As a parent, you may have noticed that your child has difficulty with some social skills. Maybe they have trouble understanding how to interact with others, or need help communicating their feelings in a healthy way. You want the best for your child and for them to learn the skills to navigate their relationships with others. Perhaps, you’ve heard of play therapy or it has been recommended to you. You know it has benefits but you may not know exactly how it works. How can it help your child build social skills?
Why are Social Skills Important?
Social skills are important for all ages, but they are especially critical for children. These skills allow children to communicate their feelings, thoughts, and emotions effectively and appropriately. They also help children understand how to interact with different people in a variety of environments.
Social skills also build self-esteem, as children learn to trust and rely on others. As they make friends and build relationships, they gain confidence in themselves. If their social skills are not strong, children may experience feelings of isolation and loneliness. For example, they may not be able to participate in group activities confidently or join conversations with their peers.
How Does Play Therapy Help Build Social Skills?
Play therapy is a type of psychotherapy that involves activities and games to help children process their experiences. This allows the child to feel comfortable talking about their thoughts and feelings. Through play, children can understand social cues and boundaries in a safe environment. This way, your child will be able to work on social dynamics that come with different relationships and in different settings.
Give and Take
When you’re a child that has trouble communicating, taking turns can be difficult. During play therapy, the play therapist will work with your child by playing cooperative games that require turns. This can help your child understand the concept of give and take, and how to interact with other people in a cooperative way.
For instance, if your child is playing a board game, they can learn how to be patient when it’s not their turn, and how to practice sharing if they have to give away a certain piece or card. These are skills that will benefit your child in their day-to-day life. From school to home, they will be prepared to interact in a healthy way.
Corrective Social Skills
When your child is in the play therapy room, the play therapist will use gentle corrective social skills to help your child understand proper behavior in different environments. For example, if the child is screaming at the top of their voice, the play therapist will help your child to recognize environmental cues such as speaking in an “inside voice” because they are inside. This helps them understand how to act appropriately in different situations.
These corrective social skills will help cultivate a sense of respect for those around them. It will also increase your child’s understanding of the expectations in various situations. Your child will then have an easier time knowing when the times to be more expressive are appropriate, and when it’s important to be more self-contained.
Name Emotions & Big Feelings
Sometimes, children have a hard time expressing how they feel. They may not have the words to communicate their emotions and instead act out in ways that can be harmful to themselves or others. Through play therapy, the play therapist will help your child develop a feeling vocabulary. They’ll talk through situations- big and small- and help your child name the emotions and feelings they are experiencing.
In play therapy, this could look like using pictures, or using dolls and figurines to act out how they are feeling. Through play, the therapist can then help your child name these feelings and talk through strategies for understanding, managing, and expressing their emotions. This will help your child feel seen and heard in a safe environment, while also helping them build social skills that will benefit them in the future.
This way, your child will be better equipped to communicate their feelings and develop a better understanding of how their emotions affect them. This can be especially helpful for children who struggle with anxiety or depression, as they will have a deeper understanding of their emotions and how to manage them. They will also find ways to cope with difficult experiences and be able to better handle difficult emotions.
Play therapy is beneficial for many reasons, but the social skills and emotional understanding that come with it are important for your child’s growth. By providing them a safe space to explore, express, and better understand emotions, you are helping them build the skills they need to navigate relationships in a healthy way. With patience, perseverance, and empathy, play therapy can help your child communicate their feelings and relate to others in a more meaningful way.
Interested in Play Therapy in Alpharetta, GA?
Social skills and emotional understanding are important for your child’s growth and development. You only want the best for your child, and play therapy can be a great way to help them develop these skills. Our team of therapists at Wellview Counseling will work with you and your child to create a safe and supportive environment where they can explore, express, and better understand their feelings. If you’re interested in starting therapy:
- Contact Wellview Counseling
- Meet with Our Therapists
- Start Building Those Social Skills Today!
Other Therapy Services Offered at Wellview Counseling
Children and their families may benefit from a variety of different therapies because of the unique needs of each individual. Our therapists at Wellview Counseling want to support each family in the best way possible. We offer individual counseling, child counseling, teen counseling, family counseling, postpartum depression and anxiety counseling, trauma and PTSD treatment, and therapy for those with a chronic illness. Regardless of the challenge you face, our therapists are here to help. Our office is in Roswell, GA, but we also offer online therapy to anyone in Georgia. If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment please feel welcome to reach out to us!
About the Author
Ashley Bobo, LCSW is a dedicated and experienced therapist who has spent over 20 years helping families and individuals. As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and member of the National Association of Social Workers, Ashley has a passion for helping families improve their relationships and develop essential social skills. She has a wealth of experience in areas such as anxiety and stress management, depression, parenting, family therapy, and more. Ashley is also a certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator, making her an excellent resource for parents seeking to strengthen their bonds with their children. Let Ashley be your guide on this journey toward a happier and more fulfilling life. If you want to know more about Ashley and her practice, please visit Wellview Counseling‘s website.
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