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3.7 How play is affected
Play is important for a child ’ s development . Through play a child explores the world , learns mastery , imagines things that are not there , and starts to symbolise . Fantasies , symbols and metaphors are tools that they can use to process bad memories .
KEY TO KNOW
Play can therefore contribute to the healing process . However , severely traumatised children lose some of their capacity to play .
• They may play repetitively , acting out a traumatic experience that has a fatal ending .
• They may engage in revenge play , in aggressive acting out .
• They may lose the capacity to imagine , and may become passive and without fantasy .
By playing together with a child who has been traumatised , helpers can restore the child ’ s capacity to play .
What happens to the capacity to play ?
( Kostnley , Eriksson Inst .)
Play capacity restored
• Play with rescue motives , someone there to comfort or to win over a monster
• Play with revenge motives
• Playing rigid , repetitious play , hopelessness , very little if any phantasy
• Totally lost capacity
Severely traumatised
Children often play games in which they explore sexuality . They can play alone or with others . It is completely normal for children to explore their bodies and touch their genitals . How adults react to this – both with words , tone of voice and facial expressions – helps to shape the child ’ s perceptions of and feelings about sexuality . It is important to recognise a child ’ s exploration of sexual play because it helps the child to know its own body and to set and respect boundaries .
However , sexually abused children may have a higher , even intense interest in sexual play and often compel other children to participate in it . Such children may need a helper to assist them to regulate their behaviour , learn what behaviour is appropriate , and respect other people ’ s boundaries .