The aim of the study was to examine effects of a play-based narrative therapy program on self-esteem of the child in a single parent family. The subjects of the study were higher grade elementary school children living in X single mothers' home in Daegu Metropolitan City. The selection process of the subjects was as follows. A social worker recommended several children whose had difficulties in socializing. Among the suggested, six children with lower 33% self-esteem were finally subjected to the study after a self-esteem test. They were grouped into a control and a test group with three children for each. The research task was to examine changes in self-esteem by applying a play-based narrative therapy for the children of a single parent family. The details of the self-esteem to be measured involved the self-esteem scale, verbal expression, behavior, and narrative positively describing their own life. The narrative therapy program was devised with a moderating strategy such as self-understanding, distinction of one's problems, alternative problem solving, active problem solving, and competence experience. It was also designed to utilize a therapeutic element of the play which reduces resistance. The self-esteem scales before and after the program were compared to examine an increase of the self-esteem of the children. Analyzed were positive and negative verbal expressions of self and others, behavior related with the self-esteem, narrative positively describing one own's life in each session. The results of the study are as follows. The play-based narrative therapy enhanced the self-esteem of the child in a single parent family. More specifically self-esteem scale improved, positive verbal expressions increased, negative verbal expressions decreased, and contents of behavior and stories became more positive. In conclusion, it proved that a play-based narrative therapy enhanced the self-esteem of the child in a single parent family.