As I see mainly children and adolescents in my practice, and
I’m a firm believer in systems theory, I am always looking for activities that
I can do with either a child and parent/caregiver or the entire family (client,
parents and siblings). I’ve found the following two activities to be engaging,
fun and telling.
THREE WISHES FOR ME AND MY FAMILY
Group of 2
or more; ages 6 thru adult
Supplies: One
clipboard per person
Assorted
markers, crayons, colored pencils
3 worksheets per person labeled with the following:
Wish Number 1 For Me And My Family
Wish Number 2 For Me And My Family
Wish Number 3 For Me And My Family
Give each
family member a clipboard with 3 worksheets attached. Instructions are as follows “Please draw 3
wishes for your family – one wish on each sheet. You may draw whatever you want
– the sky’s the limit – no right or wrong - but you may not use any letters or
words. When you are finished drawing, turn over your completed work until
everyone else is done.”
Once all
members have completed their drawings, have one member share one of their
drawings/wishes by holding it up for the others to guess what it is. The drawer may give hints if necessary. Once the wish is correctly guessed the drawer
can expound on the drawing/wish if they would like to. They then choose the
next member they would like to have share a drawing/wish. Continue until all
members have shared all three drawings/wishes.
Questions for discussion upon completion of activity include:
Questions for discussion upon completion of activity include:
o
Did anybody’s wish surprise you?
o
How alike where some of your wishes? How
different?
o
What would it take to make the wish a reality?
o
What are you doing right now to make the wish
come true?
Katherine
Arkell, LMSW, RPT-S, is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Registered Play
Therapist Supervisor in private practice in Saginaw, MI. She is a 2000 graduate
from Valdosta State University, GA, and has worked in a variety of settings
involving children, adolescents and their families. You can learn more about Katherine on her web site KDA PLAY and follow her on Facebook Child And Family Therapy
Katherine-
ReplyDeleteThis a great technique! I love that is "low tech" (you don't need a lot of stuff to do it) and that it uses pictures as well. I've found that kids are able to express so much more through pictures than words for many reasons. I'll be filing this one away for sure. Great job!
Thanks so much. I'm all about low tech too. I agree, art seems to transcend so many barriers. Thanks again and enjoy!
DeleteThank you, I will be using this idea!
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to consider it!
DeleteThis is a great intervention. I love the idea of giving the family clipboards and having them all draw their wishes. I often use a genie lamp as part of my assessments. This is perfect for my older clients. Thank you
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! It is funny, you mentioned the clipboards - younger kids find these especially fun for some reason. I love your genie lamp idea as part of assessments - I have a genie in a lamp puppet that I'm definitely going to have to try now. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind feedback. Yes, what I really like is that it works across the ages. By the way, your genie lamp inspired me to start using my genie in a lamp puppet as part of my assessments. Thank you!
ReplyDelete