Reaching Children through Play Therapy: An Experiential Approach

Rating:
Summary: The Only Way to Play is Interactive
Review: "Spare the rod; spoil the child" is an archaic, ignorant philosophy that ignores the curiosity and potential of any child to learn. Undue discipline spoils the creative ability of children to learn while playing. And since playing only occurs when engaged with one or more others, play is the foundation of interpersonal skills. Un-engaged play is mere exploration that may satisfy curiosity, but nothing more. Enjoying play even as learning is critical to success since encouragement fosters self confidence and satisfaction by giving support where needed to motivate further play, and attain higher levels of consciousness and conscience. To engage another in play is an incredibly complex process since knowledge of one another is necessary to foster continuation, as fun. Without fun, boredom becomes the absolute result, and withdrawal from engagement the conclusion. Through play, charisma may be heightened, and refined through satisfying sessions of expectation and anticipation to condition the continuation of such play until the student, in essence, takes wing, and proceeds to inspire others with his or her training. Hence, great teachers make other great teachers, fostering a love for the training itself (the game or the play) to elevate the potential benefit, to each other and ultimately, to everyone appreciative of the process. Both time and interest, as well as effort, are required to achieve these great results, and understanding the process is critical to its success. Never has there not been a child, (or curious adult) who did not enjoy the process of play as a teaching and learning tool. The fact that we continue to imagine that play is an art, rather than a science, is a flaw of mankind that is erroneous and can be corrected, given appreciation of the nature of human beings, always a scientific subject. Art is what individuals give out to the world; Science is what individuals give to each other, the science of humanity, as opposed to the art of impression. Hence, mutual engagement is always a science, and always play upon some level.

Rating:
Summary: The best text on play therapy
Review: This book very capably presents the wonderful method of play therapy the Nortons have been using and teaching for years. The material is basic enough to help the beginning play therapist get started and yet deep enough to challenge and enrich the work of the most experienced. A must have for every play therapist's library and also a good read for parents and anyone else interested in the welfare of children.