Tag

sandplay therapy Archives – Foundations Counseling

October 5, 2018
0

Benefits Of Sandplay Therapy

By | Uncategorized | No Comments

Sandplay therapy is a nonverbal therapeutic intervention that can be used for children, including children diagnosed with autism. Instead of trying to talk to the child, the therapist will make use of a sandbox where the child can find toys to create something that the child wants. This is a great way for the therapist to see the child’s inner thoughts or feelings. This can be another form of talk therapy while utilizing the sandbox figures as alternate communication tools.

The Benefits of Sandplay Therapy for Kids with Autism

Sandplay therapy allows the child with autism to express their feelings. It can give the therapist an idea of a trauma that the child may have or what kind of things the child finds interesting. It allows the child to show the therapist their creative side and what makes them happy. Introducing different items to the child can be a way of introducing different characters to the child’s setting. This will in turn have a significant effect when it comes to the child’s social skills.

When a child’s hands and mind wander to their happy place, they are often prone to communication. This gives the therapist an opening to interact with the child while he or she is playing. Establishing communication is always the first objective a therapist is looking for in sandplay therapy. It allows the therapist to know if the child is responding and making progress.

Sandplay therapy uses little to no words which makes it easier for the child to have his or her own personal space. This allows the child to create what bothers him or her most and make use of the sand tray as their boundaries. The therapist will be there to evaluate everything the child is building and thinking of new things to introduce to the child in order to improve their feeling toward their imagination.

Choosing a Sandplay Therapist

Some play therapists have taken additional trainings in sandplay therapy. Look for licensed therapists that have experience in sandplay therapy if you think that this therapy will benefit your child. In addition, you should also look for a therapist that has the appropriate tools and education background about the benefits and key elements of this therapy.

Doing your own research on qualified therapists in your area is another great way to find a therapist. Nowadays, therapists have their own website and usually have testimonials from previous clients on their work. Use this information to get an idea on how well the therapist might interact with your child. When finally choosing your therapist, you should make sure that you are comfortable leaving your child in their care.

September 10, 2018
0

Helpful Activities For Kids With Autism

By | Uncategorized | No Comments

Having a child with autism can be difficult and you as their parent should always be there to help them. It’s true that getting help from professional therapists can help treat your child better and get them to be sociable by the time they reach school age. However, you shouldn’t solely rely on the sessions for your kid to grow. You can also have an input in the development of your child and have an autism therapy at home. This not only allows you to interact with your child, it also strengthens your relationship bond which is really what your child needs.

Activities That Helps Build Your Relationship Bonds With Your Child

1.  Activities you can do with your 1 to 4 years old child

Singing songs is often one of the best activities children love to do. The main chorus of songs is often what attracts children with autism to listen. You can also use music to get them through their tantrums or use songs to dress or feed themselves. You can also use their favorite song to reward them for something they have achieved or if they no longer do activities that are less desirable.

Blowing bubbles is another activity that you can use to help your child’s sensory skill. Pointing at the bubbles and making your reactions when a bubble pops can get your child’s attention. As you continue to do this activity, you will eventually develop joint attention with your child; this is important and difficult to achieve in children with autism.

2. When your child reaches preschool and kindergarten

Many children with autism find it difficult to interact socially with other children. There are a lot of factors that can distract them as their senses are slower than other children. The change in their environment can also be a factor that can be challenging for your child. During this time, the best activity you should give your child is to get them into advanced behavioral analysis with professional therapists.

You can also help your child by introducing him or her to your friend’s children. However, you should not let them play alone; you must still be play with them since you will be your child’s guide. A fun game of tag or cops and robbers is a perfect game for your child to experience interacting with other children. You can even ask the other children to play charades and simply allow them to mimic animals. This gives your child a great view of how other children will not be as bad when he or she is in school.

Sandplay Therapy By Professional Therapists

Although playing with your child is good treatment, it still is better to have an expert therapist help out. Sandplay therapy is usually nonverbal and makes use of a sandbox. Toys are placed in the box and the therapist allows the child to build something with those toys. In most cases, the child will build something that represents the child’s inner thoughts or feelings. This can also be used with talk therapy and instead of verbally talking, the toys are used as the communication tools.

Once a sandplay therapist sees the world the child has built, the therapist will then try to understand how the child sees our world today. This will guide the therapist on what the child is going through and may be able to give solutions or suggestions to the child by showing the similarities between their world and the real world.  This therapy is a great tool to help you understand your child and know how developed your child’s creative skills are.