Children's expression through play therapy

• Main Authors: Ljubomirović Nataša, Srećković Nataša, Rangelov Aleksandar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade 2015-01-01
• Series: Psihijatrija Danas
• Subjects: play; therapy; stress; child intervention
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0350-2538/2015/0350-25381502093L.pdf
• ISSN: 0350-2538; 2560-3272

Play as a child's expression, is a skill through which children speaks to adults. Play therapy is a broad field of therapeutic intervention based on the play in order to help the child to cope with problems. Through play, children learn to communicate with others, to express their feelings. Through play they learn and can improve their cognitive, emotional and social capabilities. Play therapy is a nondirective technique focused on the child. It is not focused on the problem, at present even the past, but focused on the expression of the child feelings, accepting the child, rather than correction. The focus has been on the wisdom of a child, not on expertise therapists, guiding the child through play rather than instructing. The aim of play therapy is to encourage healthy growth and development, developing skills in problem solving, reduction of undesirable behavior, confidence building and the development of self-control. This method is effective for a wide range of children's problems, such as the state of stress, anxiety, problem behavior, hyperkinetic syndrome, depression, loss, trauma, the problem of bonding situations parents divorced, somatic disorders, autism spectrum disorders, social problems.