How Play Helps Kids Heal — and What We Can Learn From It

We all want the best for our kids. We want them to feel confident, safe, and able to handle whatever life throws their way. But growing up right now is hard. Or really growing up in general can be hard. Between electronics, social media, school stress, and a world that often feels anything but safe, a lot of kids are carrying big feelings they don’t always know how to handle.

That’s where play comes in. And not just any play, but the kind that helps kids express themselves, make sense of what’s going on inside, and start to feel more grounded again.

The Kind of Play That Speaks Volumes

For adults, talking things out might come naturally. But for kids? Not so much. They don’t always have the words to explain what’s bothering them. That’s why play is so powerful. It’s their language. It’s how they show us what’s really going on.

In the most recent PlayMotion Kids podcast episode, child therapist and author Stacey Schaffer shared how she uses tools like sand tray therapy to help kids express what they can’t always say out loud. One child, navigating a difficult divorce, picked Darth Vader to represent dad and a tiny mouse for mom. It might sound playful on the surface, but it’s also a powerful way to give shape to emotions that are otherwise stuck inside.

At PlayMotion Kids, we use movement in a similar way, giving kids space to process, regulate, and reconnect through play. Because play isn’t just fun.

We Heal Best When We Heal Together

Something else Stacey touched on that really hit home: healing doesn’t just belong to kids. As caregivers, educators, and therapists, we have our own stories too, and they matter. When we take time to do our own inner work, we’re not only helping ourselves, we’re showing up stronger, calmer, and more open for the kids in our lives. The truth is, kids don’t need perfect adults. They need real ones. Ones who are doing the work, too.

The “Chloe” in Your Brain: Talking to Kids About Anxiety

One of the most loved moments from our conversation with Stacey was how she explains anxiety to kids. She encourages them to imagine a little helper in their brain—maybe named Chloe—whose job is to protect them. Chloe’s trying her best, but sometimes she mistakes a math quiz for a tiger.

This simple metaphor takes something big and overwhelming (anxiety) and makes it relatable and manageable. Instead of “what’s wrong with me?” the child can think, “Oh, Chloe’s on high alert again. Let me remind her I’m safe.”

That kind of reframing can be a game-changer. It builds compassion, understanding, and—over time—the tools to self-regulate. And no surprise, play is often how those tools are practiced.

Helping Kids Find Safety in the Moment

It’s hard to ignore how anxious the world feels sometimes, especially for kids. Between news alerts, lockdown drills, and the emotional weight of everything they see online, kids are more tuned in than ever, and more overwhelmed, too.

We can’t control all of it. But we can help kids learn to find safety in the present moment.

Here’s a practice Stacey shared that you can try right away: Ask your child, “What do you know right now that tells you you’re safe?” It could be that their dog is curled up next to them, or that they can hear the dishwasher running in the kitchen. Small, sensory anchors that bring their body back into the now.

When we help kids stay grounded in what’s real—not what might happen—they start to feel more in control. More safe. More capable.

Why Play Isn’t Just for Kids

One last thing we’ve been reflecting on a lot lately: play is for everyone. Not just kids.

We forget that sometimes, right? Somewhere along the line, grown-ups start to believe they’ve aged out of it. But play, whether it’s dancing in the kitchen, building a fort, or making up a silly game, can be just as healing for us as it is for our kids.

So maybe the next time your child invites you to play, you say yes. Not because you feel obligated to, but because it’s good for you too.

This Generation Is Changing the Conversation

The most hopeful part of all? Kids today are talking about mental health in ways that past generations couldn’t. Therapy isn’t something to hide. It’s something they talk about on the playground, on social media, even in group chats. It’s normal. And it’s changing lives.

In Stacey’s words, these kids are “saving the world”—one honest conversation at a time.

At PlayMotion Kids, we believe in creating more spaces like that. Spaces where children are free to move, explore, and grow emotionally stronger through play. Where healing feels natural, and joy isn’t an afterthought. It’s part of the process.

Because the more we normalize emotional wellness, the better chance we have of building a world that truly supports childhood.

Listen to the episode below or learn more about Stacy at authorstacyschaffer.com

 and follow her on Instagram @hoperestored.

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Website: www.playmotionkids.com

IG: better.childhood.project