Anxiety & the Transition to School

Play Therapy and Anxiety: Easing the Transition to School

For many young children, starting school is an exciting milestone, yet it often stirs feelings of worry and anxiety. A gentle approach like play therapy can be incredibly effective for children facing these changes, providing them with a supportive space to express emotions, build confidence, and develop coping strategies in a child-led way. At Inspiring Play: Child and Family Play Therapy Sunshine Coast, we’re here to walk alongside families, helping children ease into school with confidence and resilience.

Understanding Anxiety in Young Children

Anxiety is a natural response for young children as they encounter new experiences and environments, like starting school. Dr. Mona Delahooke, a leader in child psychology, emphasises that anxiety in children often stems from their brain’s instinctual response to protect them from perceived threats. When a child feels anxious, their body enters “fight or flight” mode, which can make simple tasks like separating from parents or joining a new group feel overwhelming.

How Play Therapy Helps

Through play therapy, children can explore and express their feelings in a safe, nurturing environment. Using tools like toys, art materials, and imaginative play, children communicate emotions they may not yet have the words to express. This approach, pioneered by experts such as Dr. Garry Landreth, gives children autonomy over their play sessions, allowing them to process emotions at their own pace and feel a sense of control during uncertain times.

Current research highlights the importance of creating safe, attuned relationships with children experiencing anxiety. In play therapy, the therapist builds a trusting, non-directive relationship, allowing children to explore and face their worries gently, strengthening their emotional resilience over time.

Key Ways Play Therapy Supports Anxious Children

1. Building Emotional Awareness and Expression
   Play therapy helps children recognise and understand their feelings, which reduces the emotional “load” anxiety can place on young minds. Dr. Daniel Siegel’s work on emotional regulation underscores how identifying and labelling feelings can be a powerful first step in managing them. In play therapy, children learn to recognise what makes them feel anxious and begin to use calming strategies when they feel stressed.

2. Strengthening Problem-Solving Skills
   Through play, children can “practice” scenarios, work through fears, and test solutions in a low-pressure setting. Skill-building is essential for anxious children, who may feel overwhelmed by new or unexpected situations. Play therapy provides them with gentle opportunities to develop problem-solving skills that they can carry into real-life situations, like transitioning into a new classroom.

3. Developing Self-Soothing Techniques
   Self-soothing is vital for children managing anxiety, particularly in environments without immediate support, like a classroom. Play therapy incorporates calming activities that help children manage their stress responses.

4. Enhancing Social Confidence
   The school environment presents new social challenges that can feel daunting for children with anxiety. Child-centred play therapy helps children explore social interactions through pretend play, building their social confidence and skills in a relaxed, accepting environment. This familiarity with social cues and responses makes the transition into group settings less intimidating.

5. Encouraging a Support Network for Children and Parents
   Anxiety is often best managed when families feel equipped to support their child’s journey. At Inspiring Play we believe in collaborative support, which is integral to play therapy as it involves parents and caregivers in the process, providing them with insights and tools to reinforce their child’s progress at home.

Supporting Your Child’s Journey to School

If your child is starting school soon and you’re noticing signs of worry or anxiety, know that support is available. Play therapy offers a nurturing, empathetic space for children to express and work through these feelings in their own time. At Inspiring Play: Child and Family Play Therapy Sunshine Coast, we are dedicated to helping children feel seen, understood, and equipped for their next big step. Reach out to learn how play therapy can make a positive difference for your child and your family as you navigate this exciting transition together.

Inspiring Play: Child and Family Play Therapy Sunshine Coast is here to support your family through each stage, offering expert-led, compassionate care that nurtures children’s emotional growth and confidence.