Neuro-Dramatic-Play and Sand Play

NDP and Sand Play

This course demonstrates the basic skills of sand play and how it can be developed for therapeutic use.

Playing in sand seems to be loved by most children as well as young people and many adults. Children have happy memories of playing on the sea-shore, together with jumping over waves and searching rock pools. Digging and building in the sand seems to be the lasting activity with castles and moats and seaweed decorations. Many children are also drawn to a sandpit in the garden or playground and it forms a popular activity in outdoor play. Our connection with sand and water forms the foundation of it being developed in therapy and education.

This course will enable participants to integrate sand play into their range of skills and practice. We shall look at appropriate toys for sand play and the art of storytelling through the sand. Some children want to play in deep sand, and maybe hide ’treasures’ and hope they will be ‘found’.

Learning Outcomes:

• Rationale for sand play
• Necessary resources
• Preventative Play and maintaining mental health
• Curative Play and Therapeutic Stories
• Understanding limits and containment
• Creation and dismantlement - ‘de-roling’

What you will need to have with you:

• Circular bowl or deep tray with dry sand
• Jug water and small pots
• Small animals, people, vehicles, trees, monsters, stones, bark, beads.

This course is worth 2 CPD points. You will be sent a certificate of participation and the course presentations after the event.

This course is recommended for:

• Counsellors
• Therapists
• Teachers
• Parents
• SENCOs
• Foster Carers
• Social Workers
• Play Therapists
• Art Therapists
• Drama Therapists
• Family Support Workers
• Activity worker in care settings

NDP Whistlestop Courses

NDP Whistlestop Courses are a new training package for care workers, teachers, parents and therapists which aims to be informative, accessible and affordable. The courses are offered at different times in order to fit in with people’s existing commitments.

Each programme consists of:

• A presentation of the course theory and practice (which will be made available for participants after the course)
• A practical workshop with take-away skills
• Time for questions, concerns and discussion
• Therapeutic stories relevant to the course

Participants will receive notes before the course, and the presentation and a CPD certificate after the course is completed.

Your Trainer

Dr Sue Jennings PhD is Professor of Play, a life-time award from the European Federation of Dramatherapists. She is a pioneer of play and dramatherapy and Neuro-Dramatic-Play.

She is Senior Research Fellow of the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, Distinguished Scholar of the University of the Witwatersrand and Honorary Fellow of Roehampton University. She has previously held academic posts at the Universities of Coleraine, Leeds Beckett, Derby, York St John, Roehampton and Hertfordshire, Adjunct Professor NYU, and Visiting Professor at HELP University, Kuala Lumpur.

Sue is also a professional actor and has established a reputation for hard-hitting one person shows, which she has performed internationally as well at various festivals including Edinburgh and Vienna.

She has published over 40 books of theory and practice, many of them with practical ideas and techniques. She trains individuals and staff teams in NDP both online and in person, in the UK and overseas.

Testimonials from Dr Sue's Previous Courses

"Thank you for 2 days of captivating and inspiring training and thank you for the Shakespeare insights - amazing and something I will share with my colleagues. I have so much to take away and share with the children and young people I work with because of your inspirational teaching. Looking forwards to the next one. Thank you, Dr Sue."

"Thank you Sue! a thoroughly enjoyable and informative course"

"I thought there was a good balance between teaching, experiential activities and opportunities for questions. I really liked having the opportunity to work with a smaller group. That's something I think we are used to when attending face-to-face training and I really valued the experience."

"Thank you Sue. I found the course informative, it filled in a lot of gaps in my knowledge."

"A wonderful, especially intense course that brought me a lot of joy, pleasure and the mood to work and learn from an extraordinary professional, Dr. Sue Jennings 💖 I highly recommend it - a unique experience!"

"Brilliant training, Sue ensured to encourage participants to ask questions and made feel very comfortable on an online platform!"

"I thoroughly enjoyed the training; the delivery via Zoom worked really well and the course content was excellent."

"Was an absolute gift, useful and inspiring. Will utilise the training in my work."

"I absolutely loved this workshop it gave great tips and strategies and was so relaxed and interactive all in one. Thrilled to have done it. Thank you, Sue!"

"Really enjoyed the training & would recommend it."