Tips and things to avoid when your child goes for play therapy
6 things not to do when your child goes for play therapy
There are quite a few articles out there with helpful hints on what to do when your child goes for play therapy, but what must you not do? Here are a few helpful tips or things to avoid when your child goes for play therapy:
- Don’t tell your child how to behave in the session. Your child needs to be free to express himself during the sessions and to learn how to trust the play therapist.
- Don’t tell your child what to say in the session
- Don’t bribe your child, e.g. “If you behave, we’ll get an ice-cream afterwards.”
- Don’t tell your child they have to clean the playroom afterwards – some play therapists prefer the child not to have to do this. The playroom environment is different to the home or school environment. Although, there are some boundaries, it is important that your child feel that play therapy time (or play time) is fun time.
- Don’t ask your child what happened or what they said in the session
- Don’t dress your child in their “best” clothes – let them wear comfortable clothing and clothes that may get a little dirty (they may paint or play with play dough sometimes)
The play therapy sessions should be seen as your child’s time to process his feelings in his own way. Your play therapist will usually schedule feedback sessions with you after every fourth session to discuss your child’s general progress and to offer advice. There, you can ask the play therapist questions and get a general idea about how your child’s therapy is going. The play therapist should also offer some advice during these feedback sessions to help you with things at home.