Why Play Therapy Sessions Start Right on Time:
The Intention Behind Our Timing
You’ll often hear us mention that sessions begin and end at specific times. There’s both logic and a little bit of magic behind that rhythm. Families sometimes wonder why we don’t come to the waiting room early or why we step out right at the appointment time. The answer is simple: timing is an important part of helping your child feel safe, successful, and supported.
A Calm Start Matters
It might seem helpful to arrive early so no one feels rushed. But for many children, waiting in the lobby for 10–15 minutes can actually create discomfort or dysregulation. When a child sits for too long anticipating a transition, they often develop an expectation that something is about to happen. When the transition doesn’t occur quickly, frustration, anxiety, or restlessness can build.
Most children have an attention span of about 20 minutes for sitting and waiting, and often even less in unfamiliar environments. Once that window passes, it becomes significantly harder to shift into a therapeutic mindset. Extended waiting period are likely a contributing factor when increased dysregulation is seen.
Walking into session right at the scheduled time helps create a smoother, more predictable transition and supports emotional regulation from the very start.
Creating a Fresh, Safe Space for Each Child
Play therapy may look like pure fun (and it often is!), but it can also involve deep emotional work. Some children express big feelings in big, messy ways that take time to clean up: glitter explosions, dramatic battle scenes, dinosaurs “eating” everything in sight, or snakes soaring through the room.
The time between sessions allows us to:
reset the playroom,
refresh materials,
sanitize what needs sanitizing,
and ensure each child walks into a space that feels calm, prepared, and just for them.
These few minutes are essential to creating the sense of safety children need to explore and express emotions.
Therapists Need a Moment, Too
Just like children, therapists benefit from a reset. One child may spend a session working through grief with intense symbolic play, while the next may arrive ready to nurture a baby doll or run a pretend restaurant. A short pause allows the therapist to:
regulate their own nervous system,
shift emotional gears,
and be fully present and attuned for the next child’s unique needs.
This transition time is not optional. It’s part of providing ethical, high-quality care.
Protecting Privacy and Respecting Boundaries
Timing also helps protect confidentiality. When families arrive exactly on time, sessions don’t overlap, and every child and caregiver has space and privacy. These boundaries help children feel protected and help parents feel confident that what happens in the playroom stays in the playroom.
Behind-the-Scenes “Housekeeping”
Those in-between minutes are equally important for practical reasons. This is when we respond to quick messages, check in with caregivers as needed, coordinate care, and complete essential documentation. Taking care of those tasks outside of session time ensures your child receives our full, undivided attention during their appointment.
What This Means for Your Arrival
The simplest guideline is this:
Plan to walk in just a minute or two before your scheduled appointment time.
If you arrive early, you’re always welcome to wait comfortably in your car until your therapist comes out to the lobby. You are not being late, rude, or inconvenient — you are actively supporting your child’s regulation and the therapeutic process.
It is most helpful if children don’t wait more than 10 minutes before session. This helps prevent dysregulation, supports smoother transitions, and ensures they begin their session ready to engage.
Thank You for Your Partnership
We truly appreciate your collaboration and understanding. Every part of the play therapy process — even the quiet minutes between sessions — is intentional. These small rhythms help us offer consistent, high-quality care for your child and every child we serve.
By honoring this timing together, we create a space where children feel safe, seen, regulated, and ready to do the important work of growing.
Kathleen Dane, MS, LPC Associate utilizes play therapy at the Playroom Lubbock. She is under the clinical supervision of Kelly Martin, MEd, LPC-S, RPT-S