The Power of Play: Why Play Therapy Works

Play Therapy

Oct 8

If your child is struggling—with emotions, behaviour, or big life changes—sitting them down to “talk it out” often doesn’t go very far. They fidget, get distracted, or shut down completely.

That’s not resistance—it’s developmentally appropriate. Children express themselves through play long before they have the words for what they feel. And that’s exactly why play therapy works.

Why Play Is the Language of Childhood

Play isn’t just entertainment—it’s how kids process the world. When a child builds a tower, reenacts a family dinner with stuffed animals, or draws a superhero defeating a monster, they’re often telling you something about how they see themselves, others, and the emotions swirling inside.

But that communication isn’t always obvious. It takes the right setting—and a trained therapist—to help make sense of it.

What Happens in Play Therapy?

In child therapy sessions that incorporate play therapy, the child chooses from a variety of tools and materials:

Figurines and dolls
Sand trays
Art supplies
Blocks, puppets, or storytelling prompts
Games designed to teach regulation or social-emotional skills

The therapist follows the child’s lead while gently guiding them toward emotional awareness, self-expression, and regulation. Over time, patterns emerge. Themes surface. Healing begins—without requiring the child to “talk like a grown-up.”

We explore this more deeply in our earlier post on how play therapy supports emotional growth in children.

What Play Therapy Helps With

Play therapy is especially helpful for children ages 3–12, and is often used to support:

Anxiety or fears
Emotional regulation and meltdowns
Aggression or oppositional behaviours
Parental separation or divorce
Grief and loss
Trauma or medical experiences
Social challenges or bullying
Self-esteem and identity exploration

Play gives children distance from what feels too big to say directly—while still helping them process it in a safe, contained way.

What Parents Often Say

Parents who bring their child to play therapy often say things like:

“She’s acting out and we don’t know why.”
“He shuts down when we ask what’s wrong.”
“She’s been through a lot and we want her to feel safe again.”
“We just want to give him tools to cope better.”

After a few sessions, they begin to notice changes—not only in behaviour, but in their child’s ability to name feelings, recover from upset, and reach out when overwhelmed.

Try This at Home: “Feelings Through Play”

Here’s a simple way to bring some therapeutic play into your week:

What you’ll need:

Paper and crayons/markers
Any figurines, dolls, or stuffed animals your child likes
A quiet 15–20 minute window

Prompt:

“Let’s draw or play out a story about a character who had a really hard day. What happened? What helped them feel better?”

Follow their lead. Don’t direct. Afterward, you might ask:

“Was that character anything like you?”

You don’t need to analyze. Just be present. This helps build safety and lays the groundwork for emotional expression.

Why Play Therapy Is More Than “Just Play”

To an outside observer, a therapy session might look like fun and games. But underneath, important work is happening:

Trauma is being processed safely
Emotional regulation skills are being built
Relationships are being repaired
A child is learning: “My voice matters. I’m understood. I can feel big things and still be safe.”

Play therapy gives children what many of us didn’t get early in life: a way to feel seen, not shamed. To feel safe, not silenced.