♥  When children are exposed to these traumas, their lives are changed forever. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), maladjustment at home and/or school, troubled family relationships, withdrawal, anxiety, depression, violence, and other mental health difficulties often follow.

♥  While treatment of adults usually requires the client’s verbal expression of problems and feelings, children’s development prevent them from having the emotional insight to express what is troubling them. Yet, a child always communicates through play.

♥  The activity of play is therapeutic in and of itself. It is fairly simple to engage children in play. In a world full of rules and regulations, play therapy provides an outlet where children can express their feelings and frustrations without fear of repercussions.

♥  Educators and mental health professionals are becoming aware of the need to incorporate play therapy programs within the school environment. Its effectiveness in helping children has been solidly demonstrated by the service provided by Nana’s Children.

♥  Play therapy involves the systematic use of play to help children cope with life situations, develop more adaptive behavior patterns, and learn effective problem solving and social skills. Because play is universal among children and multicultural, it is a valuable intervention.

Within Arizona Schools, funding is limited in mental health services, therefore limiting the services these children are able to receive, often leaving on person responsible for over 100 children. Nana’s Children is the only play therapy program in this area providing services within the school at this scale.