Play therapy offers a powerful way for children and young people to express themselves, work through difficult feelings, and build emotional resilience. At Rubix Therapy, we use a wide range of creative tools in our sessions. Each one carefully chosen to support communication, connection, and healing in a safe and developmentally appropriate way.
Here’s a closer look at some of the resources in our play therapy toolkit and how they help:
Arts & Crafts
Art allows children to express their thoughts and feelings without relying on words. Through drawing, painting, and creating, children can visualise their inner world, making the invisible visible. This process not only supports emotional expression but also nurtures imagination and develops creativity.
Music
Musical instruments encourage expression through sound, offering a non-verbal outlet for feelings. This can be especially powerful for children who are selective mute, struggle with speech, or have learning difficulties. Music becomes a safe, alternative way to connect and communicate.
Role Play & Costume
Role play allows children to explore real-life situations in a safe and imaginative way. By taking on different characters or dressing up, they can try out new roles, rehearse challenges, and gain empathy by stepping into someone else’s shoes.
Puppets & Masks
Puppets and masks offer emotional distance, allowing children to express things that may feel too difficult to say directly. The puppet or mask often becomes a voice for their inner experience, helping them explore sensitive issues in a playful and supported way.
Sand Tray
The sand tray provides a contained, symbolic world where children can create scenes using miniature figures, objects, and toys. It’s a deeply sensory and often subconscious form of play that helps children express and process big feelings, especially trauma or experiences that are hard to put into words.
Clay, Play-Doh & Sensory Play
These tactile materials invite sensory exploration, giving children a way to express emotions, calm their bodies, and gain a sense of control. Sensory items also stimulate multiple senses—sight, smell, touch, and hearing—supporting both emotional regulation and motor skills development.
Therapeutic Stories
Stories with metaphor and symbolism help children understand and process complex feelings. Characters and events reflect real-life challenges in a gentle, non-threatening way, creating space for children to make connections between their experiences and the narrative.
Games
Games bring fun, but they also help children develop confidence, build relationships, and reduce anxiety. As they play, they practice problem-solving, take social risks, and discover their ability to navigate challenges.
Creative Visulaisation
This calming tool supports relaxation, concentration, and emotional regulation. It helps children learn to manage their thoughts, reduce stress, and build mindfulness. Visualisation also fosters imagination, memory, and self-awareness.
Lego
LEGO bricks are more than just fun—they can support emotional expression, stress relief, and social learning. Building together can strengthen communication skills, while imaginative play helps children explore problem-solving in a structured yet creative format.
Every child is different, and no two sessions look the same. By offering a diverse range of tools, we meet each child where they are—emotionally, developmentally, and creatively. Whether they’re building with LEGO, talking through a puppet, or creating a sand tray scene, each activity becomes a doorway to healing, growth, and connection.
At Rubix Therapy, we honour the power of play. If you’d like to learn more or explore how play therapy could help your child, get in touch here.