Becoming Playful Parents

How Play Therapy Helps Children Navigate Emotions and Life Challenges
Updated January 2026

Play is a child’s natural language. Long before kids have the words to explain what they’re feeling, they use play to express emotions, process experiences, and make sense of their world.

Whether a child is adjusting to a move, welcoming a new sibling, navigating school stress, grieving a loss, or experiencing family changes, play often becomes the way they communicate what’s happening inside. Parents may notice increased anxiety, big emotions, trouble focusing, irritability, or behaviors that feel out of character. These are often signs that a child’s developing brain and nervous system are trying to cope with something difficult.

As described in The Whole-Brain Child (Siegel & Payne Bryson), children are still learning how to integrate emotions and logic. Because of this, stress often shows up through behavior, body responses, and play themes — not just words.

When Play Becomes a Path to Connection

Play therapy creates a safe space for children to express what they cannot yet say. With the support of a trained play therapist, children can work through emotions and experiences in ways that feel natural and developmentally appropriate.

For parents and caregivers, becoming more emotionally attuned and playful can strengthen connection and support healthy growth. Play-based approaches can help families:

• Better understand a child’s emotional world
• Strengthen the parent-child relationship
• Support emotional regulation
• Respond to big feelings with empathy and confidence
• Build healthy boundaries and structure

Play becomes more than fun — it becomes a powerful tool for connection and healing.

How Does Play Therapy Work?

Play therapy uses toys, art, games, and imaginative play as tools for communication. Through play, children symbolically process emotions, stressors, and life events in a safe and supportive environment.

Therapists partner with parents to help recognize patterns, build emotional awareness, and support growth at home. Research shows that play-based therapy can strengthen attachment, improve coping skills, and support healthy emotional development (VanFleet, 2014).

Growing Together

Play therapy can be especially helpful for children experiencing anxiety, behavioral challenges, transitions, trauma, grief, or family stress. Even small shifts in understanding and connection can lead to meaningful change for both children and parents.

When families learn to grow and connect through play, healing and resilience can begin — together.

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Discover Play Therapy at Wellspring

At Wellspring, we specialize in child and adolescent therapy, including play therapy, to help children and families navigate emotions and life challenges with compassion and care.

Contact Wellspring today to learn more about our personalized, family-centered services.

References

Association for Play Therapy (2020). Play therapy makes a difference.
Siegel, D. J., & Payne Bryson, T. (2011). The Whole-Brain Child. Delacorte Press.
VanFleet, R. (2014). Filial Therapy: Strengthening parent-child relationships through play. Professional Resource Press.