Play sessions in Russian for children aged 3–12
My name is Daria. I work with Russian-speaking children using child-centered play therapy, in a fully equipped playroom in Haarlem — 15–20 minutes by train from Amsterdam.
The first step is an intro meeting with parents: 30 minutes, without your child, no commitment.
Why parents get in touch
Play sessions address specific changes in a child’s behaviour and state. Typical reasons to reach out:
- 02.01Anger outbursts, frequent conflicts at home or at school
- 02.02Fears and anxiety: trouble falling asleep, won’t let parents leave
- 02.03The move to the Netherlands: your child has withdrawn, “become different”
- 02.04Adjusting to a new school and language is going badly
- 02.05A younger brother or sister has arrived
- 02.06Divorce or ongoing conflict between parents
- 02.07Loss of a family member or a pet
- 02.08Your child keeps everything inside and won’t say what’s wrong
The list is not exhaustive. Whether the method fits your situation is a question for the intro meeting, not for self-diagnosis.
Child-centered play therapy
Play is a child’s natural language. What an adult can put into words, a child expresses through play: re-enacting difficult situations, testing boundaries, finding a way out.
In a session the child decides what to play and how. I don’t set topics and I don’t judge — I reflect what is happening and hold clear, consistent boundaries. Change grows from within, at the child’s own pace. This is a documented method with a formalised procedure, not “just playing”.
“Birds fly, fish swim, and children play.”
The playroom
The room is set up to the method’s requirements. Every item stays in the same place, every time — predictability gives the child solid ground.
- 01Toys that mirror real life: a house, dishes, cars, family figures
- 02A sand tray with miniatures
- 03Materials for drawing and modelling
- 04Costumes and props for role play
- 05Materials for expressing big feelings
How the work is structured
The sequence is fixed. At every stage you know what is happening and what comes next.
- 04.01Intro meeting with parents30 minutes, without your child. You describe the situation; I explain what I can do. No commitment.
- 04.02First play sessionYour child gets to know the room and the rules. No preparation is required on their part.
- 04.03Weekly sessions45 minutes, at a fixed day and time. Regularity is a working condition of the method, not a preference.
- 04.04Parent meetings60 minutes, roughly every 4–5 sessions. We discuss progress and what you can do at home.
- 04.05Review and endingThe work ends with a prepared closing, not a cut-off: we review the results together with your child and with you.
Who runs the sessions
I am a child play specialist. I work with Russian-speaking families across North Holland: sessions are in Russian, and I speak Russian with parents.
The practice is in Haarlem. I share the exact address after you book the intro meeting.
- Training in child-centered play therapy
- Background in psychology
- Regular supervision of the practice
- Certificates available on request at the intro meeting
Daria. Haarlem, North Holland
Fees and conditions
| Format | Fee |
|---|---|
| Intro meeting with parents30 minutes, without your child, no commitment | To be confirmed |
| Play session45 minutes, individual, once a week | To be confirmed |
| Parent meeting60 minutes, roughly every 4–5 sessions | To be confirmed |
Exact fees will be published here. Until then, they are stated at the intro meeting.
Frequent questions
07.01My child won’t talk about their problems. How does this work without talking?
Talking isn’t required. The method is built on the fact that children express what is going on through play, not through words. Being able to articulate feelings is not a precondition for starting.
07.02How many sessions will we need?
Parents usually notice the first changes after a few weeks. A lasting result, according to the research, most often takes 12–20 sessions. A more precise estimate is possible after the first sessions; we track progress at the parent meetings.
07.03Are parents present during a session?
No — sessions are individual: the child and the specialist. Parents have their own format: a 60-minute meeting roughly every 4–5 sessions.
07.04What happens at the intro meeting?
A 30-minute conversation without your child. You describe the situation and ask questions; I explain how the work is structured — and I say so directly if I think you need a different professional. The meeting commits you to nothing.
07.05Do you tell parents what the child did in a session?
Session content is confidential — that is the condition under which a child can play freely. At parent meetings I talk about progress and what to do at home. There is one exception: a risk to the safety of the child or others.
07.06Our child speaks both Russian and Dutch. Does the format fit?
Yes. Sessions are held in Russian, but in play the child is free to use any words in any language — it doesn’t get in the way of the work.
07.07Is this a medical service?
No. Play sessions are not medical care and do not replace a doctor or a psychotherapist. For acute concerns contact your huisarts (GP); in an emergency call 112.
07.08We live in Amsterdam. Is it far?
Haarlem is 15–20 minutes by train from Amsterdam, with several trains per hour. The practice serves families across North Holland.
07.09What if we need to cancel a session?
Cancel at least 24 hours in advance at no charge. Later cancellations are charged in full, because the reserved slot cannot be passed to another family.
Intro meeting: 30 minutes, without your child, no commitment
One step: you pick a time, we talk for 30 minutes. After the meeting you decide whether to start — no pressure from my side.
Online booking is being set up. The link and contact details will be published on this page.
What you should know
Play sessions are not a medical service and do not replace a doctor or a psychotherapist. In an emergency call 112; for questions about your child’s health contact your huisarts (GP).
Daria is a child play specialist. The method she works with is child-centered play therapy (CCPT).