Can children’s play themes be assessed to inform play therapy practice?

Abstract

In play therapy with children, identifying play themes is key to understanding the meaning within sessions, and allows therapists to systematically track therapeutic change. This study investigated if play themes could be identified using a time limited, standardized assessment, for children aged 5–7 years. A descriptive, observational mixed methods, non-experimental study with 30 typically developing children was conducted, with participants assessed individually on one occasion using the Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment (ChIPPA). Play themes were able to be identified for 26 of the 30 participants. Of these 26 children, a range of primary and subthemes were observed. These findings indicate that a baseline measure of both play ability and play themes can be integrated to prescribe and align the model of play therapy with the needs of the child. Play themes were not identified for four participants which may be due to limited pretend play ability, indicating that deficits in play ability may need to be addressed in the first instance.

The Use of Child-Centered Play Therapy for Children Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse

“…In CCPT, the therapist trusts the child's inner direction to move toward positive growth within facilitative relationships. The therapist recognises that the best way to understand a child's behaviour and emotions is to empathically discover the way in which a child sees his or her world (Sarah et al, 2021). CCPT is most effective when a therapist can provide, and a child can perceive, an environment and relationship accepting of the child's internal world, a relationship that leads toward personal integration and functionality (Ray & Landreth, 2015).…”

“…Interestingly, finding play themes in children's play therapy is essential to comprehending the meaning of the sessions and enables therapists to monitor therapeutic progress rigorously (Ryan & Edge, 2012;Sarah et al, 2021). The major concerns that children express in therapy are supposed to be captured by these themes.…”

The use of the Child Initiated Pretend Play Assessment - ChIPPA: a scoping review

“…The results indicate that the more children with ASD engage in elaborate and complex pretend to play and object substitutions, the more inner feelings of play they experience. Sarah et al (2021) investigated whether play themes can be identified through ChIPPA, and explored what these themes are and whether there is a relationship between the ability of make-believe play and the expression of the play theme. The themes were identified in 26 of the 30 typically developing children.…”

O uso da Avaliação do Brincar de Faz de Conta Iniciado pela Criança – ChIPPA: uma revisão de escopo

“…Os resultados indicam que, quanto mais as crianças com TEA se envolvem em brincadeiras elaboradas e complexas de faz de conta e substituições de objetos, mais sentimentos internos de brincadeira elas experimentam. Sarah et al (2021) investigaram se os temas da brincadeira podem ser identificados por meio da ChIPPA, exploraram quais são esses temas e se há relação entre a habilidade do faz de conta e a expressão do tema da brincadeira. Os temas foram identificados em 26 das 30 crianças de desenvolvimento típico, sendo que os mais frequentes foram: confiança (19); desconfiança (8); vergonha/dúvida (11); e indústria (11).…”