161 | Safe Play: What It Means When a Child Picks the Same Toys Every Time

Episode summary

In this episode, I address a great question from Katie in Florida about what to do when kids seem unsure of what to play with in later play therapy sessions and gravitate toward the same activities each time.

First, I discuss how this pattern could indicate the child is in a state of resistance or avoidance. They may be doing "safe play" to delay diving into deeper issues they don't feel ready to tackle yet. It's important to remember that even if a child isn't playing in the way we expect, it doesn't mean valuable work isn't happening. We have to trust the child-centered play therapy process and the child's own self-actualization.