The Power of Play
On International Play Therapy Week, and Children's Mental Health Week 2025, what better way than to shine a light on *play* and all the wonders that come with it.
Play is something we all know about, but what comes to your mind first when you hear the word play? To many, it's something that might come naturally to you, but for others, it could fill you with absolute dread! Either way, we all have our own thoughts and feelings associated with play, and that's okay!
I'm here to share with you the magic of play. And yes, I really do believe it's magic! Not only for children but for us adults too. Play has the power to transform any situation into something that feels lighter, less serious or scary, and is what connects us to the people around us. Let's take a look at what play can do...
Play helps with our physical development - I was recently taught by a lovely teacher that the bones in a child's hand are not actually connected until they are a lot bigger. I thought by the time children started school that bones were where they needed to be, but it feels very obvious now that of course they won't be! Play is used to help develop the muscles in the whole body to support their physical development (all hail teachers and their creativity to achieve this!), as well as other benefits that come from physical movement, spending time outdoors, and balancing our sensory needs.
Play fosters social development - children have the most naturally wild imaginations, and as a Play Therapist, I get to see this play out time and time again in the playroom, and have been a part of some fascinating scripts made up on the spot! Roleplay allows children to work through social interactions at a safe distance from their reality, testing the waters if you like, as well as learning about their peers, their own personality, and where they fit into their world. Play allows children to interact with others, build and maintain friendships, and develop their speech and language.
Play provides connection and builds positive relationships - one of my favourite things about play is the connection it offers between a child and important people in their lives, whether this be a parent, a carer, a grandparent, a sibling, a teacher, support worker, therapist, or whoever else is special to that child. Playing with a child provides them with that sole focus and attention, time disappears and you are lost in the child's world of imagination. Spending time to connect with your child strengthens the bond and relationship between you both, an opportunity to build trust, to co-regulate, to express thoughts and feelings, to reset, to feel loved and worth an adult's time. This all has a part in building a child's self-esteem, self-worth, and acceptance of who they are as unique people!
Play helps us to regulate - the freedom that comes with play allows our nervous system to reset by connecting with ourselves, our thoughts, our emotions and our physical sensations, reminding our brain that we are safe. When we play with others that we feel safe with, we co-regulate by mirroring their regulated state, in the same way that we could co-escalate (the opposite!).
There are so many more reasons for why play is such an important part of life, and even more so for children - play is the language that children speak so naturally, and is something that should be encouraged. Play doesn't have to be expensive days out, or the must-have toy of the moment, but simple ideas that you can include in your everyday that will bring a smile to everyone's faces. Here are some simple ideas:
Get out any activity without saying a word - it could be a puzzle, a board game, Lego, playdough (or something not so messy!) or colouring books and pencils. Sit with it on your own and watch as your children get curious about what you are doing and joins in with you.
Tickle monster - when you notice your little one might be in a grump (we've all been there...), the tickle monster gets alerted to this and tries to tickle the grump out of them. If they say 'no!', the tickle monster freezes until they're ready to be tickled again!
Build a den together - use stuff you already have! Sofa cushions, blankets, teddies, and bean bags all work perfectly. This doubles up as a safe and calming space, which usually gets played with for hours.
Fresh air - any way that you can get outside can always help to lift our mood. Try a scavenger hunt that you make for each other, an obstacle course at the local park, collecting things from outdoors to turn into a craft project later at home, or a simple bike/scooter ride.
Rainy Day Box - you know all those crafty activities you get for Christmas or birthdays that sit there for ages? Try creating a Rainy Day Box where they all go in, so on a day where you have no plans, get the box out and spend some time working your way through it. It's always exciting to look through toys you forgot you had.
I would love to hear about how you incorporate play into your every day with your family. Send me your ideas to @little_oak_therapies on Instagram, and I will share them all this week.
Remember - nobody has ever regretted spending time playing. So be playful whenever you can, it is guaranteed to change the mood and regulate us and our children when it's needed.