Play therapy is commonly used in therapy for children.
Being able to play is a way for them to be able to express themselves freely and without restriction.
We have previously posted on the incredible benefits of play therapy and how it helps even the shyest of children open up and talk about what is bothering them.
There are many approaches to play therapy, as well. It can range from playing with toys, to reading age-appropriate books, pretend play, and more.
Another great tool to use during play therapy is board games.
Games are something that children are familiar with, and they are usually eager to learn a new game to play.
Your child's counselor may have a variety of different board games at their disposal to use to help a child learn about something new, or a new technique.
For example, a child may not know how they are feeling emotionally, they may feel mixed up.
A board game that teaches about different emotions might help your child to unlock that complex emotion that they may have been feeling.
Here are some of the great board games that can be used in play therapy.
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This beautifully colored board game is set up just like a regular board game is.
With The Talking, Feeling, and Doing game, there are pawns, dice, and a board, and each player takes turns throwing the dice.
Then they move their pawn along the board. When they land on a square, they will take a card that corresponds to the color that they land on.
These will be either a talking card, a feeling card, or a doing card.
Each card can have different questions on them, with some being not anxiety-provoking at all, or moderately anxiety-provoking.
When children respond to the question, they get a token chip.
At the end of the game, the person with more tokens wins.
By answering the questions on the cards, it can elicit responses about what may be bothering them in their life at the moment.
It helps give counselors a better insight into how your child is doing.
This game is also great for children who have a learning disorder - a good amount of the cards can be applied to them.
It is recommended for ages four and up.
Made for children ages five years old and up, The UnGame is a great board game to really get children to open up, without it feeling like the counselor is prying.
The fun board game setting gives an enjoyable aspect to sharing some serious answers to some potentially hard questions.
The game itself is non-competitive and gives the players a chance to share some lighthearted things and some other topics that may be a bit harder to talk about.
But that is what this game is all about, helping to draw out answers from your child in order for them to be able to help them better.
Children may have big thoughts or questions or scenarios in their heads.
With the wonderful prompts from the variety of cards, this game can help open up new avenues to help your child's counselor help them.
It also can make a great game for families to play to help create a stronger bond.
Created for children ages six through twelve, the Stop, Relax & Think board game is a great way to help children to learn how to problem-solve.
It can help children who tend to be impulsive to learn more control over themselves.
It also helps to teach them various relaxation skills as well as ways to healthily express how they feel without a conflict.
The way the game goes is that each player goes through the different sections (Stop, Relax & Think), and collects tokens along the way.
The person at the end of the game with the most tokens wins the game.
This is one board game that is great for teens!
With questions that are posed as more thought-provoking, Talk It Out makes a great icebreaker game for your child and their counselor.
It gives young adults the opportunity to open up about things that are feeling.
Topics covered include friends, family, dreams, and hopes for the future.
It also addresses cognitive, behavioral, and any emotional issues that your teen may be experiencing.
The game is meant to be fun and light-hearted while giving your teen the chance to open up and talk to their counselor.
The skills that are learned in The Coping Skills Game are ones that children will carry on with them throughout their entire lives.
It is recommended for ages seven through twelve.
It helps them to learn about nine different skills that they can use to solve problems on the board, but ultimately add up to learning to solve their own problems in life as they grow up.
They are able to learn how to deal with how they are feeling, learn how to adjust their attitude towards certain things, and more.
As parents, we want to do everything we can to equip them for their adult lives, and this game is a great place to start!
Board games are a wonderful and unique way to help your child's counselor, and even you as the parent or caregiver to help your child.
They help them to explore their thoughts, get in tune with their feelings, and learn more about themselves in a fun and exciting way.
If you are not sure if your child's counselor uses board games in play therapy, it is always a good idea to ask them.
Who knows, you could even recommend them one or two!
Plus, some of the games listed above can also be used at home to play as a family, and you can all further bond and get to know each other even better than before.
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I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.
You can teach your child persistence by modeling the behavior yourself, encouraging them to take risks, setting goals and tracking progress, praising effort, and providing support and guidance.
