Why This Wasn't What Everyone Thought It Was: When Interpreting Play Themes, Context Is Key

​Picture this.  
 
You are at a birthday party for a bunch of five year olds. Of course the setting is somewhere that supports big motor skills of running, jumping, and playing!  And then? It’s finally time to eat pizza and cut the cake. 
 
And juuuust as everyone is sitting down to eat you hear one of the kids start singing “Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?”

*Cue nervous looks from parents*
 
Okay - that kid? Well, it was totally my son. 
 
And the reason parents were nervous? Well….. The song happens to be the theme song from the show COPS.  
 
The assumption? That I let my 5 year old watch COPS. 
 
So here’s what really happened.  We were going on a vacation somewhere warm and I was wanting to get the vacation vibes going early. 

Alexa play reggae music.
 
And Bad Boys was one of the lovely jams that popped on.  Check out this version by Bob Marley HERE! 
 
SO all of this to say - this dynamic can also unfold in our play therapy rooms!  We might hear a child say something or do something in play without the appropriate context to put it all together.  Or maybe a parent is saying something and we think we know what they mean but we are missing a bunch of key pieces. 
 
One of the most powerful skills in therapy is curiosity and openness. Developing hypotheses, asking questions, and being flexible to change your initial impressions!

So - let this little experience be a friendly reminder to not forget the power of asking questions and  getting curious - even with our long term clients! 

Looking for more support in your Child Centered Play Therapy practice?  Check out Child Centered Play Therapy: Troubleshooting the 13 Biggest Stuck Points! ​
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