8 Questions You Need To Ask To Find The Right Size Sand Tray for Your Practice

There are more than a couple of things you need to start sandtray in your play therapy practice.

Miniatures? Check! (get more resources HERE!)

Sand? Check! (get more resources HERE and HERE!)
​
The tray? Let’s dive in! 
​

The tray is SO important for so many reasons.  

Traditional Lowenfeld and Kalff trays are typically 19.5 inches x 28.5 inches and 3 inches deep. There are many reasons why trays around this size have been considered the standard.  

First, the size of the tray is designed to match the client’s natural visual field (ie they can take in the tray without having to turn their head). Second, the edges of the tray provide boundaries and containment for their world and therapeutic materials. Lastly, the depth is what allows for burying of objects but shallow enough so you can easily see into the scene in the tray. 

Beyond size blue is an important element of sand trays.  The blue on the side of the trays symbolizes the sky and the bottom the water.  There is much debate on the exact “right” shade of blue and if both blues should be the same or different.

Check out more HERE about each of the important elements of selecting your sand tray!

And while all of these factors should be considered when selecting your tray there are 8 more questions I wanted to share with you to pick the sand tray that is right for your practice! 

Is your sand tray stationary or mobile?

This is the first question to decide what type of tray is right for you!  If you are traveling between multiple offices, do in-home work, or are in a situation where you need to take your play materials with you and cannot house them at your office you are for sure going to need a mobile sandtray therapy kit.  

Check out more on how to put together a mobile sandtray therapy kit HERE! 

If your sandtray will remain in your therapeutic space you may have more options for the type of tray you select. 

What is your office setup?

Do you have a small or large office? Do you have a separate playroom or sandtray room? Do you co-share an office?

If your tray will be stored in your office the size of your office will dictate the size of your tray.  If you have one full room setup for your sandtray, containment of the tray in between sessions is unnecessary - so you can go wild!  Big trays, little trays, many trays - the sky is the limit!  

If you have an office that houses all of your play therapy, talk therapy, and sand work you may consider options with a lid.  From personal experience if you have an open sandtray in your office but are doing a parent check-in with the client (or little siblings) you tray is likely going to get dumped. 

 Other storage solutions such as a rolling cart to tuck away the tray or sliding the tray in a cabinet or under furniture when not in use may be helpful.  

A lid and containment is also recommended if you co-share an office and the therapist isn’t trained in sandtray or will not be using your supplies.  If your office sharing therapists also sees kids it can be confusing and stressful for them to see toys and play materials and not being able to play with them. A lit can solve this problem and create containment! 


What age groups do you work with?

If you have a teen and adult practice you may have a different setup for accessibility of your tray then if you work with smaller children.  For younger populations you may want something that is more durable or deeper to provide more containment of the sand.  Also for younger children in an office where the sand, play, and talk therapy are combined you may want to consider having a lid on your tray so the sand work can be contained to the play portion of the sessions and to cut off any head-starts kids may want to make on their worlds! 

What are your accessibility measures?

Beyond age where (typically but not always) younger likely means shorter, there are clients with differing levels of mobility, height, and accessibility needs across the lifespan.  You need to consider how portable or accessible your tray will be for all of your clients.  Can it be moved to  a different surface or height level easily even if it might “live” in one area or space most of the time? Consider materials like tables, carts with wheels, or other setups and how the sandtray may need to be moved. 

Do you want a wet tray?

Real talk? Traditional sandtray therapy includes wet trays, or the ability for clients to add water to the tray to create and mold the sand or form bodies of water.  Not all trays can sustain water and not all sandtray practices are setup (with space, functionality, etc.) to incorporate water.  If you need a wet tray make sure that you are verifying that the tray is water tight.

What are your populations and goals?

It is suggested that having more than one tray is essential in sandtray work. Check out more HERE!

And other sizes and shapes of trays beyond the classic rectangle will evoke different emotions and experiences. Check out more on that HERE! For example there is some research that anxious clients may benefit from circle trays or families may benefit from larger than standard trays.  Consider your population type when considering the size and shape of trays! 

Do you work with trauma?

I hope you said yes.  The more that I am in this field the more I deeply believe that if you work with kids (or humans) you work with trauma.  In my experience at times a larger tray can be too overwhelming for clients with trauma.  Some clients with trauma prefer larger trays and smaller trays may become emotionally overcharged.  OR it may be helpful to break up aspects of the trauma or add in resilience or resources with multiple trays.  Check out more HERE about why you might want to have more than one tray - and how it doesn’t have to break the bank! 


So where do all of these questions leave you?

My hope is that you have compassion with yourself and your practice and the realization that “not one tray fits all”.  Depending on your population you might have a plastic tray, small trays, round trays, person shaped trays, or the traditional wood tray. 

If you are looking for more inspiration check out this post HERE with tons of ideas for sandtrays and this post HERE about my absolute favorite sand! 

AND if you are looking for more sandtray support grab my absolutely FREE guide and checklist to start sandtray today HERE! ​

---

BLOG | DOWNLOADS + FREE RESOURCES | COURSES 

---

Loading...