Flip Flop Faces!

What do you get when you combine feelings and bean bags? FLIP, FLOP, FACES!

What Is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is a theoretically based treatment approach for children 3-12 years of age that uses a child’s natural tendency to “play out” their reactions to life situations. Toys in a play therapy room include games, puppets, art supplies, and sand trays. All toys are carefully selected to facilitate creative and emotional expression from children.

In play therapy children learn how to identify and recognize their feelings. It improves their self-concept, reduces anxiety and initiates behavioral changes. By making appropriate choices in the play room children find solutions to problems and learn self control which leads to taking responsibility for their actions.

Play therapy is facilitated by a play therapist that provides an environment where a child feels safe to play out his or her concerns. As a result, the therapist can assess the child’s play and make recommendations to parents concerning plans for resolving problems.

Children who are dealing with death, divorce, abandonment, or abuse can benefit from play therapy Children who are experiencing difficulty adjusting to moving, starting school, the birth of a sibling or a chronic illness can find emotional support in play therapy. Play therapy can also help children who are experiencing problems related to anxiety, ADHD, autism, attachment disorders, and learning disabilities. 

With advanced play therapy training, experience and supervision, a mental health professional can earn the Registered Play Therapist or Registered Play Therapist Credential conferred by the Association for Play Therapy (APT). APT is a national non-profit professional society that provides research, training and credentialing programs to assist and enhance the expertise of mental health professionals. Additional information is available at www.a4pt.org

For more information on Pam Dyson and her play therapy services visit www.pamdyson.com Mental health professionals can learn more about play therapy training opportunities at www.stlplaytherapy.com

Feelings Bucket Toss

Ollie The Octopus

Many children who are impulsive have a difficult time keeping their hands to themselves. Using the many arms of an octopus children are encouraged to come up with ways to keep their hands busy.

Look What I Found at the Dollar Store

Dollar stores are a playground for therapists who are looking for affordable items to use in their play therapy room.

Ways to Help in Newtown

Many people have asked for ways to help in Newtown. There are several play therapists, in conjunction with counselors in the Newtown area, who are assembling toy kits and sandtray kits for classrooms.

The kits will have prompts for classroom usage, and teachers will have consultation and support around these activities as well.

If you'd like to be a part of this team effort to help the children of Newtown you can make a monetary donation to help purchase the needed supplies. Simply click on the link below to make a payment via PayPal.

Chip In: Newtown, CT Play Therapy Kits

New Uses for Old Binders

Have some old three ring binders laying around? Turn them into doll houses and puppet stages.