Children are different from adults in making sense of their emotions or expressing themselves. That's why therapy methods used with adults are not suitable for children. Games are where children can express themselves most comfortably. The child's first and also universal language is play. Game for children; It is a reflection of the real world. The child, who has been trying to exist and find himself in the real world since birth, has the opportunity to experience many social-emotional-cognitive skills such as expressing his feelings, discovering his relationships, and self-actualization in the world he creates thanks to play. The child tries to make sense of his experiences in the real world by repeatedly performing them in the game. This is where the healing aspect of the game comes from. The child, who re-establishes his daily life and relationships in a controlled way through play, faces the problems he cannot face in his daily life through the game he creates, and overcomes the problems he cannot overcome with the game he creates. Play is instructive and reinforcing for the child's development. In this way, the child prepares for life. Play is an indispensable and natural process for the child to gain a sense of self, develop his personality, make sense of events he cannot understand, learn about life and establish relationships.
Play therapy; It is a method that allows children to express themselves easily through games and toys. It is a process that involves the child reflecting and managing his own world and processing his experiences by using play. Cognitive, emotional and behavioral are one of the most effective tools used in the face of difficulties. Play therapy, like other therapy methods, is based on trust. Although trust between the child and the therapist is very important for the process, it develops gradually over time. Communicating and expressing oneself with someone who is a stranger to them and whom they do not know at all can be a very difficult process for the child. In the first few meetings, the child does not communicate and can only spend the time observing the environment and toys. With the ongoing meetings, the child is now the child he knows and knows. is in the environment. With the developing sense of confidence, the child becomes ready to express himself. Now the child begins to express his experiences and feelings and reflect his inner world in the play environment to which he is accustomed and trusts. The child, who is now in communication with the therapist, begins to play the same game over and over and take steps towards recovery. Healing in play therapy is about freeing the child, understanding him and making him feel understood. In this method, the room and toys are specially prepared. Various toys are used to help children express their emotional problems. Various toys with different meanings allow the child to express himself freely.
The aim of play therapy is; It is to create a safe environment where the child can reflect his own world by taking advantage of the power of play. When children have the opportunity to clearly express every positive or negative event/emotion they experience through play, they can develop the ability to solve their own problems themselves. It should not be forgotten that the child's language is play. The child expresses himself through play and recovers through play.
Play therapy begins with children's symbolic play (2-2.5 years of age/pretend games) starting from the age of 2 until the age of 12. It is an applicable method. The duration varies from child to child. It should not be forgotten that the problem experienced by each child is unique to him/her. Each child's development process, way of expressing himself, problems and experiences are different. It is recommended to meet regularly, usually once a week. However, since the course of therapy varies, an exact duration cannot be given.
Play therapy can offer solutions to many emotional and behavioral problems experienced by the child. In this process, they relive their negative emotions by playing out over and over again how to combat the emotions they cannot cope with, and by developing a new perspective on these emotions, they take a step towards recovery. They promise. Play therapy is especially useful for anxiety, fear, timidity, introversion, aggressive behavior, sibling jealousy, social adaptation problems, communication problems, sleep, eating and toilet habit problems, divorce, adoption, loss/mourning and trauma and abuse. It is a widely used method for children with disabilities.
Play therapy helps the child accept himself/herself and create a positive self-perception, develop the ability to take responsibility, make independent decisions and act more autonomously, and increase self-confidence. aims to help students improve their ability to cope with the problems they encounter and gain self-confidence. In this process, children increase their self-perception, learn to communicate, solve problems and make their own decisions. They learn to accept and express their emotions, regulate them, and cope with their negative emotions.
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