Which statement best describes the value of play in building relationships with young clients?

• A. It allows children to escape from their problems
• B. It gives the child a sense of what a 'normal' home is like
• C. It stimulates the child's creativity and allows him or her to build self-esteem
• D. It puts children at ease and can provide important revelations about the child's feelings and experiences

Answer: (D)

Play serves as a bridge to relationship with young clients. When children engage in play, they feel safe and become more open, and the therapist can observe and tune into their underlying emotions and experiences through their symbolic actions and choices. This dynamic helps build trust and rapport, which are essential for meaningful help, and it often reveals how the child is truly feeling and what they are experiencing, even when they can’t express it directly. While play can also foster creativity or help a child cope with problems, the strongest description of its value in building relationships is that it puts children at ease and provides important insights into their inner world.