balloon or other breathing activities such as Teddy Bear Breaths or Elephant Breathing. Benefit: This simple exercise can help them manage stress and anxiety.
(Discover more of the best breathing strategies I use with kids here.)
13 Mindfulness with Sensory Play
Engage your child in sensory activities like playing with water, sand, or slime. Benefit: Encourage them to focus on how these materials feel, smell, and move, helping them stay present and calm.
14 The Feelings Thermometer
Draw a large thermometer and label it with different emotions at various levels. Benefit: Ask your child to point to where they are on the thermometer. This helps them to assess and communicate the intensity of their feelings.
A visual feelings thermometer, like the one in the toolkit, can make this much easier for children to understand and use.
15 Therapeutic Storytelling
Children process emotions more easily through stories. Therapeutic storytelling involves creating or reading stories that mirror your child’s challenges. As you tell the story, use characters and scenarios that your child can relate to. Then guide the narrative toward a positive resolution. Benefit: This technique allows children to see their problems from a new perspective and discover solutions within the context of the story.
(Neuroscience shows therapeutic stories can rewire our brain – find out why here.)
16 Guided meditations
Guided meditations are a wonderful way to help your child relax and explore their emotions in a calm, controlled environment. You can lead your child through a simple meditation. In this they can imagine a peaceful place, like a beach or a forest, and visualize themselves feeling safe and happy there. These meditations can be tailored to your child’s needs—whether they need to calm down after a busy day or gain confidence before a big event. Benefit: By practicing guided meditations, children learn valuable skills in mindfulness and self-regulation. These are tools that they can use throughout their lives.
(Click here to try the Guided Meditation for peacefulness: The Graceful Jellyfish – free script)
17 Play Therapy Techniques using Nature Play
Spend time outdoors, collecting natural items like leaves, stones, or flowers. Benefit: Use these items to create art or tell stories, which can help your child connect with their emotions in a calming environment.
18 Mask Making Play Therapy Techniques
Creating masks can be a powerful way for children to explore different aspects of their identity and emotions. Provide your child with materials like paper plates, markers, and craft supplies. They can use these to make masks that represent different feelings or characters. For example, they might create a “brave” mask to wear when they need extra courage. Or they may make a “happy” mask to remind them of joyful moments. Benefit: As they create and wear these masks, you can discuss the feelings or traits they associate with each one. This helps them better understand and express their emotions.
19 Clockwork Toy Fantasy Drama
Tell your child they are a clockwork toy and pretend to wind them up. I use a large, antique ‘magic’ key I own, which really sparks kids’ imagination. Then watch carefully to see what themes they act into. Make-believe play allows children to explore their imagination. It lets them work through real-life issues in a safe and creative way. You can also try other themes. By pretending to be superheroes, animals, or characters from stories, for instance, children can express their feelings and conquer fears. They can also experiment with different roles and scenarios. Benefit: This type of play not only develops creativity but also helps children develop problem-solving skills and build self-confidence in a fun and engaging way.
20 Emotion Sculpting with Play-Doh
Give your child some Play-Doh and ask them to sculpt how they’re feeling. Benefit: This hands-on activity can help them externalize and explore their emotions. Kids can also squish, squeeze and pound on the Doh which is a great release for difficult emotions such as anger or frustration.
21 Mindfulness for Kids
Children find simple mindfulness practices so much fun. Help them develop body awareness with body scans and simple yoga poses — learn how to do a body scan for kids here. Benefit: Mindfulness practices help them release tension and improve emotional regulation as they better recognize and understand the cues their body is sending.
You can also try a guided script, like The Magic Moonbeam in my toolkit, to help your child relax and feel safe.
Closing Thoughts On Play Therapy-Inspired Techniques for Parents
Children often communicate their inner world through play. When we slow down and join them in that language, we begin to understand them in new ways.
Through these simple but powerful activities, you’ll not only support your child’s emotional wellbeing but also strengthen the bond you share. And there’s nothing more precious than that.
If you’d like more simple ways to support your child’s emotions…
Explore more ways to support your child’s emotions:
- Discover why the worry box technique is so extremely effective here.
- Click here to try the Guided Meditation for peacefulness: The Graceful Jellyfish – free script.
- Discover some of the best breathing strategies I use with kids here.
- Neuroscience shows therapeutic stories can rewire our brain – find out why here.
- Try the Guided Meditation for peacefulness: The Graceful Jellyfish – free script.
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