Making Sense of “Baby Talk” in a CCPT Playroom: What It Means and How to Respond

Apr 4, 2025

In this episode, I answer a question from Kelli in Washington about how to respond when children use baby talk in the playroom. While it may seem like a small thing, baby talk always carries meaning in a session. I walk through three common reasons it shows up—regressive play, a bid for nurturance and safety, or a conditioned pattern—and explain how to stay attuned to what the child may be expressing through this behavior.

I also share how to reflect baby talk in a neutral, nonjudgmental way, why it’s important not to correct or redirect it, and how to respond when it’s difficult to understand what the child is saying. As always, our goal is to allow space for whatever needs to emerge, trusting that with time and the right conditions, these behaviors shift as the child grows through the process of CCPT.

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Common References:

Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley.
VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press.
Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge.
Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

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