Play Therapy for Grief: 5 Benefits for Children Grieving

Many people doubt whether play therapy is actual therapy and does something to help children with grief; the answer is yes. If done correctly, play therapy is just as effective as any other type of therapy. In play therapy, every item and toy is meant to help children cope with and express their experiences. These tools are carefully selected with therapeutic goals in mind, allowing children to project their inner world in a safe and non-threatening way. Through consistent sessions, children can build trust with the therapist, gain emotional insight, and work through trauma, anxiety, behavioral issues, and other emotional challenges effectively.

What is Play Therapy?

Play therapy provides a safe and comfortable place for children or adults to express themselves through toys or games. Depending on the comfort and needs of those using it, it can be utilized in group environments or a more individualized setting. Some do better when surrounded by those who have undergone similar experiences, while others prefer to be in a more personal setting. Therapists may tailor the approach based on age, developmental level, and emotional state to ensure each participant receives the most effective support. Both settings offer unique benefits and can foster growth, healing, and improved emotional resilience.

5 Benefits of Play Therapy for Grief

The benefits of play therapy are vast; however, most can be summed up into five categories: 

1. Processing emotions
   
2. Managing behavioral issues 
   
3. Emotional development
   
4. Coping with trauma or grief
   
5. Strengthening relationships 

The concept of play therapy can seem rather simplistic; however, the results show how a little can go a long way.

Processing Emotions

Play therapy can help children process the emotions they may struggle to express verbally. Children can often healthily express pent-up emotions through toys, art, or board games. Play therapy can help them cope with stress, anxiety, anger, and other complex feelings.

Managing Behavioral Issues

When children don’t have a healthy or safe environment, their emotions can become pent-up or compressed for later, leading to bursts of anger or explosions of those pent-up emotions. Because of this, children can have trouble managing and figuring out how to express themselves healthily. Play therapy gives them a healthy outlet to release and process any feelings they might not understand and helps them develop the necessary skills to cope with these feelings.

Emotional Development

All children are different and deal with their feelings differently. Play therapy can help foster confidence and boost self-esteem at an early age. It can also help them develop their learning abilities and encourage them to practice different methods and skills in managing their emotions and expressing themselves. Over time, this process promotes emotional intelligence, enhances problem-solving capabilities, and supports overall mental well-being, laying a strong foundation for healthy social and academic development.

Dealing with Trauma or Grief

When children experience trauma or grief, they can experience complex emotions that they don’t know how to express adequately. Play therapy encourages them to use dolls, puppets, blocks, art supplies, and other toys to express themselves healthily rather than having a tantrum or withdrawing due to pent-up emotion. This creative outlet allows children to process difficult experiences at their own pace, giving therapists valuable insight into their emotional world and helping them develop healthier coping strategies and emotional regulation skills.

Strengthen Relationship

When children go through play therapy and learn how to manage and process their emotions and cope with complicated situations, their relationships with their peers, parents, and siblings often improve as they strengthen their confidence and self-esteem. As they become more aware of their feelings and better equipped to express them, they communicate more effectively and respond to others with greater empathy and understanding. This emotional growth can lead to more positive social interactions, reduced conflict, and a stronger connection with those around them.

How Does Play Therapy Work?

Play therapy is, at its base, providing a safe and comfortable place where children aren’t afraid to express their feelings and then providing toys such as dolls, blocks, puppets, art supplies, and other items that can be used to express their feelings. With play therapy, there are multiple ways to go about it. While some people take a more structured approach by giving daily instructions on what they’ll be doing, others take a more laid-back approach by giving children free range with the items and nudging them to express their feelings or elaborate on their emotions. Therapists often observe how children interact with these items to gain insights into their internal world. These interactions can reveal hidden emotions, unresolved trauma, or behavioral challenges. Through imaginative play, children may reenact life events or express fears they can't put into words. Over time, as trust builds, therapists may introduce specific themes or guided activities to help children process difficult experiences and develop healthier coping strategies in a safe, therapeutic environment.

Works Cited

Ohwovoriole, Toketemu. “What to Know about Play Therapy?” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 25 Mar. 2024,

www.verywellmind.com/play-therapy-definition-types-techniques-5194915#:~:text=Play%20therapy%20is%20a%20form,but%20adults%20can%20benefit%2C%20too.

Pietrangelo, Ann. “Play Therapy: What Is It, How It Works, and Techniques.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 11 Oct. 2019, www.healthline.com/health/play-therapy.

“Play Therapy.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/play-therapy. Accessed 28 May 2025.

tbe_admin. “How Play Therapy Helps Grieving Children.” AuthoraCare, 2 Apr. 2024, www.authoracare.org/how-play-therapy-helps-grieving-children.