parsons-canchildrens-2020.pdf (161.2 kB)
Can children’s play themes be assessed to inform play therapy practice?
journal contribution
posted on 2021-01-01, 00:00 authored by Bridget SarahBridget Sarah, Judi ParsonJudi Parson, Kate Renshaw, Karen StagnittiKaren StagnittiIn play therapy with children, identifying play themes is key to understanding the meaning within sessions, and allows therapists to systematically track therapeutic change. This study investigated if play themes could be identified using a time limited, standardized assessment, for children aged 5–7 years. A descriptive, observational mixed methods, non-experimental study with 30 typically developing children was conducted, with participants assessed individually on one occasion using the Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment (ChIPPA). Play themes were able to be identified for 26 of the 30 participants. Of these 26 children, a range of primary and subthemes were observed. These findings indicate that a baseline measure of both play ability and play themes can be integrated to prescribe and align the model of play therapy with the needs of the child. Play themes were not identified for four participants which may be due to limited pretend play ability, indicating that deficits in play ability may need to be addressed in the first instance.
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Journal
Clinical Child Psychology and PsychiatryVolume
26Issue
1Pagination
257 - 267Publisher
Sage PublicationsLocation
London, Eng.Publisher DOI
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ISSN
1359-1045eISSN
1461-7021Language
EnglishPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalUsage metrics
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