‘The way a child plays is the way they live’: how therapists are using video games to help vulnerable children

The article discusses how therapists are using video games, particularly Minecraft, to help vulnerable children, including Ukrainian refugees who have experienced trauma due to the Russian invasion. The article highlights the case of Oleksii Sukhorukov, whose 12-year-old son found solace in playing Minecraft during the chaos of the invasion. Sukhorukov realized that Ukrainian children were using the game to connect with each other, support one another, and create their own worlds, even while living under different circumstances, such as Russian occupation or missile attacks. The article suggests that the way a child plays can reflect how they live, and therapists are recognizing the power of creative games like Minecraft as a means of self-expression and mental health support for traumatized children. The article emphasizes the "amazing" ability of these children to come together and build their own worlds within the game, despite the difficult realities they face.