Therapeutic use of play

Mental health professionals that value the importance of play in child development are increasingly adopting play-based interventions. The key assumption to use play as a therapy are:
• Play is inherent to children’s biological make-up
• Play is a powerful developmental feature of childhood that contributes to their overall cognitive, affective, social and emotional development
• Children express their inner world through play
• Children use play as a form of communication, they communicate ideas, intentuions, feelings and perceptions
• Play promotes social connection with peers and helps children become immerse in their culture
• Play can be transgenerational, when parent play with their children they establish bonds and builds attachment.
• Play generates enjoyment and offers a freeing effect, discharging distress and eliminating inhibitions
• Through play children can overcome their problems, as they explore their inner and outer worlds, enabling them to find creative solutions
• Through play children experience a sense of control and power, learning to manage their feelings and impulses, in an adaptable way.
• Play promotes imagination and creativity.

This is a summary from Rise VanFleet;
Andrea Sywulak and Cynthia Caparosa in Child Centered play Therapy- 2010.