10-Week Play Therapy Social Group Program
For Primary School-aged Children with Therapy Dog
Target Age: 6-11 years
Group Size: 4-5 children
Duration per Session: 50 minutes
Therapy Dog
A therapy dog as an integral part of the group therapy process. The therapy dog will facilitate emotional expression, social interaction, and relaxation, while the activities are designed to build social skills, empathy, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. Each session includes a mix of structured activities with the therapy dog, group play, cooperative tasks, and discussion. The therapy dog’s presence will be used to model positive behaviors, encourage emotional expression, and provide comfort when needed.
Therapeutic Goals
Enhance Social Skills
Improve Emotional Regulation
Boost Communication Abilities
Foster Empathy
Build Positive Peer Relationships
Increase Self-Esteem
Develop Coping Strategies
Encourage Teamwork
Provide Emotional Support
Facilitate Relaxation
Model Positive Behaviours
Promote Emotional Awareness
Support Conflict Resolution
Create a Safe Space
Encourage Self-Expression
A Supportive Environment
This program enables children to practise and improve their social skills while fostering empathy, playful engagement, and connection through interaction with a therapy dog.
Goals will be set up at the beginning of the program. Throughout the program, observations and feedback will be recorded and shared with relevant parties. An end-of-session report will be written on each participant detailing their progress towards the goals.
Session Structure
Warm-Up
(10 minutes)
Children engage in a group free play activity to build rapport and comfort among participants. Learning to actively listen and engage in communication with each other. Participate in sharing, turn-taking and problem-solving activities. The facilitator will track play, reflect feelings and return responsibility to enable relationship building, self-esteem and trust amongst the group.
Emotional Check-In
(10 minutes)
Engage with a trained therapy dog through play and structured activities, encouraging emotional expression and connection. Completing an emotional and body check-in to see how both the therapy dog and students are feeling.
Skill Development Activities
(25 minutes)
Introduce specific exercises targeting emotional regulation, coping strategies, and scenarios around friendships through the use of stimulus. Students to be involved in discussion and complete activity or game, involving the therapy dog to facilitate learning.
Group Discussion & Reflection
(5 minutes)
Conclude with a brief discussion where children share their experiences and insights, reinforcing communication and social skills.
Enter into children’s play, and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet.
– Virginia Axline
Incorporating therapy dogs and play in education fosters emotional and social growth
Engage Playfully empowers children to build resilience, social skills, and emotional intelligence to navigate life’s challenges with confidence