Sand table games promote children's mental development

Professor Zhang Risheng, Beijing Normal University, Research and Application Center for Sandplay Therapy

Sand table games promote children's mental development

The sandbox game was created by Swiss psychologist Doraka Golf on the basis of Jung ’s analytical psychology in the 1950s. At the beginning of the creation of the sand table game, it was mainly used to solve some psychological problems of children. After being introduced to China, Chinese psychologists have further developed it and gradually applied it to the field of children's education. At present, many primary and secondary schools and kindergartens in China are equipped with sand table game equipment, which has become one of the more and more popular activities for children.

The sandbox game is equipped with a wooden box filled with fine sand. The inner wall of the wooden box is painted in light blue. This allows the children to create a piece of water when they push the sand to reveal the bottom of the box. In addition to sand and boxes, the most striking is the dazzling array of toys, including characters, animals, buildings, plants and vehicles. Children can freely choose their favorite toys and put them in the sandbox, and arrange their favorite scenes. By stacking sand, making rivers, and placing toys, children can create a three-dimensional picture. This picture is the child's inner psychology.

Sand table games have a good role in promoting children's psychological growth.

First, sand table games can promote children's intellectual development. Touching sand can promote children's tactile development, and toys of various colors can promote children's visual development. The development of touch and vision will promote the development of the brain, and then promote the development of children's intelligence.

Second, sandbox games can enhance children's creativity. Turning the sand can make mountains and rivers of different shapes, and placing toys can form a kaleidoscopic scene. These activities will undoubtedly help children's creativity.

Third, sand table games can help parents understand their children's psychology. The sand table made by the child is just a manifestation of the child's inner state. Using certain psychological knowledge and skills, the instructor can understand the child's psychology, and can convey this kind of psychology to the parents to help the parents understand their children more.

Fourth, sandbox games can solve some problems that arise during the growth of children. Under the guidance of professional teachers, sand table games can solve the problems of children's attacks, hyperactivity, introversion, timidity, and interpersonal difficulties.

Fifth, sand table games can promote children's physical and mental harmony. Sandbox game is a kind of psychological expression technology. Every scene made by a child is its inner expression. Through such an expression, the child's inner order is sorted out, personality development is promoted, and the psychological level is improved.