It is essential that adults recognise the importance of letting children play. Simonne Pace meets up with two play therapists who believe that through play a child has complete freedom of expression.

Parents are constantly wondering if they are raising their children the proper way.

With a newborn comes a sudden drastic change in lifestyle, followed by a host of other hurdles and hard decisions: “How do I take care of my new baby?”, “How do I stop the crying?” Then a sudden fear and the nerve-racking thought: “I hope it’s nothing serious.”

As babies grow, they become individuals with their own tiny minds, likes and dislikes and a moulding personality that changes throughout childhood andadulthood.

There is nothing more gratifying than seeing your children carefree and happy or watching them sleep peacefully after a tiresome day.

At least, this offers parents some reassurance that they are doing their duty well enough, putting their minds temporarily at rest and preparing them for a new day ahead.

On the other hand, there is nothing more worrisome than seeing your child unhappy. A child’s basic human right is to be happy. This is why, if there are problems, a child should be helped in the most natural way – through play therapy.

Research, both qualitative and quantitative, shows that this child-centred approach is highly effective in many cases. Studies by Play Therapy UK, an organisation affiliated to Play Therapy International (PTI), suggest that 71 per cent of children referred to play therapy will show a positive change.

Psychologist and play therapy pioneer Virginia Axline explains that play therapy is an opportunity which is given to the child to ‘play out’ his feelings and problems just as, in certain types of adult therapy, an individual ‘talks out’ his difficulties.

One of two certified play therapists in Malta, Jacqueline Abela Degiovanni, explains that a child’s territory is non-judgmental, non-directive and non-interpretative.

Ms Abela Degiovanni, who has lived and worked abroad and is expecting her second daughter, has a Master’s in Early Childhood Education, her area of expertise. She is also undergoing further training in clinical supervision.

Her colleague, play therapist and play therapy supervisor Mary Rose Baldacchino, is an infant teacher with a Diploma in School Counselling and a Master’s in Education, specialising in the use of creative art activities for personal and social development in Years 5 and 6. She has also worked as a counsellor in secondary schools.

Ms Baldacchino explains how play therapy helps children process and heal their traumas.

“As the child begins to trust the therapist, he is able to explore his life difficulties and come up with a solution through his preferred medium.”

This is a special and busy time for both women, as they are eagerly preparing for the launch of the first certificate and diploma training courses in play therapy, which start in February. The courses are being run together with Christ Church University of the UK, PTI and the Academy of Play Therapists and Child Psychotherapists.

Ms Baldacchino believes training can provide those who work with children with a richer understanding of children, putting their behaviour, thoughts and feelings into new perspectives.

“This will lessen the number of occasions when children are forced to listen to negative comments about themselves, allowing for more constructive feedback and teachable moments.”

Play therapy is used to alleviate many children’s problems, including abuse (emotional, physical, sexual), adapting to foster care or adoption, ADHD, anger, attachment issues, autism, behaviour, bereavement, bullying, delayed development, depression, nightmares, physical disability, poor school attendance and relationship issues.

Other problems could include a withdrawn personality, under-performance, trauma, social exclusion and separation or divorce.

Play therapists make use of a play toolkit, made up of sand trays, miniatures, real clay, musical instruments, puppets and masks, therapeutic story telling, drama, movement and art.

“The children can use these tools in any way they like and the therapist is there to support the child and participate in their world when invited,” Ms DeGiovanni explains.

A child’s subconscious plays a big role in play therapy. Children very often pick the shape that best reflects the trauma they have experienced.

A therapist’s duty is to help the child process this information through play.

Certificate and diploma courses in play therapy, which will run between February and October, will be held at Mount St Joseph retreat house in Mosta. For more information, call Ms Abela Degiovanni on 7947 4692 or e-mail handinhand.mlt@gmail.com. You can also log on to www.playtherapymalta.org or www.playtherapy.org.uk.