Sand Talk with a child can be such a powerful, gentle way to help them express feelings that may be hard to put into words. Here’s a simple, parent-friendly explanation you could use in The Haven or in your community:

🌿 How to Use Sand Talk with Your Child
What you’ll need:

• A shallow box or tray (wooden, plastic, or even a baking pan)

• Clean play sand (kinetic sand works too)

• A small collection of figurines or objects (animals, people, cars, trees, buildings, shells, stones, crosses, etc.)

Steps:

1. Set up the tray – Place it on a table or the floor where your child feels comfortable. Invite them to explore the sand with their hands.

2. Offer the objects – Say something like:
   “Here are some things you can use to tell a story or show what you’re feeling.”
   Don’t give directions—just let them choose and arrange pieces freely.

3. Stay curious and quiet – As your child builds their scene, watch gently without rushing in to interpret. If they want to talk, listen with openness. If they stay quiet, that’s okay—sometimes the act of creating is enough.

4. Ask gentle prompts (optional) – If it feels right, you might ask:

   • “Can you tell me about this part?”

   • “What’s happening in your story?”

   • “How does this place feel to you?”
     Keep it light—let them lead.

5. Close with care – When they’re finished, thank them for sharing. You can say:
   “I really liked seeing what you made. Thank you for showing me.”
   Leave the tray for a while if possible—kids like to revisit and add on.

Why this helps:
Children often can’t put worries, fears, or hopes into words—but they can “show” them through play. The sand and objects act like a language of the heart, helping them release stress, explore feelings, and feel seen in a safe, non-judgmental way.

After your child has created their scene, you might softly ask:

👉 “If this part of your story could change or feel better, what would it look like?”

This question does two things:

• It helps your child identify what feels hard or heavy.

• It invites them to imagine a solution, giving them a sense of agency and hope.

✨ Sometimes they’ll move figures around, add something new, or simply say what they wish could be different. That small act of imagining change helps them process big feelings in a safe, creative way

🌿 Gentle Prompts to Help Kids Move Toward Solutions

Here are some gentle variations of that guiding question moms can use during or after a sand talk session, depending on the child’s age and comfort level.  Never force a conversation.  The simple act of creating a tray is enough to start a shift in the mental process. 

1. “If this part of your story could change, what would it look like?”

2. “What would make this (character/animal/person) feel better or safer?”

3. “If something new could happen here, what would it be?”

4. “What could we add that might help this place feel more peaceful?”

5. “If you could give (the figure they chose) anything they need, what would it be?”

6. “What would make this story end in a happy way?”

7. “If you could be a helper in this scene, what would you do?”

✨ Each question gently nudges the child to imagine a shift toward hope or safety, without pressuring them. It gives them space to express both the struggle and a possible solution.