Have you ever wondered how the play during play therapy supports children? Learn the powerful ways play helps kids heal emotionally, build resilience, and transform their behavior.
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Because Play Therapy can be so much fun and mess, it’s often very much misunderstood.
Colleagues often ask – What’s really going in on there? Surely you’re just playing with the kids? And how does that play actually benefit children who are struggling anyway?
I know they don’t mean anything bad. But I can see the cynicism written all over their face.
It can be difficult to put into words just how powerful play is. But here, we’ll explore the incredible ways it brings emotional healing, brain development, self-awareness, and more during Play Therapy. Hopefully it will help unravel some of the mystery.
(You can learn more about Play Therapy Techniques Parents Can Use here.)
1. Play helps kids communicate complex feelings
Children struggle to communicate in the same way as adults. That’s because they lack the emotional vocabulary to express complex thoughts and feelings.
Play, however, is a child’s natural language. Through play, children communicate thoughts, experiences and emotions that they might not yet have the language for. For example, a child who feels overwhelmed by parental conflict might use figurines in a sandbox to act out family dynamics, revealing their underlying anxieties or fears. Because play is done symbolically, it allows these emotions to surface safely and indirectly. This makes them easier for the child to address.
This is where play excels. It provides children with a safe space to express complex emotions without directly confronting them through words.
2. Play is driven by deep Emotions
It’s incredible to think, but when a child paints a picture, dances, creates a scene in a sand tray, or lifts a certain toy, that act is self-generated. It comes from the subconscious. For this reason, play helps kids uncover deep emotions or irrational worries in a way that talking often can’t.
During play, children will express thoughts and feelings they weren’t even aware of. These surface through the themes, scenarios and nature of their play. They also give insight into their emotional landscape.
Children will use play both as an expression and exploration of their inner world. Watch closely and you’ll start to pick this up.
3. Play helps kids gain insight
Play helps kids understand themselves better. This type of insight is vital for progress. That’s because a change in problematic behavior can only come about once a child recognizes it. This gradual awareness then allows them move on to solve their own problems and challenges over time.
A skilled therapist will use reflective listening throughout the child’s play. Through this, children learn to understand the emotions they are feeling and trust themselves about those feelings. If the therapist is skillful enough to keep her own feelings, suggestions and comments out of the play, she acts like a mirror. Through this the children come to see themselves – strengths and flaws.
Through activities like painting, dressing up, or speaking through puppets, children reflect their thoughts and feelings outwardly. This imaginative play allows the child to explore new identities and gain insights into their emotions. Gradually, this self-awareness helps them develop resilience, confidence, and problem-solving skills that they can apply in real life.
4. Play Rewires the Brain
Play is highly effective due to neuroplasticity. This is an exciting discovery that brings so much hope. It’s the brain’s ability to change and rewire itself based on experiences.
Play gives children the opportunity to experiment with different roles, scenarios, personal stories, and alternate outcomes. Symbolic and imaginary play provide new experiences that develop the brain in new ways. It builds new new neural pathways. These can reshape self-perception, influencing beliefs about who we are, how others see us, and our view of the world.
When children engage in therapeutic play, they build new neural pathways. This happens especially in the areas of the brain related to emotion regulation, problem-solving, and self-control. For anxious children, the brain may be in a hyper-vigilant state, constantly on high alert. Play therapy provides opportunities for the brain to rectify, moving from survival mode to a more balanced state.
Sensory-based activities, such as playing with sand, clay, or water, also stimulate the brain’s sensory centers. This promotes integration and calms the nervous system. Over time, the repetitive and safe nature of these therapeutic play experiences can lead to lasting changes in the brain. This helps children cope with stress more effectively and regulate their emotions better.
5. During Play Children Learn Without Realizing They’re Learning
One of the most magical aspects of play therapy is that children often don’t realize they’re in therapy at all. In traditional therapy a child may feel pressured to “perform” or talk about their feelings. But in play therapy they can naturally engage in activities they love. As they play, they are unknowingly developing emotional resilience and cognitive skills. They are learning how to deal with their challenges.
For example, when a child plays a game of make-believe involving different social scenarios, they are not just playing. They are practicing empathy, understanding consequences, and navigating social norms—all crucial life skills. Through repetition and experimentation in a safe therapeutic space, these skills eventually become part of their subconscious coping mechanisms.
6 Play is instinctive
Play is instinctive and children are born with a natural urge to do it.
From the time they are little, they just know how to play. Whether it’s pretending to be superheroes, making up games, or running around for the fun of it. It’s not something they are taught, but something built into us. Play helps them learn, explore, and connect with others, all without even thinking about it. Even animals play, showing how universal it is. It’s like our minds and bodies are wired to play as a way to grow and enjoy life.
Closing thoughts on powerful ways play helps kids heal
Play therapy is much more than just “play.” It’s a powerful, therapeutic approach. It helps children tap into their emotions, develop greater self-awareness, and rewire their brains for healthier responses. By offering children a safe, non-judgmental space to explore their inner worlds, play therapy supports their emotional growth. It helps them build resilience and gain the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges.
In a world that often expects children to express their feelings with words they might not yet have, play therapy allows them to communicate in the language they know best—play. Through this, they can heal, grow, and discover new possibilities for themselves.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or professional, understanding the profound benefits of play therapy can offer new insights into how children think, feel, and grow. In the end, it’s a reminder that sometimes the most profound healing happens not through talking, but through the simple act of playing.
