Play as a coping strategy?: A review of the relevant literature

Despite the fact that coping and play are both considered essential elements of child development, their relationship has seldom been investigated. The present review examined the assessment of children’s coping skills in general and the specific use of play as a coping skill in studies involving children aged 5-12 years. Forty studies published between 2000 and 2013 were analyzed. The review showed that play is not incorporated in 40% of the children’s coping skills instruments. Even when a coping instrument recognized play it was classified as either an avoidant or distracting activity. Future research should investigate children’s play as a coping strategy for managing difficult and stressful situations. Overlooking play as a coping strategy may lead to underestimate its developmental and social potential in pediatric health care.