-The news has been dominated lately by stories about the Ebola virus making it’s way to the United States. The virus, of course, continues to wreak havoc in Liberia and other parts of Africa, forcing many children into clinics and quarantine centers. A student from East Tennessee State University is organizing efforts to send play therapy toys and activities to these places to improve the quality of life for these children.
-Speaking of young college students making a difference, a senior at the University of Utah is developing a new play and group therapy room designed to help victims of abuse.
-Specialized play therapy “pods” give children the play therapy toys they need. This story from the UK reports on the success of such programs.
-A preschool in Dublin is shifting it’s focus from the three R’s to the three C’s: confidence, competence, and creativity. The “Aistear” framework, as it is called, is aimed at broadening early childhood curriculum beyond the traditional standards.
-Looking for a concise history of play therapy? Look no further…
-Here’s a nice recap of a recent festival in Canada celebrating the importance of play-based learning. Seems like a really fun way to spread the word!
-The hospital can be a very scary place for children (and for adults, as well), but having a play therapist on staff can be very helpful in making the child more comfortable in this new and unsettling environment. This article details the many roles play therapists fill in a hospital for short-term and long-term patients.
-Those of you who attended the big APT conference in Houston this month might already be familiar with this cool Play Therapy app. Children enter information about themselves and the app uses this info to create a play therapy story specific to the child. It’s a great way to introduce kids to the play therapy process.
-Here’s a brief review of a recent conference in Utah hosted by Paris Goodyear-Brown.
-And the winners are… Here’s the 2014 list of the best toys for kids as determined by The American Specialty Toy Research Program.
-PsychCentral had a great two–part article on how to help emotional children.
– Neuroscientists at the University of Texas at Dallas have developed a video game that allows people with autism to practice social interaction in virtual reality.
-This blog has a ton of great play therapy intervention ideas. Highly recommended!
Have a lovely November and a happy Thanksgiving!
