Kids look like small adults. At times, they may even sound like mini grownups–especially when they get a little sassy or parrot back a parents’ own words to them. External resemblance aside, kids process things much differently from adults.

Kids’ brains haven’t matured to the same place that an adult brain has, so they process and work through things very differently from the way an adult does. One of the major ways they process feelings and the things that are happening to them is through play.

Processing Through Play

Kids don’t always have the words to clearly talk about what is happening or what they are feeling. They can, however, tell when something is hard, upsetting, or stressful.

When a child is feeling upset, translating their feelings into play can help them organize and make sense of what they are experiencing. They can create desired outcomes, play the “hero” who comes in and saves the distressed, or vent anger and frustrations.

Exploring their feelings in a setting where they call the shots allows kids to think outside the box and helps them cope with daily challenges and problems. Some of this play may appear aggressive or hostile, but as long as these traits are not generalized in interactions with others, they are completely within the normal realm.

Tap into the Power of Play

In today’s fast-paced world, there are often fewer and fewer opportunities for kids to have stretches of time devoted to simply playing. Structured extra-curricular activities–sports, clubs, etc.–TV time, and video games are increasingly taking over time once spent on creative, free play.

Giving your kids a balance of time to amuse themselves with creativity and pretend mixed in with their structured time, can help promote problem-solving skills, increase self-confidence, and improve social skills.

So, allow your kids to tap into the power of something they do naturally and just play!

Molly Halbrooks, LAMFT
mhalbrooks@growcounseling.com