Start Here! Adjusting to a Child-Focused Lens
September 28, 2026
Do you remember what it felt like to be a child? Take a moment to recall a typical school day when you were 10. You probably got up for school when you were told to and ate the breakfast you were given. Teachers controlled most of your day. Then you went home to finish your homework and eat the dinner you were given. After dinner, you completed the bath and bedtime routines. Adults controlled a huge part of your day.
Maybe you remember being small and not able to see over or around adults at a movie or baseball game. You might remember not being able to lift heavy things or open tough jars. Our bodies were still growing.
Brains grow and develop too. Kids are not yet able to think about thinking. Mostly, kids experience situations and feelings, not analyze them.
We have forgotten what it was like to be a child. It was a long time ago! As you begin the play therapy journey, remember that your child is not a miniature adult. Your child experiences the world in floods of feelings and rarely thinks ahead. If you are the type of person who always thinks ahead to the next task and watches the clock to make sure you are on time, understand that your child’s brain doesn’t do that. They live in the moment and are guided by their feelings.
The next time you experience conflict with your child, pause and try to see the situation from your child’s point of view.
Three Things to Consider:
- Challenge your assumptions. Try not to assume your child is overreacting when they have strong reactions.
- Don’t expect rational behavior. Their brain is still developing.
- Remember that self-control is still developing.
