Certified Learn To Play Therapy Support Role
The Blue Stream is open to anyone who works in a supportive role within health or early childhood services or special education and whose work does not involve individual therapy. For example, the Blue Stream is aimed at those working and supporting families in early intervention services with groups of children (for example, playgroups, family support programs), special school settings, and who work in support roles with other health professionals. The Blue Stream is also aimed at those working beside therapists and who may set up playroom activities in consultation with the supervising therapist.
Blue Stream recognises competence to observe play and work therapeutically with play with groups of children. Blue Stream certification is open for those who may not have a tertiary degree in health, allied health, education or early childhood intervention. TAFE training in early childhood or related area or a Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play (Deakin University) or similar would qualify a person to undertake Blue Stream. It is expected that Blue Stream graduates would work under the guidance of a Certified Learn To Play Therapist/Practitioner (Orange Stream) within their workplace. If there is no-one from the Orange Stream in their workplace, then alternatively they will be supported by 4 supervisions for the first year post certification through Learn To Play Therapy or until such time as their work employs someone who successfully completed Orange Stream. Any ongoing support could be organised as needed.
Blue Stream Certification involves the following 2 Steps:
Step 1
Part 1 training with 90% pass on the final quiz. This training provides knowledge of the principles and processes of Learn To Play Therapy with an introduction to the Pretend Play Enjoyment Developmental Checklist. The knowledge covered at this level is: understanding of the developmental framework of pretend play development, creating a feeling of safety when engaging with children, knowledge of the Pretend Play Enjoyment Developmental Checklist and how to begin play assessments and what to look for, the importance of pretend play as an ability and how it links to wider developmental capacities, a beginning knowledge of the neurobiology of play, and principles and processes of Learn To Play Therapy. Case studies as well as videos and discussions are included in the training.
Step 2
15 hours of supervision sessions with the following format. It is beneficial for the supervisee to have observations and recordings of the PPE-DC and play sessions with children they work with. If the supervisee’s work doesn’t allow them to record, then an alternative is for the supervisee to record themselves doing a PPE-DC and a play session with a child they know who is the right age. Supervision is more in depth and supportive with observations and/or recordings from supervisee assessments and Learn To Play Therapy use within their workplace.
- 5 hours of 1:1 supervision on scoring and interpretation of the Pretend Play Enjoyment Developmental Checklist.
- 7 hours of 1:1 supervision on use of the principles and process of Learn to Play Therapy within a school setting, early childhood services setting, or support roles within a clinic setting. Supervision sessions will include the creation of a sense of safety, therapeutic use of self in engaging with children at their level of play ability, and using principles of Learn To Play Therapy.
- 3 hours 1:1 supervision where participants engage in training to work on therapeutic skills.
Required Manuals and Books
Pretend Play Enjoyment Developmental Checklist
This resource is included in the cost of the Part 1 workshop.
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The Pretend Play Enjoyment Developmental Checklist (PPE-DC) is a criterion referenced assessment with standardised administration and scoring. It is an observational assessment that takes between 15 and 30 minutes to administer, and assesses three aspects of a child’s play ability, which are: pretend play skills, enjoyment of play, and a child’s sense of self (their self-representation as observed during play).
Learn to Play Therapy: Principles, Process and Practical Activities
This resources will need to be purchased separately as part of the certification stream.
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The new Learn To Play book: Learn to Play Therapy: Principles, Process and Practical Activities was published in 2021.
This 314 page book explains the theoretical underpinnings, principles and process as well as includes an additional 114 pages of play activities by developmental level. It comes with downloadable play activities, parent handouts, and Play Background Checklist.
This book is an essential reference source for Learn To Play Therapy
Success to become a Certified Learn To Play Support Role
Blue Stream Certification recognises competence to be in a supporting role that includes Learn To Play principles within their work with children in the setting in which they work, including using the PPE-DC.
Blue Stream does not recognise ability of the graduate to be a Learn To Play Therapist/Practitioner.
Blue Stream is aimed at competence to observe play and identify children’s strengths using the PPE-DC and work in a supporting role in services which offer play-based programs, such as in a special school or early childhood service, using Learn To Play Therapy principles and under the guidance of a Certified Learn To Play Therapist/Practitioner.
Blue Stream does not require continued recognition of certification once certification is gained, as the work carried out by those in Blue Stream is under the guidance of those certified in the Orange Stream.