Usually on Thanksgiving I hit up the closest gas station and get an old-fashioned newspaper that is FULL of ads.  While all the hustle and bustle of getting the thanksgiving meal ready (for my family – less about turkey more about Cicatelli) I spread out all the ads and plan my strategy for Black Friday.

Black Friday might be a time when you are thinking about what you are getting for your children, family or let’s be honest treating yourself! While there is absolutely no shame in that (hey – you’ve worked hard all year!), for me …it’s all things PLAY!

Being a Play Therapist is expensive.  On the low end (like these kits here) it can take $70-80 to minimally stock an office…but the high end?  You are talking thousands of dollars. From the toys, the furniture, the storage, and the rotating items like play dough, markers, and glitter. So. Much. Glitter.

I have always been on a budget to stock my playrooms and when I first went into private practice, you  bet I bought everything from my doll house to my couch on Black Friday.  I spent hours going through my list, flipping through ads, and making sure everything fit within my budget. 

I wanted to drop my top 5 tips for Black Friday shopping as a Play Therapist!

1. Have a specific list – looking at all those ads across multiple stores can be overwhelming, especially if you are not sure what you are looking for or what you need. If you have a list of specific items you are looking to add to your playroom it because an easier search to find the best deal. AND don’t get things just to get things - if you get everything you want or is at a good price your Playroom will run the risk of looking full and cluttered!

2. Look at multiple stores – be willing to compare across multiple stores to see where you can get the best deal. Look for lowest price, best quality, most accessories, or most durable.

3. Be open to ALL stores – my favorite stores to by things at are Fleet Farm!  Who would have known that a tractor supply store would have such a rocking selection of kids toys?

4. Order online + order early – Over the years I have enjoyed the transition from being up at 2am and in line at some store (which is quite cold in Minnesota in November and usually involved hand warmers) to sitting in my cozy pajamas on the couch clicking add to cart.  Most stores offer some of the Black Friday sale product online.  If this is the route you are going set a timer for when you will buy so you know when is the time to take all that loot to the checkout, seriously.  Some things go quick online and if there is something you really have your heart on it could be gone quick. AND some stores will open sales online on Thanksgiving day – so read the fine print!

5. Set a budget – it is SO easy to start adding to cart (both online and in person) and at check out realize you overspent. There will be some good toys you will leave behind and that’s okay.  As Elsa would say “let it goooo”!  

BONUS: Know your shipping and your map!  If you are going shopping online make sure to see if a store has free shipping or a charge.  Sometimes it is worth it to buy from the same place (if you have to be over a certain dollar amount) to save on shipping.  If you are going in person (which, who knows in 2020?) make sure you are not zig zagging hours across town to hit all your stores.  Plan a good route and have good coffee!

And there you have it – my top 5 (plus one bonus) Black Fri-PLAY tips!

Now, what are you thinking about for your Playroom this year?  Drop a link in the comments if you come across any MUST HAVE deals for Play Therapists!

Not sure how to stock your Playroom or what you need?  Check out this training HERE! 

As I mentioned HERE it is super important to have more than one house in your Play Therapy collection.  Two or more house allows children to play out themes related to transitions, divorce, moving homes, visiting friends (or conflict) in their neighborhood, being away from parents over night, and the list could go on! 
 
With this tutorial we are getting downright handy.  Like going to your local Home Depot, making saw dust, loud saws, working with machines kind of handy. 
 
I think it goes without saying that if you are not a handy person (BIG shout out to my husband Reid for helping me with this one) find a handy spouse, best friend, or family member to lend some of their time.  I hope as therapists we know that we can always ask for help.  Now, depending on tools used the cutting portion will take 30-45 minutes.
 
I created these houses here for my Portable Playroom to get the most bang for my buck.  One 2x4 cost around $6-7 and made over 60 houses! That’s like $0.10 per house! And if you don’t need all of those houses?  Find a play therapist who could use a little bump to his/her collection!
 
I wanted these houses to be very neutral and non-descript so they could also serve as schools, stores, or almost anything you would want it to be!  AND making a TON of these were super cost effective. 
 
Here are the step-by-step instructions for how to create these for your Playroom:
 
Supplies:

• 2x4 8 foot board
• Skil Saw (you could also use a table saw)
• Chop Saw (or Miter Saw)
• 120 Grit Sand Paper
• Cutting Board Oil

 
Process:

• Take your 2x4 and cut 2 45 degree angles on the narrow side of the board (using the Skil Saw or Table Saw), down the entire length of the board to create the peak of the houses (see image below)
• Determine how long you want your houses (I made mine 1.5 inches wide, so overall the base is 1.5 x 2)
• Using any of the saws (Chop, Miter, Skil) cut your houses to length
• Sand the houses and edges with the 120 Grit Sand Paper until surfaces and edges are smooth
• Finish with Cutting Board Oil (coat liberally), let sit for 10 minutes, and wipe excess oil (this step protects the houses a bit more from sand and play!)
• Distribute them to your playroom, play kits, and the world! Make some for your friends!

So after this project you can say - YOU GET A HOUSE! YOU GET A HOUSE! YOU ALL GET HOUSES! AND it's so much cheaper than when Oprah gives away houses! ​Okay – now go out and create!

When you are thinking about designing and stocking your Playroom OR if you are thinking about creating kits like these HERE a doctor kit is likely on your list. If you are a Child Centered Play Therapist or basing your playroom off Dr. Garry Landreth’s list for a fully equipped play room HERE you definitely have a doctor kit on your list! Doctor kits can help children play out themes of nurturing, medical trauma, as well as many other themes!
 
One of the things I have observed is that some toys in my doctor kit in my Playroom get used more than others.  The biggest one is the stethoscope and kids LOVE band aids! Ohh…and the shots, definitely the shots!

When I was creating Play Therapy kits to go out to my clients I wanted something simple, with what my clients are drawn to most, and where I wouldn’t have a lot of expensive left over supplies. 
 
I created several pintables for medication labels and the label for the bag to help the kits look authentic and stored them in a ZipLock bag.  These kits came in around $8.00 for each kit. 

One of the downfalls is that it doesn’t include a thermometer or a blood pressure cuff.  However, the kits that were $10.00 looked pretty cheap and that they might break easily.   The kids are LOVING the real-ish stethoscope! AND I have found using these kits for Tele-Play has been pretty similar to in office play and young people are able to play out the themes that they need. 
 
These DIY Doctor Kits include:
Medicine Bottles (with free printable label) $6.63 for 25 - you can also take an empty medication bottle you have used (like Tylenol or Advil) and replace the label! 
Stethoscope - $6.95
Syringe (4 for $1.00 at the Dollar Tree)
Band-Aids
Cotton Ball
Tongue Depressor
ZipLock Bag (with free printable label) 
 
 
Click HERE for the free medical kits printable!

If you are looking for more training on how to set up a playroom check out this training HERE! 

I wanted to share with you my Fold Out Doll House! This project has been a loooong time in the making!  When I started out working with children I was in a contracted school based position and needed to travel between several schools.  I definitely didn’t have the budget to buy multiple houses for one office let alone 2 or 3. 
 
I scoured stores and the internet for foldable doll houses and doll house books, but came up pretty empty handed.  I then transitioned into a nonprofit position that had a semi-stocked Playroom so the project went on the shelf. 
 
After that when I transitioned to private practice I now needed to stock my own Playroom and had the tiniest office I had ever been in.  They literally built it out of a small waiting room so I could join the practice and at the end of the day I was ecstatic to join, buuuuttt I knew I needed to get creative.  I spent hours trying to make both furniture and a play space fit.  I literally had ½ inch to spare from the end of my couch to the next piece of furniture. 
 
I ended up purchasing a house like this one HERE at Fleet Farm.  This is one of my favorite seasonal places to shop for pretty inexpensive toys. I would pop the house up before sessions and take it down and store it behind a shelf during my non Play Therapy sessions. 
 
If you check it out you can see where some of the problems may come up. It is completely gendered and was a bit of a pain to set up and down.  I didn’t think it had the permissiveness for my male clients and they definitely gravitated towards it less than the ones I have now. 
 
My other dilemma with houses is that you need two.  This is VERY important so children with two homes can play out themes related to transitions, divorce, etc.  This isn’t the only reason however, two homes can help give children the space to process other dynamics such as moving homes, visiting friends (or conflict) in their neighborhood, being away from parents over night, and the list could go on!
 
The houses I have now are gender neutral and wooden.  At $100 - $200 per house it is definitely an investment in your Playroom.  As therapists are problem solving with COVID-19 I came back to the design that had been mulling around my head since the early days to send out in my Portable Playroom. They would also be excellent in office as they are easily to wipe down!
 
Sooo, in comes the solution of the printable doll houses! Check out my FREE download of my Pop Up House HERE! When designing this I went back and forth between having pictures of furniture vs. blank walls.  Due to these going into kits (with limited furniture included) I thought adding pictures of furniture would make for richer play. 
 
I also was also intentional with what rooms should be included.  I created a kitchen/dining room, living room, and bedroom.  This ensures that there are the rooms needed to play out eating, sleeping, and toileting difficulties if needed.
 
After you print out the four sheets there are instructions of what sheets go back to back.  You will be left with two sheets (back and front) that you will laminate.  Then, cut along the dotted line, scissor together, and set up!  I didn’t tape the cut lines, however you certainly could. 

Does your idea of a great night after work include coming home, kicking off your shoes, and settling into a stack full of notes? No?

What about during your weekends? Wait, you don't want to do that either?

I totally hear you! Nobody goes into this field just chomping at the bit to dive into the paperwork of the practice.  You go into this field because you want to help people achieve mental wellness, move forward, heal, and grow.  The paperwork just happens to be part of the deal. 

AND I don't know about you, but my graduate school classes came nowhere near close to preparing me to write progress notes.  I had never heard of insurance audits or compliance let alone got the training or support I needed to start my note writing practice confident and prepared. 

All of this usually leads to cumbersome notes, trying to get it all in, and feeling frustrated and out of control. 

I wanted to take you through this 5 Step Roadmap to Faster Progress Notes that I used to write a fast and seamless progress note, between sessions! Check out the free mini webinar HERE! The webinar and free companion worksheet will help you develop the framework to shrink your progress notes. 

PS: Also check out some of my best tips on writing Play Therapy progress notes HERE!  Annnnnd if you are behind on your notes (like, really behind) check out this resource HERE! 

Who here has ever been behind on your notes?  *looks around at nearly everyone raising their hand*
 
It happens, one note turns into five.  Those consultation calls (or let’s get real – crises and things that need your attention, like NOW) eat up your precious note time. OR maybe you are so burned out you are scrolling Facebook, mindlessly looking out the window, or toggling between three windows to figure out what emails to answer.
 
Somehow those couple notes that you are “just going to finish up” turns into 30, 50, maybe even 100? Or more? AND are likely paired with guilty, anxious, and panicked feelings.  No judgement here. I know it feels so awful, and, you don’t have to stay here.
 
If you are a therapist that wants to gain control over their paperwork flow, but you're so behind you don’t know how to take the first step The Progress Note Catch Up just might be the kick you need to get back on track.
 
This six part mini course and companion worksheets will guide you through the intentional process of getting back on top and in control of your paperwork – one note at a time. Each video is a couple minutes long with companion guides and worksheets to help guide you through step by step. 
 
AND I’ll be hanging out with you, cheering you on through this six part pre-recorded mini course to help you take back control over your notes. 
 
And guess what….I am offering The Progress Note Catchup for FREE  with this 100% off coupon HERE.  Because everyone needs a little good this year. Imagine being able to enter the new year free from the mountain of paperwork! AND with excellent habits before the cliché of New Years Resolutions!
 
What would you do with that freedom? Find out and get started HERE!

One of my favorite topics in supporting Play Therapists is the work that happens at the edges of the practice.  Like, all the tasks that you need to do when the client leaves the office (or the camera is clicked off)! The notes, the documentation, the scheduling, and coordination.  All. The. Things. 

One thing I have realized is that most therapist really hate progress notes. 
 
Okay, so here’s a secret, I actually kind of like doing my notes.  I get so much rich insight during my documentation that I might not have realized due to high levels of attunement and presence during the session. 
 
Like true lightbulb moments.
 
I also realize that I am in the minority here and that most therapists despise notes. I think I have the uncomplicated relationship with notes because I get them done within my workday without any paperwork hours.  No late nights, no weekends, just tucked into my regular therapy day! 

I wanted to share some of my Play Therapy documentation tips for progress notes that might have you reevaluating your relationship with your notes….like from completely stressed out to seamless?
 
Here are my top 4 tips on more efficient notes for play therapy:
 
Know your theory
The content of your note is going to come directly from the theory you use.  My Child Centered Play Therapy Notes sound completely different than my Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy notes.  It makes sense, right? Different theories are going to use different interventions and different techniques.  Go back to your foundational trainings/texts and identify the top interventions from your theory that you use in your practice and use that exact language in your notes.
 
Include the “What” and “How”
Identify the top toys the client engaged with during the session.  Include information if they focused on one toy/type of toy or multiple.  Did they play in the doll house for the entire time?  Did they switch between 15+ toys including the dart guns and the swords? This is not meant to be a narrative of the entire play session, but include important information about the feel and the flow.  Was the energy high or low? Were there periods of chaos followed by calm?
 
Get clear on your top interventions and techniques
After going back to the basics write down your top 5-10 interventions that you use most frequently and separate list of what goals you may be wanting to accomplish.  Why is the child engaging in a sand tray? What is the purpose of playing Candy Land? How does all of this tie to therapeutic goals?
 
Keep it simple, keep it short 
Spoiler alert – my notes are very boring.  Well…maybe not to an auditor who is introduced to the turtle that was viciously attacked by a lion, but they are pretty cookie cutter.  I have a lot of the same types of sentences altered for the specific client content.  I created this training HERE on writing seamless notes as efficiently as possible and reviewed tons of my notes to come up with the basic phrases I use most often.  I guarantee if you do a note audit you will quickly identify your top statements you use with clients to begin to compile your own list.
 
Check out some of these examples of my most used phrases in my Data section of my notes:
 
Child Centered Play Therapy:

• Client engaged in CCPT to work on [goals].
• Client selected [number of toys] and engaged in [activity]
• Client initially engaged with [activity] then transitioned to [activity]
• Therapist utilized [tracking/reflecting content/limit setting, etc.].

 
Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy:

• Client shifted cognitions by [activity and purpose]
• Client practiced [skill] to [purpose of intervention].
• Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy was engaged in to [goal].
• Therapist provided psychoeducation by [reading book/watching video].

 
There you have it, some of my best tips to help you streamline your Play Therapy notes!  What are your favorite sentences?  Leave a comment below!

 
When creating my Play Therapy Kits for my clients, I wanted to make sure to provide solid structing so children and families knew what to expect and what they could (and could not do) with these kits.  I knew I needed to set important boundaries and limits, and at the same time also establish permissiveness.  I didn’t want families to feel anxious about holding and keeping the kits AND I didn’t want half of the items to make their way under beds, in personal toy collections, and in couch cushions. 
 
This was a lesson learned when some young people got so excited about Play Therapy kits earlier on in virtual work that some of the items got used before the first session.  AND I also learned that manila folders (that I sent out my first kits in waaaay back in March) weren’t as durable as I’d like.   
 
To create that balance I wanted to express something like…”you may do almost anything with these toys during our time together, but you may not add these toys to your personal collection OR play with them between sessions”.  Knowing exactly what to expect and structuring statements are essential for Child Centered Play Therapy and I wanted to carry some of those same principles over to the virtual Play Therapy kit. 
 
I wanted these boundaries to re-create some of the things that were unique to my Play Therapy office, such as clients only playing with my specific toys for therapeutic purposes.  I wanted to avoid any meaning attached to toys from prior play AND any play that might continue without the safety and security of the Play Therapy relationship. 
 
Think along the lines of a client continuing a therapeutic theme after the camera shuts off and a sibling storming in and taking their toys OR a parent or sibling coming in and trying to direct the play.  Even though we create rules and structure around this, it seemed to be a lot easier to achieve with the containment of the actual containers and several rules and boundaries about the Play Therapy kits.    
 
I came up with three of what I thought the most frequently asked questions parents and children may want to know like “What if something breaks?” and “Can I play with these kits whenever I want?” and gave specific and clear answers.  To create permissiveness I detail that just like in the Play Room toys may break, art supplies may get used, and the Play Dough will definitely dry up. 
 
Ethically it was also important to me that clients not feel financially tied to the kits.  Like if something breaks there is no pressure, need, or expectation to replace anything.  Just like if equipment or toys break in the office (and they sure do) it is definitely an expense of doing business and I didn’t want clients (or let’s be honest their parents) to feel responsible in any way if that happened.  AND I didn’t want that to trickle down to how they may play with the toys.   
 
I also wanted to create an atmosphere of trust and discussed that I trust that clients will take good care of these kits while they are away.  I also detailed out items that were included in the kit on the back incase an odd toy turned up here or there, it could make its way back into the kit. 
 
Also, for practical reasons, I have a sneaking suspicion I may be keeping these kits for a while (through the pandemic and integrating back into office).  It is likely that when clients transition I will need to re-stock kits and this list will help keep me sane regarding what needs to be added back…again definitely the Play Dough.
 
If you want to grab a copy of my Play Therapy Kit Bundle download your free copy HERE! The bundle includes a copy of the parent handout that orients to the kits with some rules, frequently asked questions, and an inventory kit. I laminated mine for durability.

I also included a copy of my graphics for numbering my kits AND the stickers I used to label the personal Play Therapy folders!  The labels were printed on Avery 15264 Labels (3 1/3'' x 4'') BUT you can also print on paper and just tape onto folders too!

I have included both the PDF copies and editable.  Sometimes with the editable the format can be off or fonts so make sure you have Century Gothic and Ink Free fonts.  

Let me know how you are orienting your clients to Play Therapy kits – drop a comment below!

​Playing while apart is hard.  Playing together with masks and cleaning procedures is hard.  Playing is pretty hard in general right now. To make it a teensy bit easier I put together a Portable Playroom In A Tote for my clients to use for play therapy sessions at home.  It is a comprehensive play kit that is just a bit smaller than the actual playroom.  One that fits in a tote, bag, or rolling suitcase for portability.
 
One of the most frequent questions I get asked by new play therapists is about what toys to buy, most of the time on a budget.  It is a struggle as a new play therapist to get a feel for what “should” be in the Playroom while balancing a pretty non existent budget. 
 
When it came time for me to start developing Play Therapy Kits for my clients (I talk about the process and pros and cons HERE) I felt like I was starting all over again.  I flashed back to my early days of trying to cobble together something that was comprehensive, but feeling very overwhelmed by the 80+ toys that are recommended for Child Centered Play Therapy.
 
Back I went to hours and hours of internet searching, scouring multiple Dollar Tree locations (because not every store has the same darn stuff), and attempting to match, to the best of my ability, the lists and categories of what my young people may need in a portable Playroom. It was definitely a lot of work, but easier this round than last.
 
This kit I created for my clients is pretty comprehensive and includes all categories from Garry Landreth’s categories of toys in his text HERE on Child Centered Play Therapy. Categories of Real Life Toys, Acting Out Aggressive-Release Toys, and Creative Expression and Emotional Release.
 
The kits are also not gendered and they are nearly identical.  There is no “boy kit” or “girl kit”, because we don’t want to make assumptions about what a child may or may not need to express themselves.  My female identified clients get the scary monsters, army toys, and trucks, and my male identified clients get the dolls, bottles, and princesses.   
 
In his text Play Therapy: The Art of The Relationship Garry Landreth also has a toy idea list for a “Tote Bag Playroom”.   A lot of those items are included in his kit, however there are many additional items that I selected due to what I find the children I work with are drawn to most.  There is also the addition of Sand Tray and miniatures (which represent the categories above as well as Sand Tray categories for miniatures) also making it a larger and more comprehensive kit. 
 
Lastly because I also do Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy I included more directive items such as cards, a dice, stickie hands, and a folder for art and projects.  However, as we know those items can also be used to do almost anything a child may want.
 
So without further ado here is the source list for the comprehensive Play Therapy Kits:
 
Containers:
 
Shoe Box Tote *these appear to be out of stock but most Target, Walmart, or Dollar Tree stores carry these for around $1.00.  Make sure the top is flat if you are going to create a stove on top. Check out this link HERE for a free printable to turn the top of the shoe box tote into a stove!
 
Sand Tray Tote *If you wanted to only have one tote this would likely fit it all BUT the top isn’t flat enough to be a stove, so if you want a cooking area you might print and laminate a sheet of paper to just sit on top or the floor.
 
Sand Tray and Miniatures:
 
Check out this post HERE for a comprehensive list of sources for all the miniatures and sand.  I included a dice in the miniature but BUT it is a great took to take out and use for Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy. Also, if you are transporting the sand tray, store the sand it a Zip Lock bag…trust me.
 
Toy Tote:
 
Dish/Pot and Pan set *these have enough for silverware, a cup, and a plate for 4 kits.  They only had a pot/pan for 2-3 depending on what you want in your kits, but the Dollar Tree had a set with a frying pan, egg, knife, and spatula all for $1.00 so I purchase several to supplement.   
Princess Kit (crown, wand, ring in a 10 pack)  *For the price and number of items you get, these were much cheaper than the Dollar Tree, where it was $1.00 for one crown
Babies *I LOVE that each of them has an outfit you can take off AND that they are multicultural.  When I purchased they were $28.00, so watch out for a sale! The Dollar Tree also has plush multicultural dolls, but they are all female.  These come in both gendered/neutral colors and the Dollar Tree ones are in dresses and not infant like.
Glue Sticks, Markers, Crayons, Play Therapy Folders  – at Target on discount for back to school, the BEST time to refill your art supplies!
Baby Blanket *I cut up one yard piece of fleece to make over 10 blankets.  You can choose any pattern or hit up a sale at your local fabric store!  
Doctor Kit (Stethoscope, Syringe (Dollar Tree 4 pack), cotton ball, tongue depressor, band aids (make sure if they are “skin color” all skin tones are represented.  If not characters are great!), and medicine bottles.  If you are only making one kit a used (empty) medicine bottle from your home or a friend/family member will work great!)
Toy Gun
Food (9+ items per kit)
Play Money *The Dollar Tree also has play money
Baby Bottle *these are meant to be party favors but you can get a TON for a great price.  I had my husband drill a hole in the nipple of the bottle to make that part less of a choking hazard, even though it is fairly big.  You could also hot glue the whole thing together!
Printable Doll House  *I designed a pop up free printable doll house that I laminated with a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living room.  With laminated sheets it is also super wipeable.  Stay tuned for the link for the free download! 
 
Dollar Tree:
 
Playing Cards (2 pack)
Police Kit (badge and walkie talkie) * I choose to purchase these for the walkie talkies but decided to leave out the guns that came with it because although bright orange they appeared a bit too realistic
Bubbles (3 pack)
Pom poms (multipack)
Play Dough (8 pack, 2 per kit)
**Check out this post HERE for miniature items that also came from the Dollar Tree
 
Materials from my office:
 
I have a big craft supply at my office so I dug into the stash as well as my treasure chest for these items.
 
Balloons
Stickie Hands
Pipe Cleaners
Popsicle Sticks
Googly Eyes
Construction Paper
2 Envelopes
2 Paper Bags
 
The Breakdown:
 
Each kit comes in 2 containers, around 170 individual items and cost around $75.00 per kit.  The great news about these kits is that I wanted to make them as comprehensive as possible so I did include a lot of stuff.  It was an investment I was willing to make in my Play Therapy practice as I knew I would be playing apart for some time, and then when returning to office still likely using the kits for the first bit.

Here are some of my kits ready to be picked up by clients!  Seriously for how many hours I put into these I felt like I was giving away my first born child (I'm only kind of joking)!  But seriously I am hoping this source list saves you a boat load of time if you are thinking about creating these for your clients! 

Both totes are labeled with numbers (ie Kit 1, Kit 2, etc.) so the matches can stay together and I have a list of what client is in possession of what kit.  Also, the awesome thing about this source list is it is so easy to pare down.  You can select less to fit your budget.  Amazon also has fluctuating prices.  Sometimes if you keep an eye on something and come back there will be a sale and discounted pricing. 
 
Lastly, if you are making multiple kits you can hit that price point much easier than if you were only doing a single kit, because most come in multi-packs.  If you are just starting up and looking for a single kit, pair with other Play Therapists and cost share the price of the kits!
 
Have you started the journey of Play Therapy Kits?  What is your most loved item in the kit?  Let me know in the comments below!

Want to know more about setting up your play therapy office or practice?  Check out this training HERE! 

Sand Tray is one of my favorite modalities for Play Therapy.  When the world came screeching to a halt during COVID-19 I blogged HERE about non-tech ways to do sand tray.  Although there are some programs out there that allow you to have a virtual sand tray experience, I could never give up the tactile and kinesthetic value of the sand.  In short…I couldn’t leave the sand behind.
 
I wanted to share with you my source list for putting together Play Therapy Kits, and this segment will focus on the Individual Sand Tray Kits I created including all the supplies such as the tray, sand, and miniatures.  I talked about the pros and cons of a play therapy kit HERE and how they are great for sending to young people’s homes for Tele-Play therapy, in the office to prevent OR to be honest if you are just starting out in Play Therapy and need a kit that is inexpensive and portable. 
 
If I am getting really real here, my office houses carefully selected toys gathered over 10+ years as a Play Therapist and at the end of the day it is a big investment to fully stock a Play Room. Want to know more about setting up your play therapy office?  Check out this training HERE!
 
I wish I knew the things I knew now when I was starting about how to gather a comprehensive but inexpensive (I mean inexpensive relative to a fully stocked play room) set of toys and play materials. This was the challenge as I faced the fact that I am not going back into office in the foreseeable future AND was feeling a desire to provide children with the tools needed to express themselves. 
 
As I said HERE the families that I work with have done a Rockstar job at gathering appropriate toys, BUT I can’t expect them to have all the toys and categories needed.  As Garry Landreth famously said toys are the children’s words, and play is their language.  I like to add to this that we need to make sure that we have enough words (ie toys) represented so children can express themselves.
 
I wanted to provide this source list (below) for my sand tray and miniature toys for my Play Therapy Kits.  I use categories drawn from this Sandplay text HERE (which is one of my favorite texts) including people, animals, plant life, minerals, environments, transportation, and misc. objects. These minis also fit nicely within Garry Landreth’s categories of toys in his text HERE on Child Centered Play Therapy.
 
Container:
I chose these containers HERE because they could house the sand tray on the bottom and have plenty of room on top for miniatures.  The case stacks together with a handled lid on top.  I was a bit remiss that the plastic wasn’t blue, but made sure that each kit contained blue vase filler to represent bodies of water if needed. 
 
Check out alternative Sand Tray container with 10 Low Cost Options HERE!
 
The Sand:
I chose the Sandtastik 25 Lb box, which had enough sand for 8 kits.  It's not a TON of sand in each, but enough. 
 
Amazon/Target Miniatures:  

• Disney Princesses
• Food Erasers
• Gems
• Wild Animals *I made sure each kit had at least one predator and one animal that could be preyed upon 
• Domestic Animals * I made sure there was at least three of one type of animal in each kit  (ie three chickens or three cows in addition to other domestic animals)
• Wooden people miniatures
• Bridge
• Hearts
• Fairy Pack
• Trees  *I cut the bottoms off to make them more stable
• Solid Colored People
• Multicultural Baby/Pacifier Set *yes these look a bit odd BUT my young people LOVE these
• Dragon
• Wooden People
• Dragon/Fairy/Unicorn Set
• Monsters *this beautiful monster is a fill in model as the sourced ones are taking a bit longer to arrive at my doorstep.  This big guy is one of my favorites!
• Fences *these were bigger than I intended but I LOVE that they can span the whole length of the tray if needed!
• Treasure Chests

 
Dollar Tree Items:

• Fire Fighter Set (One ambulance, 3 fire fighters, 2 fire dogs, 3 traffic signs)
• Construction Vehicles (2 pack)
• Skeletons (4 pack)
• Bones (10 pack)
• Shells (20+)
• Cars (3 pack)
• Army Men (multiple pack with two colors)
• Pet Set (mini dog, mini cat, pet carrier, pet bed, pet dish, comb and in one package)
•  Furniture (table and four chairs)
• Ponies/Unicorns (multi set)
• Trophy (6 pack)
• Superman
• Batman
• Dice (8 pack)
• Plane (2 pack)
• Skull (8 pack)
• Blue vase filler (large multipack - enough for 10+ trays)
• Flowers (one flower with multiple smaller flowers attached)
• Bugs

**The Dollar Tree also has many other objects and miniatures to purchase including little Lego type guys (2 pack), other single figures such as Finding Nemo, Barbies, Incredibles, Micky/Minnie Mouse, etc. Most of these aren’t found online and you might have to go to several stores to get everything you might want.
 
Crafted/Found Items:

• Wooden Houses (2) *whatever you choose for houses having two is very important.  Check out these ones HERE if making your own isn’t an option.
• RIP Signs (tutorial HERE)  
• Birch Bark
• Drift Wood
• Rocks

So here is the breakdown –each kit contains over 125 miniatures and cost just under $50.00. Although I didn’t base mine on this one HERE, it contains a lot of the same miniatures. However, this one only has 90 miniatures and costs twice the price. I'm a bit biased but I think mine is waaayyyy cooler. The other thing to note is that Amazon's prices can change and although I got some ahhhmazing deals they might not always stay that way!  I also bought for multiple kits which made the price significantly less per kit than if I had to buy everything for one kit. 
 
So there you have it, the complete source list for a pretty comprehensive sand tray kit for virtual, office, or wherever!
 
What is your favorite miniature that you couldn’t live without?  Drop a comment below!