What’s New For the Playroom?

In this section we review books, toys, and materials that make being a play therapist more fun, as well as help you be more effective.

Playing With Rainbows: a national play program for at-risk refugee children.

(Revell, B. (1999). Ottawa, Canada: YWCA of Canada.)
This training manual includes background information about using play in counseling and understanding the impact of war and migration. It details a 12 session group model which involves play designed to facilitate healing in children who have experienced war and migration.

This manual can be downloaded for free

Family Strengths Toolkit

http://www.fcsmn.org/family_project/FCS_Family_Strengths_Toolkit_small.pdf

This Family Strengths Toolkit is based on the experience, wisdom and values of Minnesota families. Two thousand people participated in the Minnesota Family Strength Project, sharing what their families do to be strong. Using what [they] learned from the project, Family & Children’s Service has helped thousands of families acknowledge and celebrate their strengths, and has partnered with them in creating more supportive environments for families and children.

You can use this toolkit with your family to:

Talk about and celebrate your family’s strengths;

Learn what other families do to be strong;

Make a commitment as a family to become even stronger;

Set specific family goals;

Find resources for your family;

Have fun together!

(Description taken from the website: http://www.fcsmn.org/family_project/FCS_Family_Strengths_Toolkit_small.pdf)

Mental Health Tool Kit

Sweet and Sour Tarts: A reminder to appreciate the differences in others.

Toothpick: To "pick out" the good qualities in everyone.

Eraser: To remind you that everyone makes mistakes and this is alright.

Lifesavers: Sometimes we all need a little help.

Kleenex: For drying someone else's tears or perhaps your own so you can see things more clearly.

Cotton Ball: To cushion the rough roads in therapy sessions with your clients.

Band-aid: For healing hurt feelings.

Rubber Band: To help you remember to be flexible.

Paper Clip: To help keep everything together.

Chocolate: To remind you to give of yourself & to remember to treat yourself too!!

Penny: To remind you that in the Mental Health Field you sometimes need a "sense" of humor.

A Star: To remind you that the young people in your care are stars and you are a star too!!!

A Mint: To remind you that you are worth a mint and more.....

All above contents provided in a Ziplock Sandwich Bag: because it holds food for the heart to be shared with others.