Differential aspects of sandplay with 10- and 11-year-old children

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether or not differences existed between control and clinic children at one age group in terms of how they undertook a sandplay picture task. Relatedly, it was seen as important to determine whether or nor groups were indeed disparate in terms of amount of emotional stress or suffering. Methodology: An experimental comparison of the sandplay behavior and pictures of 10 and 11 year olds was conducted, with subjects equally distributed in two primary groups, clinic and control. Twenty-six clinic children (13 males and 13 females) were included, who had experienced primarily sexual, physical, and/or emotional abuse. Twenty-six control children (13 males and 13 females) were also included. All children came from the same metropolitan area. In order to validate the assumption that these two groups were distinct on the dimension of distress, the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist was administered. An interrater counting technique was used to evaluate photographs of the pictures and score for content and theme. Results: Results indicated that there were differences in the sandplay pictures of clinic and control children in all three of the dependent variables; content, theme, and approach to the sandplay. Significant differences also existed between Achenbach groups. Most pronounced were the differences in approach to the sandplay, with clinic children, low competency and high problem children having difficulty staying within the boundary of the box, having more regressed play, and presenting more disorganized pictures. Conclusions: Sandplay pictures do differ between children who are experiencing emotional stress and those who are not. Sandplay may serve as a useful assessment tool in therapeutic work with children, as it is nonverbal in nature and generally popular with younger clients. More studies are needed which replicate this methodology, and which increase subject numbers. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.