Stressed children may exhibit aggressive behavior, bed-wetting, or anxiety. Here's how family and play therapy can help kids cope with negative emotions.
Play therapy can be an effective way to help kids deal with stress. A family counselor or play therapist can enhance child development and encourage the healthy expression of emotions.
Watching children play can be an effective way to gauge their thoughts and emotions. If a child has experienced a traumatic event – whether it’s a divorce, family death, or school shooting – play therapy could open lines of communication and awareness.
Finding effective family therapists for children is difficult because kids may not be comfortable talking about their experiences, emotions, or memories with adults. Even if kids can't express themselves verbally, they still have strong emotions, feelings, and opinions about the events in their lives
Negative emotions in play are stronger than positive ones, and the emotions in play therapy are related to the emotions in memories. It is strongly believed that play can help kids deal with daily emotions as well as traumatic events. Further, children’s emotions in play therapy are better expressed and integrated with other memories.
Play Therapy at Home
These suggestions may help initiate good discussions and build relationships between anxious kids and parents.
- Read kids’ books dealing with similar subject matter. Libraries and bookstores have picture books and chapbooks that cover all types of subjects, ranging from bed-wetting to pet loss.
- Encourage kids to paint their feelings, or make clay figures that represent what they think of a particular issue.
- Ask children why they drew mom in the background, or why their lost dog Fido is crying. Talk about the motivations behind the drawings.
- Encourage all family members to discuss the highs and lows of the day at the dinner table. Be honest about your own sad, angry, or anxious feelings.
~ Nurlisha ~
