Nursery World - Government must acknowledge 'vital role' of play therapy in Covid recovery

One of the key issues as we try to learn lessons from the pandemic is how to best support the mental health and wellbeing of children, says Dr Lisa Cameron

Dr Lisa Cameron MP: 'Play therapy is internationally recognised and highly effective'

With colleagues within Parliament, I have urged the Government to do more to help the many children who have found their existing mental health conditions deteriorating because of the effects of the pandemic; or are struggling with new ones because of successive lockdowns; breakdown in support networks, trauma, bereavement and being the recipients of domestic violence and abuse.

This has led to a growing concern that children in the UK have been disproportionately affected by the psychological, educational and economic effects of the pandemic.

One promising intervention comes in the form of play therapy, which is an internationally recognised and highly effective health intervention for children (including those who are very young) for whom talking therapies like counselling are not always appropriate.

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