ABSTRACT
The relationship with a child in the playroom is always new, creative, exciting, and different with each child. Therefore, predicting what an individual child will do in a given session is not possible. Trying to anticipate some of the things children might do and formulating a response ahead of time can be helpful, however, to the inexperienced therapist. Knowing how to respond when confronted with an unexpected occurrence can help the therapist to remain calm and accepting of the child. Planning what needs to be done and how to respond ahead of time should not diminish the therapist’s creative and spontaneous use of self. No matter how often certain responses, verbal and otherwise, are used, they should never become perfunctory or routine. The therapist should always be responding with compassion, understanding, and the utmost concern for the child’s feelings. With that in mind, the following common problems in the playroom and possible responses are presented for the therapist to consider.
