| Abstract: | Therapists meeting families with young children need to understand how children think. This paper aims to help beginner family therapists regain their lost childhood fluency in the language of childthink, by reviewing the clinically relevant essentials. Six to eight year old children learn with their eyes and by doing and touching rather than by talking. Young children think concretely and have a limited vocabulary. Moral realism implies clear cut goodies and baddies. They can externalise troubles and master them assisted by heroic goodies. Their humour is visual and slapstick. Application of childthink is demonstrated with mastering allegories developed by local therapists. General principles are identified and illustrated with White's Sneaky Poo. Case vignettes illustrate other documented allegories for abdominal pain, monster taming, Fierce Fears and The Temper. Newer allegories such as Dreamy Dawdle, Tricky Itch, Slippery Mouth, Tricky Wee and Chubby Lie show promise. This paradigm has much uncharted potential. |
