South Dakota Association for Play Therapy

06/23/2026

06/22/2026

Happening this week...

⏳ Just 2 weeks until our Sandtray Training! ⏳

If you've been thinking about registering, now is the time. With the training right around the corner and registration limited, available spots are filling quickly.

Join IAPT and LEAPT for this engaging learning opportunity and discover new ways to deepen therapeutic connection, support client expression, and expand your clinical toolbox through sandtray work.

✨ Hands-on learning
✨ Practical applications
✨ Limited seating

Don't miss your chance to be part of this experience. Secure your spot today before registration closes or the training reaches capacity! https://iowaassociationforplaytherapy.regfox.com/sand-tray-play-therapy-fundamentals-from-an-adlerian-perspective

06/18/2026

The Charles Schaefer Play Therapy Scholarship is now open! Sponsored by the Foundation for Play Therapy, this scholarship supports graduate students pursuing an APT credential. Visit a4pt.org to review the eligibility requirements and access the application portal.

06/15/2026

Thank you to Garry Landreth and the legacy he leaves behind in Child Centered Play Therapy. He has touched the lives of so many children, families and play therapists. He and his work in the field of play therapy will be greatly missed.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Garry L. Landreth, EdD, LPC, RPT-S. While the world knew him as a foundational pioneer, author, and beloved leader in the play therapy community, his greatest pride and joy was his family. Garry was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and our thoughts are foremost with his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

Garry dedicated his life to championing the emotional lives of children through his teaching, research, and unwavering mentorship that will continue to inspire generations of professionals. As the founder of the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas and a longtime, cherished pillar of the Association for Play Therapy, Garry helped shape the play therapy profession from the ground up. His groundbreaking work in Child-Centered Play Therapy and his influential book, Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship, taught us all how to truly connect with the healing power of a child's world.

To the APT community, Garry was so much more than a leader in play therapy. He shared his knowledge as a teacher, his wisdom as a mentor, and his heart as a friend. His strong sense of humility and deep belief in the capacity of every child to heal left an indelible mark on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Garry’s remarkable legacy lives on through the thousands of clinicians, he trained the countless children and families touched by his legacy, and the gentle wisdom he brought to our field.

On behalf of the Association for Play Therapy, we extend our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to his family, his friends, his former students, and all those around the world who are mourning this immense loss.

06/11/2026

Congratulations Lexi for your accomplishment!

Alexandria Hooyer, MSW, LCSW, RPT, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

06/09/2026

For children, there is no better place to work on healing and skill-building than through play!

06/08/2026

Save some money this summer while you get some APT CEs!

To support ongoing professional development over the summer, all E-Learning Center audio program tests are available at a 30% discount throughout June. Enter SUMMERFUN26 at checkout to SAVE! Please note that audio programs are only eligible for APT and NBCC non-contact continuing education credit.

06/03/2026

Registration for the Annual APT International Conference in Minneapolis is open! https://www.a4pt.org/general/custom.asp?page=AnnualAPTConference

If you are a member, you received a discount code in your Play Today Newsletter. That code expires tomorrow! Check your inbox for the code and register today to receive 20% off of your workshop fees.

The Association for Play Therapy (APT) is a national professional society established in 1982 to foster contact among mental health professionals interested in exploring and, when developmentally appropriate, applying the therapeutic power of play to communicate with and treat clients, particularly....

06/02/2026

Congratulations Alexa for your accomplishments!

Alexa R. Gauer, MSW, LCSW-PIP, RPT-S, Yankton, South Dakota

05/28/2026

There are so many great nuggets of information from this study, but here are a few that stand out and point to the incredibly valuable role of play in children's mental health AND overall development:

[The research shows us that] “Pretend play is important for the wellbeing of young children...Play for play sake (not with a learning goal in mind) is also important.”

"During pretend play, children use their motor skills to simulate actions, even if the objects are imaginary. These physical simulations support higher-level thinking goals like improvising, finding solutions, and solving problems." In reality, it seems that kids are never 'just playing' and there is always some sort of developmental task taking place.

"Previous brain imaging research suggests that these physical simulations activate specific motor regions in the brain. The scientists note that these same brain regions are thought to play a role in attention and anxiety disorders."

Truly, opportunities for imaginary play is an essential need for all children.

Pretend play is often seen as just for fun, but new research links early imaginative skills to better long-term mental health. The findings suggest that encouraging creative play in toddlers reduces behavioral difficulties years later.