Play Therapy

Play is an important lifelong occupation; it is also a powerful tool for intervention. Playfulness is a style, an approach to daily life events, we at USHAS make work more like play. Play therapy is medium to develop other skills and abilities. It involves three elements- internal control, intrinsic motivation, and freedom from some constraints of reality.

Play is a transaction between an individual and the environment. These transactions represent a continuum of behaviors that are more or less playful. Play and playfulness are powerful therapeutic tools, play promotes competence. The playfulness of the therapist and the client helps create an atmosphere in which play occurs. When play and playfulness are coupled with skilled therapeutic intervention, they can make a real difference in the lives of clients.

Play therapy can have different meanings and focuses depending on the needs of the child. For children without disabilities it most often refers to a type of behavior modification that is used to improve emotional and social development, reduce aggression; improve cooperation with others. For children with Cerebral Palsy, play therapy has the added benefit of developing physical skills. Play is an essential activity for all children. This is where real learning begins.

Play also makes children laugh, which we all know is the best medicine. Playing also increases hand-eye coordination, can aid in developing fine motor skills, and as they get older, can aid in developing their gross motor skills, such as playing with balls, or other backyard athletics. Children must have the chance to learn from experience. It should be offered a lot of stimulation, there has to be an opportunity for them to show what they have learned (input and output) by being allowed to roam free occasionally