Providing students with an experience as close as it gets to real life.
Humber’s four-year Bachelor of Child and Youth Care degree program is firmly grounded in the disciplines of child and youth care psychology, sociology, community development, political science and education. Students focus on the theory, research and practice of optimal wellness, integrating developmental, preventative and therapeutic approaches into the lives of children, youth, families and communities.
The therapeutic play lab allows students to co-create and engage a variety of materials in order to deliver programming and supportive interventions to children, youth and families. The play lab provides a safer space for students to explore their strengths and areas for development in a supportive environment that encourages self-exploration and creativity. Students develop and practice strategies and activities that will be used in their placements, which directly follow the creative play courses in the curriculum.
The play lab is unique in the post-secondary setting and offers CYC students an amazing option to play and get in touch with their inner child. Students have an extensive library of books, educational materials, and therapeutic games and toys to immerse themselves in and practice their skills of engagement, group facilitation, and individual interventions. The play lab considers sensory concerns and supports students to adjust activities and interventions to meet the unique needs of children, youth and families. The play lab allows students to feel confident and ready to engage youth when they enter their placement settings.
Students prepare activities, life skills groups and other engagement activities and then run them as if the class are the actual youth within a specific setting in Child and Youth Care. This gives students an opportunity to practice their presentation skills as well as group management and supportive facilitation.
Students engage with a different modality i.e. sand tray therapy, puppetry, food in therapeutic play, etc. on a weekly basis. They then can create a collection of activities that are practiced/presented during the semester so that every student has a repertoire of activities to draw on in their placements in the following semesters.
