PLYMOUTH — and games can actually have an important purpose. Experts say play time is a tool that can be used to help people of any age or gender unlock emotional challenges and reduce anxiety.

Play therapists use toys, games, sand and other activities to help them open up about emotions and traumatic events. They can also utilize play to treat those with anxiety, depression, learning disabilities and autism.

Janel Quillin is a play therapist from Plymouth and the President of the Indiana Association for Therapy. She says playing is a child’s natural language.

“Sometimes they don’t have the words to use, so the miniatures and the figures can help us understand them better,” explains Quillin. “It’s a really non-intrusive way to get them to talk and to get out some of their emotions and feelings about something that might’ve happened to them or things that make them angry or upset.”

This week is Play Therapy Week, a time to promote play as a healthy way for kids and adults to communicate.

On Saturday, play therapists from around the area will meet for a play therapy networking group meeting.

For more information about play therapy, click here.

Source: WNDU