[OPD-diagnostics of child play]

Up to now there have been only a few attempts at using child play as a diagnostic instrument for distinguishing different psychic disturbances. In this article the author proposes different dimensions of evaluating child play diagnostically, serving to classify the respective integration level. They are dimensions such as the relation reality/phantasy, bodily action, as if ability, play duration, contents and quality, and play development. Play is understood here essentially as a child's one-sided enactment. With case examples the author clarifies how child play is to be understood on different integration levels using the evaluation criteria.