Filial play is a relatively recent application that uses play to help infants under three years old, as well as children aged between 3 and 14.

Filial play can be used to support infants and children who’s mental and emotional development has been be impaired for some reason – for example  attachment issues. It is also designed to improve parent/child relationships by directly involving parents and carers.

One method is to provide parents and carers with basic Play Therapy Skills to use at home; however there are ethical issues to be considered in this approach, as well as the pressure it puts on parents to carry out therapy themselves. Instead, the preferred PTUK approach is to provide coaching and mentoring for parents and carers in nurturing skills and how to play non-directively with their children.

PTUK accredits the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy’s Post-Qualifying Certificate in Filial Play Coaching Programme.

Find a Filial Therapist