The choice to bring your child to play therapy may be made after months or years of concern or witnessing behaviour that concerns you. Play Therapy may have been recommended by a friend, teacher, carer, social worker, public health nurse or doctor.
It can be difficult to bridge the gap between knowing what you want and knowing what to say to make it a positive experience for your child. It is natural for your child to be curious about Play Therapy and a good explanation of it is “when things are hard or make you sad or worried and you find it difficult to talk about how you feel, then it helps to have a special place for you to go and play”.
Explain that this will be a safe space for them to do whatever they want as long as it is safe and that they will be spending some time every week in the playroom where they can play with toys, do art or whatever they wish to do in this special space.
How To Positively Introduce Play therapy To Your Child
Tell your child why they will be coming to the playroom. An example may be “Sometimes we get upset at school and hurt our friends. We are going to Rody’s playroom to help you feel less angry so you can have a nice time with your friends”
Tell your child she/he will come to a Playroom full of toys that are theirs to play with and I am there if they ever wish to talk about anything at all.
Explain to your child that this Play Time is not a punishment or a consequence and nothing is expected of them when in the playroom. They can do whatever they wish as long as it is safe.
Let them know that occasionally I may speak to you, the parents or carers, before or after the session but nothing will be mentioned about what they carried out within the room.
Tell your child that they have approximately 45 minutes in the playroom at the same time every week.
Things That May Damage Your Child’s Experience
Telling your child that she/he has a problem or that the behaviour they display is problematic.
Telling your child that I am there to assess how they play and tell you better ways to play.
Telling your child to listen or behave when in the session.
Placing pressure about what they have to do/discuss in the session.
Talking about the cost or the pressure coming to Play Therapy puts the parent under should never happen. Such talk can only cause guilt and possibly increase anxieties toward the entire therapeutic experience.
Rewarding attendance.
Inquiring about what happened within the session. Allow the child to tell you what happened in their way when the time is right for them.
