MSF Play Therapy Toolkit

Play is more than just fun – it is essential for improving health, fostering recovery, and enhancing every child’s quality of life. 

For children experiencing trauma, play therapy provides a safe space to explore emotions, process difficult experiences, and build resilience. It strengthens bonds between children and their caregivers, supports developmental growth, reduces stress, aids recovery from malnutrition, and empowers children to actively participate in their care – bringing hope and healing. 

The MSF Play Therapy Toolkit is a comprehensive guide designed for MSF teams working with children, especially those affected by conflict, emergencies, and health challenges. It developed by the MSF Sweden Innovation Unit (SIU) with Play Therapist Katherine Haciömeroğlu colleages in MSF Operational Center Brussels (OCB), based on a pilot with MSF’s Mother and Child Hospital in Kenema, Sierra Leone in 2022. The toolkit equips healthcare providers with practical strategies to integrate play into their work with children facing physical, emotional, or behavioral challenges. 

Inside, you will find guidance on: 

• Creating child-friendly spaces 

• Selecting activities that align with children’s developmental stages 

• Making toys from simple, available materials 

The Play Therapy Toolkit is available in Arabic (coming soon), English, French and Spanish.