Why Play Therapy?
“Enter into children’s play and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet.”
—Virginia Axline
Play therapy is a way of being with a child that honors their unique developmental level and looks for ways of helping in the “language” of the child’s play. Play supports all facets of growth. Virginia Axline, one of the pioneers of play therapy, reminds us that play is an important window into a child’s world, from their cognition to their emotions. Allowing ourselves to observe children's play is a great way to learn more about them. It gives us a view of their thoughts and feelings, as well as what they think of themselves and the world around them.
Check out some photos of my playroom below. For more information about play therapy, visit the Association for Play Therapy’s website.
The Play Therapy Room
In the playroom, there is a myriad of items for your child to choose from, including a sand tray, art supplies, games, and other items. In play therapy, toys are the tools that children use to communicate.