During the hottest part of the summer I usually bring out my water tray for a couple of weeks.  Is use it for sensory play, but also as another option for “sand tray” work.  The water adds new depths to the work and children with trauma histories seem to gravitate towards it the most.  There are also a number of creative directive interventions that can be done with this tool as well Ex. We may play “fishing for feelings” or “Family Aquarium” (Gil & Sobol, 2000).

“Water Play Therapy” is also it’s own modality that was created by Yael Livneh in Isreal.  Click here to learn more about it.  

DIY Water Tray

Plastic Bin: I suggest a deep bin to minimize how much water splashes out.  You could also use an old aquarium if you want to get fancy and don’t need to move it much.

Gravel/Sand: You can use regular sand for this, it is just a matter of how messy you are willing for it to get.  If you use small aquarium pebbles it will be much easier to clean up if some make their way out of the tray,

Water/Water care: I used tap water and would switch it out regularly. You could also try a child safe water cleaner. Fill the bin about half way.

Platform (optional):  I like to have a land options so I took a box lid and give kids the option to secure it to the top of the tray.  You can also put the tray next to a short chair or coffee table and have that be the land.

Aquarium decor: I included some simple aquarium plants (these anemones were a hit)

Tray/mat: I suggest having something for your tray to sit on.  I put the lid of the bin I bought under the tray and also put a dish mat underneath.  This helped with spills, but also make it easier to slide the tray out.  I kept this under a coffee table out of the way and would pull it out when kids wanted to use it.

Miniatures: Most of my sand tray toys are waterproof so they can use anything in the tray.  The sea animals are clearly the most popular in here.  I provide a mix of ones that sink and float.  I also have plenty of pirates, divers, treasure, etc.

Water toys: I provided some basic water toys and also a finishing game for kids to play (and created a color code for a “finishing for feelings” game)

Strainer:  I used a bucket to switch out the water and would pour everything through a strainer.

Theme: Termination

Recommended Age Range: Three to Ten 

Modality: Individual

Goals: Verbalize an understanding of when and how therapy will end and provide a positive termination experience

Materials: Plastic covered jar or container, adhesive label, marker and cookies

Advance Preparation: Write the client’s name on the adhesive label and stick it on the outside of the jar. Place the cookies in the jar. (The number of cookies placed in the jar will depend on the number of sessions the client has left until termination. For example, if there are five sessions left, then place five cookies in the jar.)

Overview: Young children often lack the cognitive ability to fully understand a concept such as the termination of therapy. This activity provides a visual and concrete way to help young clients understand when therapy will end. This helps to prepare clients for termination and reduces feelings of rejection and loss.  This intervention should be used in conjunction with other termination activities such as games or art techniques that help celebrate the client’s therapeutic achievements and facilitate the goodbye process.

Cookie Jar Activity

You have worked hard in therapy and you have learned so much! This means you are almost ready to stop coming to therapy. This activity is called Cookie Jar. It will help you understand when and how therapy will end so you will feel ready.

Open the cookie jar, take out one cookie (only one!), and eat the cookie. The remaining cookies in the jar show how many more times you will be coming here. There are four cookies left in the jar. So you will be coming here four more times, and then you and I will be saying goodbye to each other. Place the lid on the cookie jar.

Ask me to say something you have learned in therapy and to tell you why you are almost ready to stop coming to therapy.

We’ll repeat this activity at the end of our next three sessions (e.g., eat one cookie from the cookie jar, count the remaining cookies in the jar, and say how many more times you will be coming to therapy). At the end of the three sessions, there will be one cookie left in the cookie jar, which means you will come to therapy one last time. The last time you come will be special. It will be a celebration of all the hard work you have done in therapy. It will be a time for us to say a last goodbye to each other.

At the end of your last session, you will get to eat the last cookie left in the jar.

About The Author: Liana Lowenstein, MSW, CPT-S, is a therapist, lecturer, and author who has been working with children since 1988. She is internationally recognized for her innovative work including numerous books on child and family therapy. She is winner of the Monica Herbert award for outstanding contribution to play therapy in Canada.

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