ABSTRACT
The move away from insight and direct interpretation in child analytic work has important implications for technique. The child therapist must look to play, not only as a means of understanding the child, but also as a technique of engagement. Play has many benefits over formal interpretations. It is developmentally attuned. It allows anxieties to be displaced into the safer realm of pretend. It keeps things light and enjoyable. Children can retain their sense of personal security. Importantly, play is fun, a word not often used in analytic work. Fun and enjoyment bring interest and curiosity.
