Child Therapy Toolbox

Child Therapy Toolbox Clinical Psychologist Lauren Snailham & Delyce Knowles have created therapeutic tools to teach and empower children to identify and express their emotions.

Children often find it difficult to identify and express their emotions so when they experience uncomfortable feelings they tend to act out or internalise them. Not knowing how to express their emotions appropriately can lead to consequences such as: bullying, aggression, hyperactivity, learning problems, soiling, bed-wetting, anxiety, obsessions, sleep problems, nightmares, eating problems, withdrawal and depression. Child Therapy Toolbox provides tools that can be used to by therapists, teachers and parents to educate, empower and help children begin to heal. The products have all been tried and tested in therapy, in the classroom and by parents. Individually and in group settings. Products include: therapeutic story books,
charts, games, puppets, puzzles and much more. All created to help children identify emotions, learn appropriate ways of expressing them and to address some difficult issues they may be facing in a non-threatening and playful way. We also run workshops for parents and educators on a variety of relevant topics. Please see www.therapeuticstories for more information and to view our products.

Activity Idea 1💡 & upcoming Workshop 🌈✨ TRY THIS IN YOUR NEXT SESSION ✨Sometimes children don’t have the words… but they...
01/04/2026

Activity Idea 1💡 & upcoming Workshop 🌈

✨ TRY THIS IN YOUR NEXT SESSION ✨

Sometimes children don’t have the words… but they do have images.

🖍️ Divide a page into two:
“Inside My Storm” ⛈️
“Inside My Safe Place” 🌿

You’ll be amazed at what comes up.

This simple drawing activity helps children:
– express big emotions safely
– show you their inner world
– begin building their own sense of regulation

No pressure. No right or wrong. Just expression.

💛 Perfect example of what we’ll be looking at in the upcoming ‘Understanding Children’s Drawings’ online workshop for professionals working therapeutically with children.

If you’d like to join email laurensnailham@yahoo.com or leave your email address in the comments and I’ll send you the invite 😊

28/03/2026

Ubomi 💛 Created by Lauren Snailham (Clin. Psych)

A game designed to open conversations, build connection, and support emotional growth in children.

With 45 blocks and 90 different prompts, Ubomi gently explores:
✨ Feelings and emotions
✨ Coping skills
✨ Body awareness
✨ Self-esteem
✨ Social skills

Whether you’re a therapist, parent, or sibling playing together - UBOMI creates meaningful moments through play, while still keeping things fun with engaging activities built into the blocks.

If you’re looking to add something powerful and playful to your therapy toolkit or home, Ubomi is a beautiful place to start.

🧩 Find it under Games on our website:
www.childtherapytoolbox.co.za

-esteem

NEXT ‘Lego Therapy with Children & Teens’ online workshop 😊I recently ran the LEGO Therapy workshop, and it highlighted ...
27/03/2026

NEXT ‘Lego Therapy with Children & Teens’ online workshop 😊

I recently ran the LEGO Therapy workshop, and it highlighted something important:

LEGO is a widely used resource in playrooms, yet it is often underutilised as a structured therapeutic modality.

When applied intentionally, LEGO Therapy supports:
• Social skills development
• Emotional regulation
• Communication and collaboration
• Problem-solving and executive functioning

For psychologists working with children, this is a practical, evidence-informed tool that can significantly enhance therapeutic work.

🧩 Next Workshop: 5 June
⏰ 08:30 – 16:00
💰 R1000
📚 6 CPD Points (HPCSA accredited)

To register or receive more information, please email me.
laurensnailham@yahoo.com

What would your emotions look like if you could build them? 🧱🧱🧱😊😳😂🥺😭😡🤯This “emotion tower” activity uses Lego to help ch...
27/03/2026

What would your emotions look like if you could build them? 🧱🧱🧱😊😳😂🥺😭😡🤯

This “emotion tower” activity uses Lego to help children (and adults) express feelings in a safe, visual way-especially when words are hard to find.

Are emotions stacked neatly in one space?
Separated into different towers?
Balanced… or starting to overwhelm each other?

In this build, you can see how different feelings coexist-happy, worried, calm, frustrated, protective, sad- all present at the same time.

That’s the goal:
Not to get rid of emotions, but to make space for them.

Because every feeling has a role, even the uncomfortable ones.

🧩 If you’re a therapist wanting to integrate Lego into your work, I’ll be running my next Lego Therapy Workshop on 5 June.

Feel free to reach out for more details or to book your spot or put your email in the comments and I’ll send you the invite 😊

laurensnailham@yahoo.com

‘Understanding Children’s Drawings’ online workshop‘Art can permeate the very deepest part of us, where no words exist.’...
26/03/2026

‘Understanding Children’s Drawings’ online workshop

‘Art can permeate the very deepest part of us, where no words exist.’ Eileen Miller

Children’s drawings are a very powerful therapeutic tool! They provide a window into a child’s world, their thoughts, feelings, dreams, desires, fears and so much more.

We cannot take drawings at face value and attach meanings without taking all things into consideration. This is one of the many reasons why we need to have a more informed and educated approach to drawings and their use in therapy.

If you would like to learn more and go on this journey of discovering the mystery and brilliance of drawing in therapy, then join me 😊

This workshop will be jam packed with researched information and practical exercises. It will be an amazing day of sharing and learning.

Date: 24 April 2026
Time: 8 - 4pm (SAST)
Cost: R1100
Online

Email laurensnailham@yahoo.com to register 😊

I LOVED running this workshop 😊 thank you to all who attended. What an amazing job WE have ❤️
21/03/2026

I LOVED running this workshop 😊 thank you to all who attended. What an amazing job WE have ❤️

19/03/2026

Part 3 of the Classroom Awareness Series

TEACHERS, YOU HAVE MORE POWER THAN YOU REALISE☀️

For a child who is already carrying a heavy load, small moments of calm and understanding can make a profound difference.

A softer tone. A moment of patience. A quiet check-in.

“I can see today feels a bit hard.” “I’m here to help.”

Even something as simple as: “I’m feeling a bit frustrated today, but it’s not about you.”

These moments tell a child something very important:

You are safe here.

And when children feel safe…they can regulate, they can think, they can learn.

Sometimes one calm moment doesn’t just change behaviour…

It lifts a weight a child has been carrying all day.

Child Therapy Toolbox 🌈🌸
Helping adults see the child beneath the behaviour.

16/03/2026

Some children have engines that run a little faster than others 🏎️🏁

Meet Speedy - a little car with lots of energy, excitement, and enthusiasm. His friends love his spirit, but sometimes his engine runs so fast that he struggles to slow down. He hoots too loudly, bumps into his friends, and acts before he thinks.

When Speedy’s behaviour begins pushing his friends away, he sets off on a journey where he learns something important: every car’s engine works differently.

Some engines need help learning how to slow down.
Some need practice stopping and thinking.
And sometimes they need a different kind of “petrol” to help their engine run more smoothly.

Speedy and His Friends is a gentle therapeutic story that helps children understand impulsivity, self-control, and empathy - both for the child who struggles to slow down and for the friends and siblings around them.

Because sometimes a child isn’t trying to be difficult…

Their engine is just running a little faster.

To view or order a copy of Speedy and His Friends go to www.childtherapytoolbox.co.za and click on Shop ✔️

15/03/2026

Part 2 of the Classroom Awareness Series: When the Load Becomes Too Heavy 🥺🎒

Sometimes a child’s backpack is already full before they even walk into the classroom.

Worries about friendships.
Pressure to keep up academically.
Family stress.
Exhaustion.
Anxiety.

When children are already carrying a heavy load, even small moments can feel overwhelming.

A raised voice.
A moment of frustration.
Feeling corrected in front of others.

For some children, this can feel like one more weight being added to something they are already struggling to hold.

And when the load becomes too heavy, children don’t learn better.

They simply struggle more.

Not because they are trying to be difficult.

But because their nervous system is overwhelmed.

A dysregulated brain cannot learn.

Awareness helps us respond with understanding rather than frustration.

Child Therapy Toolbox
Helping adults see the child beneath the behaviour.

Follow us so you don’t miss Part 3





New Online Workshop for Therapists working with children and teens🧱⭐️HPCSA ACCREDITED for 6 CPD points for psychologists...
15/03/2026

New Online Workshop for Therapists working with children and teens🧱⭐️

HPCSA ACCREDITED for 6 CPD points for psychologists

🧩 What can a pile of LEGO bricks tell us about a child?

A lot more than you might think.

When children build, we often see:
• how they approach challenges
• how they cope with frustration
• their creativity and problem-solving
• the stories and emotions they may struggle to express in words

Construction play creates a safe space where children can explore ideas, relationships and emotions while developing confidence and mastery.

I’ll be running a LEGO Therapy Workshop on:
20 March 2026
8am - 3:30pm (SAST)
Cost: R1000pp

This is for therapists and professionals working with children. We’ll explore how LEGO can be used to support social skills, emotional regulation, therapeutic relationships, and assessment in practice.

If you work with children and are interested in expanding your play-based interventions, this workshop may be for you.

Email laurensnailham@yahoo.com to register 😊

The previous Overloaded Child workshop had over 150 parents and teachers attend, all looking to better understand why so...
13/03/2026

The previous Overloaded Child workshop had over 150 parents and teachers attend, all looking to better understand why so many children today seem overwhelmed, dysregulated, or struggling to cope 🥺

Due to the strong interest, I will be running the workshop again for those who missed it.

We explore:
• What overload in children actually looks like
• How stress affects the brain and behaviour
• More constructive ways to respond and support children

The Overloaded Child – Online Workshop

📅 15 April 2026
⏰ 7:00–8:30pm
💰 R200 per person

Presented by Lauren Snailham, Clinical Psychologist

To register:
📧 laurensnailham@yahoo.com

12/03/2026

Part 1 of the Classroom Awareness Series: What Children May Be Carrying 🥺

Teachers,

Do you know what some children in your classroom are carrying today?

Before the first lesson even begins, some children arrive at school already holding a heavy load.

Lack of sleep.
Social worries.
Family stress.
Academic pressure.
Anxiety.
Busy schedules.

These are things we cannot always see sitting at a desk in front of us.

Children do not arrive at school as blank slates each morning. They arrive carrying their experiences, their worries, and their emotions.

When we remember this, we begin to see behaviour differently.

Not simply as disruption.

But sometimes as a child struggling to hold everything together.

Awareness is often the first step towards compassion.

Child Therapy Toolbox 🌸🌈
Helping adults see the child beneath the behaviour.

Part 2 coming soon.

Save this post if you work with children 😊









Address

Kloof

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Child Therapy Toolbox posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Child Therapy Toolbox:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category