Play Therapy & Emotional Regulation

As a parent, I get it. You’re doing your best to support your child through big feelings, meltdowns, and challenging behaviours—and some days, it feels like you’re barely holding it together. I’ve been there too, navigating the stormy seas of parenthood with young children. It’s exhausting trying to figure out why your child is acting out, what they need, and how to help them feel calm and safe. But the good news is you’re not alone, and play therapy can offer real support in helping children with emotional regulation.

Why Emotional Regulation is So Tough for Kids

Children’s emotional systems are still developing, which means they often experience emotions more intensely than adults. You might see this as "big behaviours" like tantrums, defiance, or emotional shutdowns. But these behaviours are often their way of saying, “I’m overwhelmed, and I don’t know how to handle what I’m feeling right now.”

This is where emotional regulation comes in. Emotional regulation is the ability to understand and manage emotions in a healthy way. For children, this skill takes time to develop—and they rely on us, their parents and caregivers, to guide them through this process.

Co-Regulation: The First Step to Emotional Regulation

Before children can regulate their own emotions, they need help from trusted adults to co-regulate. Co-regulation is about being present with your child during those emotional storms, offering them the safety and support they need to calm down. You’ve likely done this already—rocking your child when they’re upset, holding them after a meltdown, or simply sitting with them until they feel safe enough to move forward.

Through co-regulation, children begin to understand that their feelings are okay and manageable. This is a powerful step toward helping them eventually regulate their own emotions. But how do you do this when your child’s behaviours seem out of control?

Play Therapy: A Safe Space for Emotional Expression

Play therapy offers a unique and gentle way to help children learn emotional regulation. Through the power of play, children are able to express their emotions in a safe, non-verbal way. Play is their language, and by engaging in child-led play therapy sessions, children can process their feelings, explore new ways of coping, and learn to regulate their emotions over time.

In a play therapy setting, a child can act out situations they’ve experienced, often using toys and games to make sense of confusing emotions. For example, if your child struggles with anxiety or frustration, their play might reflect feelings of being overwhelmed, needing control, or feeling unsafe. Through this process, they learn healthier ways to manage these feelings while being gently guided by a therapist.

How Play Therapy Supports the Nervous System

Children’s nervous systems play a big role in their ability to regulate emotions. When a child is in fight-or-flight mode, their nervous system is dysregulated, making it impossible for them to engage calmly or think clearly. Play therapy helps children engage in soothing, repetitive actions—like building with blocks or creating with art materials—that can regulate their nervous systems and bring them back to a place of calm.

Over time, this practice builds resilience, allowing children to better handle challenging emotions and situations. For parents, it’s reassuring to know that play therapy not only supports your child emotionally but also biologically, helping their nervous systems build the strength they need for better self-regulation.

The Power of Understanding and Empathy in Parenting

As parents, it’s easy to feel frustrated or discouraged when your child’s behaviour feels challenging. But often, what looks like defiance or “acting out” is a sign that your child is struggling to manage big emotions. By understanding the role of emotional regulation—and how tools like play therapy can help—you’re already taking a compassionate, proactive step toward supporting your child.

Real Solutions for Real Parents

The journey toward emotional regulation is a long one, and it doesn’t happen overnight. But with the right support, including play therapy and emotionally responsive parenting strategies, you can help your child learn how to navigate their feelings in healthier ways.

Sunshine Coast Paediatric Allied Health Therapy - Inspiring Play: Child & Family Play Therapy

If you’d like more information on how play therapy can support your child’s emotional regulation, or if you’re curious about programs like Tuning into Kids®, we’re here to help. Visit my website Inspiring Play: Child and Family PlayTherapy Sunshine Coast to learn more or reach out to schedule a session. Let’s work together to help your child thrive