International Play Therapy Week: Celebrating the Work You Do (and the Play That Makes It Possible)

Play is not extra.

Play is not “just fun.”

Play is not a break from the real work.

Play is the work.

Every year, International Play Therapy Week invites us to pause and celebrate the powerful clinical impact of play therapy and the therapists who bring it to life in session after session.

At PlaySpace, we’re honored to stand alongside you: the play therapists, counselors, social workers, and child clinicians who show up with empathy, creativity, and trust… even on the busiest weeks of your caseload.

This week is for you.

And it’s for the children and teens who heal through play with your support.

What Is International Play Therapy Week?

International Play Therapy Week is an annual awareness week created by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to highlight the value of play therapy and the vital role play therapists serve in children’s mental health.

It’s a global moment to:

• Celebrate play therapy as an evidence-based modality
• Educate communities about the therapeutic power of play
• Recognize the work of trained play therapists
• Advocate for children’s emotional needs through developmentally responsive care

International Play Therapy Week 2026 will be observed February 1–7, 2026.

Why This Week Matters (Especially Right Now)

If you’re a clinician balancing:

• 30 sessions a week
• Documentation between clients
• Hybrid schedules
• Kids who struggle to engage
• Teens who won’t talk
• Families who are overwhelmed

…then you already know this truth:

Engagement is everything.

Rapport is the foundation.

And play is often the bridge.

International Play Therapy Week isn’t just a celebration.

It’s a reminder:

• Play is clinically meaningful
• Creativity is evidence-based
• Connection is healing
• Therapists deserve support, too

At PlaySpace, we believe therapy should feel accessible, immersive, and developmentally aligned - whether you’re in the playroom or on a laptop screen.

PlaySpace and the Future of Play Therapy

Play therapy has always been innovative.

From the earliest sandtrays and symbolic miniatures to modern expressive interventions, the field has continually evolved to meet children where they are.

Today, many children live in both physical and digital worlds.

That’s where PlaySpace comes in.

PlaySpace was built by therapists, for therapists, to help clinicians deliver play-based care through technology in ways that are:

• Clinically grounded
• Deeply engaging
• Secure and trusted
• Accessible across settings

Whether you’re offering telehealth sessions or integrating technology into in-person work, PlaySpace helps expand what’s possible.

Digital Tools That Support Real Therapeutic Work

PlaySpace is designed to bring the heart of the playroom into virtual and hybrid spaces without losing clinical intention.

Inside PlaySpace, therapists can access tools such as:

• Multiplayer games for connection, co-regulation, and rapport
• Single-player activities for autonomy, reflection, and emotional expression
• Whiteboard tools for drawing, mapping feelings, and collaborative creativity
• Slides and visual supports for structure, psychoeducation, and coping skills
• AI Storybook Creator for narrative therapy, externalization, and metaphor
• Sandtray and dollhouse for symbolic work and family themes
• Therapeutic worksheets for skill-building and integration
• The Community Library for shared, session-ready interventions

These tools are flexible enough to support:

• Fully virtual care
• Hybrid therapy models
• In-person sessions using shared screens or tablets

The goal is always the same:

Engagement that drives outcomes.

Technology as a Play Therapy Partner (Not a Distraction)

Let’s name it clearly:

Technology is already part of children’s worlds.

The question is not whether screens exist.

The question is:

Can we use technology with purpose, safety, and clinical intention?

With PlaySpace, digital tools become:

• Developmentally responsive
• Therapist-led
• Secure and compliant
• Engagement-focused
• Built from evidence-based play therapy principles

Virtual play doesn’t replace traditional play therapy.

It expands access to it.

It helps clinicians meet children where they are - anytime, anywhere.

A Note of Gratitude From PlaySpace

To every therapist reading:

Thank you for showing up.

Thank you for believing in creativity.

Thank you for holding space for feelings that don’t yet have words.

International Play Therapy Week is a celebration of the field.

But it’s also a celebration of you.

PlaySpace is here to be your trusted partner helping you deliver immersive, evidence-driven care that kids actually want to return to.

Celebrate With PlaySpace

Ready to bring fresh play-based energy into your sessions this Play Therapy Week?

✨ Explore tools like multiplayer games, sandtray, dollhouse, storybook creation, and our growing Community Library - all designed to support engagement and clinical outcomes.

Try PlaySpace today and see what play can unlock in your next session.

➡️ Sign up for a demo or start exploring at PlaySpace.health

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