Psychoanalysis and Play

I want to say how pleased I am to be here tonight. It was the codirectors of the Parent-Child Program, Drs. Leon Hoffman and Susan Sherkow, who invited me to speak to you. So I come here tonight as a friend and colleague. Over the years I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as consultant to the Parent-Child Program at their weekly Monday staff meetings. As consultant it gave me an opportunity to watch and participate in this unique nursery as it evolved. The Parent-Child Program is not only for the babies and toddlers who come to play, but also for the children's mothers. Trained psychoanalysts offer these mothers sound psychological help and insight into early child development. Among the various aspects of child rearing that the analysts discuss with the parents are the many problems that arise in the early years of a child's life. My own special contribution as consultant has been in the area of play as understood and seen through the lens of psychoanalytic knowledge.

How psychoanalysis came to play such a great part in my professional life is an interesting story. Children's play was always my special interest and area of expertise. As a youngster I worked in neighborhood groups and summer camps. When I was 19 I was offered a position in a well-known camp as Creative Play Counselor. I accepted immediately. It sounded like something I would enjoy. But Mother, who was not acquainted with such new ideas, was puzzled.

“What is this creative play all about?” she asked. I honestly didn't know either. So I went to the library to find out. “It's what we kids played in the backyard in Brooklyn,” I told her.

And, in fact, imaginative play with my sister and brother and friends had always seemed perfectly natural to me. I never thought about it. If I had a good idea, I just started to play. It was like the game of ship I made up. Mother always let us play in the house and