Are you concerned about a pupil who has a problem that causes them to be sad, disruptive, rebellious, unable to cope, unusually quiet or inattentive?. You may be concerned about a child’s development, eating or sleeping patterns and how they are getting along with adults and peers in school. If you can relate to any of these then Play Therapy may be of benefit to a pupil or your educational setting.
Information for those in Educational Settings
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is an intervention that helps children, mainly those who have horrid, sad and hurt feelings from life experiences.
Children use play as a form of communication. Often children referred to Play Therapy do not have the words to describe their thoughts, feelings and perceptions of their internal and external world.
Play Therapy is an effective therapy that helps children modify their behaviours, clarify their self-concept and build healthy relationships. In Play Therapy, children enter into a dynamic relationship with the therapist that enables them to express, explore and make sense of their difficult and painful feelings/experiences. Play Therapy helps children find healthier ways of communicating, develop fulfilling relationships, increase resiliency and facilitate emotional literacy.
Why Play Therapy in Schools?
Schools are often attempting to cope with children that have complex emotional and behavioural difficulties. These are often caused by experiences or feelings they cannot understand fully or know how to deal with.
Teachers are often the first to identify concerns and worries regarding their pupils. Play Therapy not only helps children to recover from difficult life experiences but also in doing so, helps children to be more receptive to learning. This, therefore, enables their educational needs to be better met and their time at school more agreeable.
Play Therapy in schools can also:
1. Help children to build healthier relationships with teaching staff and peers
2. Reduce emotional, behavioural and social obstacles to learning
3. Improve adaptation in the classroom
4. Enhance communication skills and emotional literacy
5. Address the needs of at-risk children
6. Support and advise teaching staff
Play Therapy in schools is very appropriate for the following reasons:
1. It is a familiar and safe environment for both children and their parents/carers
2. It is accessible for all children
3. It provides consistency and reliability
4. School staff do often have a unique perspective on children in their care and can identify difficulties and changes early on
5. School staff can interact closely with children in their care and therefore can help modify their development, learning and behaviour.
Further Information:
Providing for the Provision of Play Therapy in School
How to Help a Child get the most from Play Therapy
What happens in Play Therapy sessions
Flourish & Play 