Dear Cassy: Playtime is important time
by Marisa Ryan, MSW. Because I work with elementary school students toys and games are the primary tools I use to support my kiddos. I tell all of my parents and caregivers something I’ve heard time and time again throughout my career — play is the primary language of children. At first, I was unsure of this this theory. I would go to my supervisor at my previous agency and say, “I don’t understand, I just play with them?” And she would confirm answer, “Yes, just focus on the play. That’s what they need most.” So there I was, in my first official year as a clinician, carrying bags of games into the schools and just focusing on the play between my client and myself. Jenga, Sorry, Uno, Battleship, Scrabble, Mancala, Monopoly, Yahtzee, Go Fish, Taboo—the list of games is endless.I would fight off urges to ask them direct questions about they were struggling with. After a few sessions of play, I noticed that the kiddos I was working with felt safe. The pressures of the outside world were momentarily at rest and they were able to breathe. This safe space that was created through play, allowed the kiddos to openly express themselves, They knew that this safe space was one without any…
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