Play Therapist Perspective on ADHD: A Child-Centered Roadmap for Parents

1. What Is ADHD from a Play Therapist’s View?

Understanding ADHD Through Child-Centered Play

From the play therapist’s perspective, ADHD isn’t simply “too much energy.” It’s a pattern where:

• Hyper-focus and distractibility coexist—your child can build a LEGO castle for hours yet forget to finish homework in five minutes.
• Impulsivity is creativity without brakes—the same trait that makes a child blurt out answers also fuels imaginative storytelling.
• Emotional dysregulation is heightened sensitivity—big feelings come fast and leave just as quickly. Play therapy reframes these behaviors as signals of unmet developmental needs, not moral failings.

How Play Therapy Frames the Disorder Differently

Traditional models label behaviors; play therapy explores them. Using miniature worlds, sandbox scenes, and role-play, children externalize inner chaos. This approach:

• Reduces shame—“I’m not bad; my dinosaur is just really angry.”
• Builds self-awareness—kids see cause-and-effect in a safe microcosm.
• Restores agency—they choose how the story ends.

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2. How Play Therapy Works for Children with ADHD

Materials and Methods Commonly Used

Our therapists stock shelves with tools that channel ADHD traits:

Key Therapeutic Play Techniques

• Sandtray Worldplay: Create and narrate scenes to practice sequencing.
• Therapeutic Storytelling: Child becomes “hero” who masters magical “focus shields.”
• Emotion Coaching Dolls: Label feelings before they erupt.

Session Structure and Duration

• Initial 50-minute sessions (parent attends last 10 minutes).
• Frequency: Weekly for 12–16 weeks, then taper to bi-weekly.
• Progress markers: Sustained attention rises from 5 to 15 minutes within six sessions.

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3. Benefits of Play Therapy for ADHD Kids

3 Evidence-Based Reasons Play Therapy Works

1. Neuroplasticity: Repeated imaginative play strengthens prefrontal cortex pathways.
2. Attachment Repair: One-on-one attuned play lowers cortisol, improving executive function.
3. Self-Metaphor Creation: Children invent personal symbols (“My dragon learns to breathe slowly”) that generalize to real life.

Short-Term vs Long-Term Benefits

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4. Meet Our Expert Play Therapists

Our team is 100 % employed by Cadabams CDC—no external contractors.

• Ananya Rao, M.A. Child Psychology, RPT-S Specializes in sensory-integration play for hyperactive subtypes. Uses weighted blankets and obstacle courses to teach body boundaries.
• Vikram Mehta, M.S. Counseling, NCC Integrates tabletop role-playing games to practice turn-taking and rule-following. Both play therapists complete 30 hours of annual ADHD-specific continuing education and monthly peer supervision.

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5. What to Expect During Treatment

Initial Assessment and Customized Plan

• 60-minute parent interview (screeners: Vanderbilt, Conners-3).
• 30-minute child-led play observation.
• Goal setting: e.g., “Reduce physical aggression to peers from 5 to 1 incident per week.” The initial assessment helps create a customized treatment plan.

Weekly Session Flow Example

1. Check-in ritual (2 min): Choose a “feeling stone.”
2. Free play (25 min): Child directs; therapist tracks attention span.
3. Directive game (15 min): “Red-Light-Green-Light” to practice impulse control.
4. Wrap-up (8 min): Child teaches parent a “calm-down breathing spell.”

Parent Involvement and Home Play Exercises

• 15-minute nightly “special play time” with a bin of designated toys.
• Weekly parent coaching call to troubleshoot school or family dynamics. Parent involvement is crucial for success.

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6. Comparing Play Therapy vs Other ADHD Interventions

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7. Insurance & Admission Process

• Cashless tie-ups: HDFC ERGO, ICICI Lombard, Aditya Birla.
• Steps to book:

1. Fill quick inquiry form below.
2. Receive a call within 4 hours.
3. Schedule assessment within 7 days at our ADHD clinic.

[Quick Inquiry Form]
Child’s age:
Preferred location (Bangalore/Hyderabad):
Best time to call:

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