The effect of play therapy on excessive shyness in children

Children cannot express themselves as well as adults. Because their vocabulary is limited compared to adults. That’s why it’s very difficult for them to tell about the things that upset them. Children transfer and tell us what they experience in their inner world with the games and toys they prefer. When we look at the definition of toys, we see them as objects for fun; game, on the other hand, is defined as entertainment with a set of rules and to pass the time. However, when we look at this situation from the point of view of children, it is insufficient to define it as just entertainment. Play, which is of great importance in childhood, gives them happiness and is an instructive activity at the same time, not only improves the language, social, psychomotor and personality development of children, but also enables them to acquire good habits and behaviors.
When we examine the effect of games on language development, we see that a child who plays alone does not stay silent most of the time and talks with his toys, expresses his sadness or plays the character he gives to his toy and himself. In the games he plays with the children and people around him, we see that he speaks more actively, and in this way, the child’s vocabulary, comprehension and expression, and communication skills develop. When we examine the games in terms of social development, children learn the bilateral and interpersonal relations, the rules existing in the society and the preparation for social life through the most comfortable game for them. When we examine games by psychomotor development, we see that children have fine and gross motor skills that develop as they play. Since most games are activities that involve coordination, it contributes to the development of hand and eye coordination in children and learns the skills necessary for the child in daily life through play. When we look at games in terms of personality development, we see that with toys and games, the child brings his own personality to the fore because he constantly transfers his own skills and wishes to the game, but also increases his self-confidence.
Children are presented with a way of expressing their own feelings and thoughts, and a suitable way for them, through play therapy. Children have a very common sense of shyness. Families of shy children think that this may affect the child’s future life. Children may be distant towards the environment and people they are new to, unfamiliar with. However, this situation is quite normal, no matter how problematic it may seem. The child can overcome this sense of shyness over time and by recognizing the environments. Most children have some degree of shyness. However, the main thing is that this shyness is at a level that will impair the child’s functionality. Shy children have characteristics that can be called social problems. We can apply play therapy to reduce shyness in children and to eliminate problematic features.