‘Let’s play’

1. ‘Let’s play’ 7th National Homelessness Conference September 2012

2. ‘Play is the language of children’ Landrith in Schaefer & Drews, School based Play Therapy, 2nd Edition, 2010

3. Introduction • Together 4 Kids isunique ‘child focused specialist service’ within the South Australian homelessness sector – therapeutic programs are customised to support children’s health, wellbeing and development.

5. Our focus • Our work is aimed at children, 0-12 years, who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness • Parents are allies in our work

6. How do we do it? A three-pronged approach: • Professionaldevelopment and sector support to NAHA services to improve child focussed responses (a State-wide initiative) • 1:1 therapeutic programs for children • Develop and facilitate customised therapeutic groups for children

7. With a playful approach 4areas of focus: • Validate experiences of children • Assist them to understand and make meaning of their experience • Support emotional literacy • As workers we are ‘caring’ adults

10. Together 4 Kids professional development for the sector • Therapeutic Conversations with Children – practical applications for the homelessness sector • Working with Nunga Kids – How can we be better? • Art Therapy & Sand Play – An introduction to working with children • Train the Trainer – Bugs in the Garden, Pirates & Caterpillars 2 Butterflies

12. Play Therapy “Play is the child’s natural medium of self expression.  Play Therapy is an opportunity which is given to the child to ‘play out’ his feelings and problems just as in certain types of adult therapy an individual ‘talks out’ hisdifficulties”. Dibs in Search of Self, Virginia Axline

13. Individual therapeutic work – our toy box • Sand play • Art therapy • Lego • Kids R Central resources (from Canberra) • Superheros • Externalising with puppets • Home / School / Shelter visits

14. Theoretical / Philosophical Underpinnings • Child development • Trauma and neurobiology / plasticity • Attachment theory • Narrative and strengths-based approaches • Art and play therapies • Aboriginal knowledge & wisdom

15. Group Programs

16. Off-the-shelf programs • Infant Massage First Touch – accredited program • Team of Life / Tree of Life – mixed or single gender • Recipe for Life – broad age range, mixed gender • Drumbeat – around 10 years, mixed or single gender • Fun friends – school context

17. Having fun with puppets!

18. Customisedgroups • Bugs in the Garden – 0 – 3 years, mixed gender – (attachment & attunment) • Pirates – themed program for boys • Caterpillars 2 Butterflies – themed program for girls • The Star Group – music & performance group • Having fun with puppets • Lego group • Basketball group

19. Birds fly, fish swim and children play

20. Exploring concepts of home • In pairs: Step 1 - Draw a picture of a house or your home on the paper provided. Step 2 - Facilitate a discussion around the drawing

21. Questions for exploration • Can you tell me about the home? • Who lives in your home? • What makes your home safe? • Who keeps you safe in your home? • What are some of your favourite toys in your home? • How do you have fun at home? • If there was one thing you could change in your home, what would it be?

22. In closing …. “Birds fly, fish swim and children play” Dr Garry L Landreth Centre for Play Therapy, University of North Texas

23. Thank you together4kids.org.au together4kids@rasa.org.au