Resources:
Body Outline for colouring and body focus exercise
Calico Doll Pattern (photocopy to your desired size)
Calico dolls are often used in hospitals for children to draw on using textas. They give children a cuddly friend, and a non-verbal means of expression. At times they are used by staff to demonstrate any procedures that may be required. A great blank canvas they can be used for a craft activity as they can be painted, have clothes sewn for them, hair attached, button eyes… anything the imagination can think up! They’ve been made into teddies, people, super heroes, sporting heroes, faeries… Make one at home.
Play Dough Recipes to try
Homemade play dough is soft and malleable. Have a ‘only on the kitchen table’ rule so you don’t worry about it getting on the carpet! Play dough is a wonderful tactile play option for children (and adults). It can be used with a rolling pin and cookie cutters, a garlic press, pots and muffin trays, moulded into sculptures, squished through fingers, dinosaurs love to walk across it and leave their footprints, it’s great for making volcanoes… It also engages both hands.
Traditional Children’s Songs relating to bodies
Equipment:
IV Pole beautifully handcrafted by Ces from Creative Artistic Steel.
The play sized IV pole is made of stainless steel, strong and adjustable.
Sandplay Box han
dcrafted with care by Peter from Two Fish Furniture.
Made with hardwood with a gentle undulating edge. He also makes shelves, trikes, stoves and more. Contact Peter on 0428 975 671.
Links:
Ambulance Victoria
Association for the Wellbeing of Children in Healthcare
Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital WA Inc
Association of Child Life Therapists Australia
Child Life Council
Comfort Kids Program at RCH
Expressive Therapies Institute Pty Ltd
Mandala Magic
Melbourne Therapy Centre
National Association of Hospital Play Staff
Sandplay Therapy Association of New Zealand and Australia
TLC for Kids
Touch Drawing