Play therapy refers to a psychotherapy method of in which trained therapist use the therapeutic power of the game to assist the case to prevent or solve the psychological social dilemma,thereby to enable the patients to get the greatest growth and development. On the basis of the domestic and foreign literature research on children-centered play therapy since 1983, this paper shows the theoretical development of play therapy, combs the research of play therapy and prospects the trend of the study of play therapy for children. In the end,the future research is advised to be established on the background of Chinese culture, strengthened the localization of the play therapy in China, expanded the scope of clinical application of play therapy,and improved the training of play therapists.