Encouraging play with feet

I think it is really important when using play therapy to remember that we don't only have to play with hands. Feet are just as sensitive and often it can be less intrusive to play with 'messy play' on feet and therefore more acceptable for the child.

Messy play can be daunting to some children, if they are tactile defensive or if you are trying to introduce new concepts it can be very scary. Messy play can sometimes seem suffocating to a child as it covers their hands and they have no control over it. This is no different for Tom. Tom has little movement in his arms from a sitting position. He does have small movement so can move his arms up a little and can swipe his arms across his tray but he couldn't pull his hands away if he really didn't like something. Tom has small movement in his legs so when he is sitting he can pull his legs up and out of a messy situation. By using Tom's feet whilst doing messy play he has more control of the activity. I never want Tom to feel I have put him in a situation that he doesn't like and cannot get out of.

Tom playing with paint and rice krispies.

Playing with feet is also a great way of introducing new concepts and textures. As I've said playing with feet is less invasive so if you want to introduce a child to something new then this makes a good, safe way to do so. You can slowly encourage play through the feet and then once the child is comfortable with this you could try and bring it up to the hands and see if the child is still happy to tolerate it. I like introducing Tom to new textures through his feet first because he is able to pull his legs completely out to tell me no or he is unsure, then I can change my approach to the activity.

Tom enjoys messy play in his feet so much that often he falls asleep whilst we are playing. If you walk into Tom's room it can seem strange that he has fallen asleep with his feet in baked beans!

Using feet doesn't just have to be with messy play. You can incorporate all sorts of things. Sensory play is really easy to do with feet. Tom and I often make a 'beach' so we put water and stones, or water and sand in a bowl and let Tom explore. You could add shells or other little sea related creatures to make it a sensory bin and explore this with the feet.

You could also focus on the feet within activities like TacPac, Painting or a sensory story. Feet are very important and very sensitive. I love working with Tom's feet because he responds so well to it. Give it a try with the little ones you care for. It's a great way to bond, play and have fun together.