How play therapy can help children deal with anxiety and other difficult emotions

Therapeutic play can be a fun and non-confrontational way for children to deal with difficult emotions such as anxiety, and an option many parents turn to

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LAST summer, Kerry-based mum Sarah noticed her nine-year-old son was a bit withdrawn. “Nothing major — he became a little clingier.”

But when she and her husband returned from a short break, Sarah saw a big change. “He was very quiet in himself. He’s a very sporty child, I’d signed him up to do camps, but he didn’t want to go. We offered to stay at the football field, but it was like he didn’t want to break away from us.”