4 Sand Tray Activities for Family Play Therapy Sessions

Have you ever tried fixing a car based only on what someone says is wrong with it? That’s what it’s like trying to help a child in play therapy when you’re only relying on secondhand reports from parents. They’re doing their best—just like someone describing a strange car noise at the mechanic’s desk—but unless you pop the hood and run your own diagnostics, you’re missing crucial insights.

That’s where family play therapy comes in. When you shift from individual sessions to sessions that include the child’s caregivers or family members, it’s like taking that car for a test drive yourself. You get to see the patterns, the challenges, the interactions—all in real time. And one of the best ways to get that deep insight is by using sand tray therapy.

In this post, we’ll explore how sand tray activities can help you spot what’s happening under the surface—and what to do with that information to guide deeper healing in your family play therapy sessions.

Why Sand Tray Works in Family Play Therapy

Sometimes when parents are in the session, we end up doing more talking than playing. Sand tray interrupts that pattern. It slows things down and helps both adults and children externalize their internal experiences through metaphor and symbolism.

Using miniatures and sand activates implicit memory systems, which allows us to work with emotional material that clients may not have words for. It helps you observe patterns in a non-threatening way, opening the door for insight, connection, and change.

1. Make a World (from Eliana Gil)

This foundational sand tray activity is one I’ve used for decades. It’s especially powerful during the observation and assessment stage of family therapy because it reveals how family members make decisions, handle conflict, and manage space together.

Prompt:
"Use the sand tray miniatures to create a world. It can be any kind of world you want—together, you get to decide."

What You’re Observing:

How family members make decisions together
Leadership and followership dynamics
Conflict management and compromise
Space-sharing and respect for differing ideas

Structure Tips:

Sand stays in the tray.
If you didn’t place a miniature, you can’t remove it.
Everyone gets a say—respect is key.
Optional: Limit each person to 10 miniatures (to save cleanup and avoid overcrowding).

This activity gives you real-time insight into family interaction patterns, and sets the tone for future sessions that require mutual cooperation and listening.

2. Family Play Genogram (also from Eliana Gil)

This activity invites each family member to represent the people and relationships in their family system using miniatures. It’s great for exploring how each person experiences the family dynamic.

Prompt 1:
"Choose a miniature (or miniatures) to represent each member of your family, including yourself."

Prompt 2:
"Now choose a miniature (or miniatures) that represent your relationship with each of these people."

Setup Tips:

Use a large sheet of paper with a drawn genogram for each participant (or use the sand tray directly).
Guide each person through the prompts one at a time—don't rush or overload them with instructions.
Ensure clear boundaries: only the person placing a miniature can decide what goes on their genogram.

Why It’s Powerful:
You get a snapshot of how each person sees others, feels about their relationships, and whether those views align or clash. It also sets the tone that everyone’s perspective is valid—even if they don’t all agree.

3. My Family and Me (inspired by Dr. Dee Preston-Dillon)

This four-part activity gives you insight into how each family member sees themselves and how they'd like to be seen by others.

Prompts (given one at a time):

How do I see myself in my family?
How does my family see me?
How would I like to see myself in my family?
How would I like my family to see me?

Each person places miniatures in the sand tray to answer each question. After each round, they share why they chose their figures.

What You’ll Observe:

Self-perception and identity within the family system
Hopes, disappointments, or unmet needs
Shifts between how they see themselves and how they want to be seen

Just like in earlier activities, set rules around mutual respect and ensure each person’s voice is protected. The beauty of this exercise is how it gives everyone an opportunity to be heard—visually, symbolically, and with your facilitation.

4. The Deep Dive (Therapist-Directed Activity)

Sometimes, a recurring theme emerges—grief, loss, trauma, or family transitions. This activity allows you to zoom in on that theme and explore it more deeply using the sand tray.

Prompt Examples:

"Choose the miniatures that best represent how you’re feeling about the loss of our family pet."
"Pick the figures that show what the bad thing (trauma) feels like for you."

This activity often comes during the family alignment stage, once safety and trust have been established. It gives family members a way to explore difficult topics symbolically without needing to find the “right” words.

Why It Works:
Symbolic expression lets children (and adults) process emotions without becoming overwhelmed. It helps externalize internal experiences, making it easier to work through grief, trauma, or conflict in a safe, contained way.

Note:
The prompt and structure should reflect your play therapy model—whether it’s attachment-focused, Adlerian, Gestalt, or another approach. Your lens shapes the way you interpret the tray and guide the family forward.

What Makes These Activities Powerful?

These aren’t just expressive art exercises — they’re strategic tools. Sand tray therapy taps into nonverbal processing, offers rich symbolic meaning, and helps clients express themselves without fear of judgment.

You’ll also be able to guide parents to observe rather than control, which models new patterns of relating and supports co-regulation within the family.

And yes — sometimes chaos happens. But with a solid play therapy framework in place, including regular parent-only sessions for preparation and reflection, you’ll feel equipped to hold that space skillfully.

So, What Now?

Want help bringing more structure and clarity to your family play therapy approach?

👉 Check out my upcoming training: Using a Neuroscience and Attachment Lens with Sand Tray in Play Therapy

This 2 day in-person only training will be held on December 6-7 in beautiful St. George, UT. You'll learn how to confidently use sand tray therapy to access deep healing for your clients. Register here.

When you’re grounded in a clear framework, it’s easier to choose powerful techniques like sand tray intentionally — not randomly — and facilitate deeper healing with confidence.

Categories: : Community, Family Play Therapy, Play Therapy, Play Therapy Academy, Play Therapy Elevation Circle, Sand Tray Therapy