Play therapy

Play therapy is a specific therapeutic approach which reflects the belief that play is a natural way for children to discover the world. Play is a serious activity for children, even while they are happily enjoying it. Play is very important for healthy growth - for their mental, physical and social development. In analysing the choice of children's activities, we can identify various types of play which accord very much with the age of the child. Play helps the child resolve psychosocial difficulties. and achieve optimal development. During play, it is possible to express many things through symbolism. It is not necessary to talk about it; actions speak louder than words! Play is, ~y its very nature, attractive to and enjoyable for children. Every child likes to play. The above-accepted hypotheses represent the basic principles of play therapy which apply to children from 4 to 10-11 years. Psychoanalysts Hermine Hug-Hellmuth and Melanie Klein were the first to introduce play into psychotherapy for children. Virgine Axline devised a non-directive play therapy based on Carl Rug~r's therapcutic approach, and defined eight principles for it. The play therapist believes that every child possesses its own healing powers. The play therapist knows that the child needs to be accepted exactly as he or she is. The..