A game as old as the world in “Secrets”

Previously, this game was played by children in the sandbox, under colored glass they hid everything that could be found, very beautiful and important. “Secrets” were arranged by children of preschool and primary school age. Usually, the “secret” consisted of a candy wrapper, a piece of colored glass, a badge, foil, a postage stamp, a label, a painted picture, a letter, or any other small item considered valuable among children placed in the dug hole; at the same time, it was not the utilitarian, but the aesthetic and emotional value of objects that mattered. The hole, as a rule, was covered with colored glass and buried.
The construction of the “secret” was carried out in secret from other children and from parents. After some time, the “secret” could be shown to especially trusted friends as an artistic composition. Its demonstration served as a way to demonstrate or offer friendship, and the structure itself was a form of children’s artistic creativity.
When working with children, I use something in between, creating such “Secrets” on paper. The process of containing resources in an objectified form carries the symbolic meaning of sacral preservation, which is especially important for children with PTSD manifestations; I often track stable positive changes in the psycho-emotional state in children.
Here is an example of the use of “secrets” in art therapy. To work with a child, you need a piece of a file 10 by 10 cm or another translucent film (I have from sweets), double-sided tape for fixing the film, materials for decorating the picture on which we attach the pocket and what is important to hide in the “Secret” itself. Based on my work experience, I can say that children carry them with them for a long time and show them only to close people.

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