How Play Therapy Supports Children with ADHD
Parenting a child with ADHD can feel like living in two worlds at once: one full of creativity, imagination, and energy, and another filled with chaos, emotional meltdowns, and constant redirection. You love your child’s spark, but you may also feel drained by the daily challenges of helping them focus, regulate emotions, and connect with others.
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “Why can’t my child just calm down or listen?” you’re not alone. These struggles are not a reflection of poor parenting; they’re signs that your child’s brain processes information differently. The good news is that there are proven, child-centered approaches that can help your child thrive, and play therapy is one of the most effective.
What Is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a research-backed therapeutic approach that uses play—the natural language of children—to help them express feelings, develop coping skills, and build emotional regulation.
Instead of asking your child to talk about their feelings (which can be tough for any child, especially one with ADHD), the therapist uses toys, games, art, and role-play to help them process their inner world in a way that feels safe and engaging.
Through this process, children learn skills that extend beyond the playroom into the classroom, friendships, and home life.
Understanding the ADHD Struggle
Children with ADHD often face challenges that go far beyond being “hyper” or “distracted.” They may:
Struggle to focus on instructions or complete tasks
Act out impulsively and feel bad afterward
Become easily frustrated or overwhelmed
Feel misunderstood by teachers or peers
Experience frequent conflict at home
As a parent, watching your child struggle can feel heartbreaking. You want to help them, but traditional discipline or talk-based counseling often doesn’t reach them at their level. That’s where play therapy comes in.
Why Play Therapy Works for ADHD
Play therapy meets your child where they are—in the world of imagination and movement—and helps them build real-world emotional and behavioral skills through play.
Role-Play and Storytelling
Through pretend play with dolls, puppets, or costumes, children can explore frustration, empathy, and communication in a way that feels natural. They learn to practice patience, take turns, and think before reacting.
Sand Tray Therapy
This calming sensory technique helps children express complex emotions without words. The act of arranging figures in sand fosters focus, emotional regulation, and reflection—skills that are often underdeveloped in ADHD.
Movement-Based Play
For children who are always on the go, movement becomes part of the therapy. Physical games and sensory play allow them to burn energy productively while improving impulse control and attention.
Art and Creative Expression
Painting, drawing, and building help children channel creativity, build focus, and experience a sense of accomplishment while learning persistence and emotional awareness.
What Parents Often Notice
Over time, parents begin to see shifts that feel almost magical:
Fewer meltdowns and more emotional balance
Improved attention and self-control
Better communication and connection at home
A boost in confidence and self-esteem
Most importantly, your child begins to feel understood. When a child feels seen and valued, real growth follows.
Encouragement for Parents
If you’re feeling exhausted, please know this: you’re not failing your child. ADHD doesn’t define who they are—it’s simply a difference in how their brain works.
Play therapy gives your child the chance to thrive in their own way—to explore, express, and grow through play. With consistent support, the lessons learned in the playroom begin to reshape how your child approaches the world.
Ready to Support Your Child’s Growth?
If your child is struggling with focus, emotions, or social connection, play therapy can help bring peace and balance back to your home.
At Resilient Mind Counseling and Coaching, Jessica Cessna, LPC Graduate Intern under the supervision of Kathryn Fayle, LPC, NCC, CSAT, provides specialized therapy for children and families across Mont Belvieu, Baytown, Dayton, and the Greater Houston, Texas area, both in person and online. Jessica’s work is rooted in Neuro-Affirming Play Therapy and Synergetic Play Therapy, both of which respect how the brain and body process stress, trauma, and emotion. These evidence-based approaches help children learn to regulate their nervous systems, process big feelings, and grow in confidence—often without needing to use words. Jessica’s compassionate and engaging approach helps children feel seen, supported, and capable of growth. Parents often find that sessions not only help their child but also create more harmony and understanding at home.
Take the Next Step
Your child deserves a space to be understood, supported, and empowered.
Schedule a Play Therapy Consultation with Jessica today and learn how this approach can help your child thrive both emotionally and socially.