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Professionals who utilize play must help children do what?
- accept child as is
- have respect for their weaknesses
- possess a sensitivity to child's feelings
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How do children see adults?
As someone who has too many "important" things to do that must be done now and in a hurry
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What are some personality characteristics that you need to work with young children in therapeutic play situations?
- intentionality- by attitudes and motivations and behaviors
- objective- allow child to be a separate person
- flexible
- unwillingness to judge or evaluate
- open-minded
- tolerance for ambiguity
- future-minded- doesn't refer to past
- willing to follow- child is no longer at a previous level, so go from where he is
- personal courage
- patience
- real, warm, sensitive, caring
- personally secure
- sense of humor
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What are some things we should consider when trying to understand the parent's perspective?
- they may say inappropriate things to get the kids do to things
- may manipulate or bribe
- may feel embarrassed by their children's behavior
- may not understand their child's reluctancy
- may want to demonstrate their power and may compliment to make them look good
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What are some strategies we can use to prepare parents for separation?
- discuss services before hand and what steps
- reassure them that it is normal
- encourage parents to allow you to lead the transition
- give examples of things to say
- explain that you'll give time to answer their questions
- make sure they know that whey you are involved in play that your focus is on the child
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What are some reasons for not saying "bye"?
- communicates that they may be gone for a long time
- not down the hall, but out shopping
- there is a security in knowing they are just down the hall
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How should we describe mastery play to parents so they can understand it and accept it?
- it is a time for them to communicate or play out how they feel to someone who understands
- they learn to express their feelings in constructive ways
- it is confidential
- show them the playroom
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What are the objectives of the therapeutic relationship?
- establish atmosphere of safety
- understand and accept the child's world
- encourage the expression of the child's emotional world
- est. a feeling of permissiveness
- facilitate decision making by the child
- provide child with opportunity to assume responsibility and control
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What are three things children are wondering?
- Am I safe?
- Can I cope?
- Will I be accepted?
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Where should you position yourself in a playroom?
therapist's chair is the only neutral place in the playroom
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How should you position your body?
- turn your body to communicate real interest
- do not keep your body stationary
- toes should point toward the child
- lean forward and enter the child's play
- use voice and interest to follow them
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What is the appropriate response when a child asks "What is this?"
"That can be whatever you want it to be."
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What is the appropriate response when a child asks "Who broke this?"
"Sometimes accidents happen in here"
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Why shouldn't you take notes during play sessions?
- distract your eyes from child
- shows interest in something other than them
- children notice and may act out or feel judged
- makes them nervous
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What are the dimensions of the relationship between the child and therapist?
- I am here.
- I hear you.
- I understand.
- I care.
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**Characteristics of play room: Hospital
Size:
- big enough to handle large group of children and equipment
- not too big that it is overwhelming
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Characteristics of play room: Hospital
Location
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Characteristics of play room: Hospital
Special considerations
- medical equipment
- movable furniture
- adapted materials (motor, mental delays, bulky paint brushes, special scissors, etc)
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Characteristics of play room: Therapeutic
Size
- approximately 12ft x 15ft
- 150-200 sq ft
if it is too big, the kid feels chased and that puts the therapist in control
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Characteristics of play room: Therapeutic
Location
- secluded
- complete isolation is ideal, but rarely possible
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Characteristics of play room: Therapeutic
Special considerations
- keep toys and materials in the same place every time
- remove broken toys
- not to be used as a babysitting room
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When selecting toys and materials, what is the rule of thumb?
"Toys and materials should be selected, not collected."
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Guidelines for selecting toys in a play therapy program are:
- expressive
- interesting
- not overly specific
- no mechanical toys
- competitive games are not helpful
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Guidelines for selecting toys in a hospital playroom are:
- goal is a sense of normalcy
- familiar toys, but not too specific
- competitive games are ok for children over 6 years
- everything must be cleanable!!!
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What are the three categories of toys?
- Real life toys
- ex. doll house, puppets, gumby dolls, cars, etc
- Acting out, aggressive-release toys
- ex. guns, tearable materials, hammers, etc
- Toys for creative expression and emotional release
- ex. sand, water, blocks, paints, shaving cream
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Real life toys are used for:
- representing family members in child's life and provides direct expression of feelings
- anger, fear, sibling rivalry can be acted out in scenes
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Acting out agressive release toys are used for:
- express anger, frustration
- permission to release anger and aggression
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Toys for creative expression and emotional release are used for:
- unstructured play
- feelings of satisfaction because there is no correct way to play
- opportunity to be creative and messy
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What are portable playrooms used for?
- provide children with toys that can stimulate them when they are away from the therapy
- gives them fewer toys if over stimulated
- distraction
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Are competitive games a good idea?
- Therapeutic- no, kids can tell when you let them win and it can put the therapist in control and threaten the abilities of the child
- Hospital- yes, if above age 6. As long as it is friendly and fair.
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