Build Your Sand Tray Miniature Collection: Affordable Options & Creative Ideas for Therapists

Sand Tray is a favorite intervention among many therapists.  Collecting miniatures is fun, but it can also be expensive. We've created a list of our favorite places to find miniatures and creative ways to build your collection. Soome of the options can be done for little to no cost.

1. Retail Stores

• Arts/Craft stores-Michaels, JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby are great places to look. Check out the fairy garden section and party section, as well as the seasonal clearance items.  
• Target. Check out the Dollar Spot area at the front of the store as well as clearance section as mentioned above.
• Discount stores-There are so many great areas in these stores to find miniatures. Check out the garden area, toys, kitchen, office supplies and party supplies, seasonal, animals, vehicles, planes, helicopters, people, figurines.
• Toy stores
• Scrapbooking stores
• Gas stations
• Gift shops-local gift stores, hospital and airport gift shops
• Disney store
• Educational stores like Lakeshore Learning 
• Aquarium items from pet or discount stores
• Check out the holiday clearance in stores. In the spring you might find significant markdowns of engraved rocks or outdoor related items and in the fall, you can usually find tombstones, skeletons, pumpkins, haunted houses, and more.  During Christmas clearance you can find some great ornaments and holiday décor that make wonderful miniatures.

2. Online Shopping

• Oriental trading Company
• Amazon
• Etsy
• eBay
• Life Like Products
• Sacred Source
• Play therapy supply stores. Some of our favorites are:
  • Self-Esteem Shop
  • Child Therapy Toys
  • Play Therapy Supply
  • Toys of the Trade
  • Kennedy's Minis
  • Twice Upon A Toy

3. Reseale Finds

• Facebook Marketplace-toys, figurines
• Estate sales, yard and garage sales
• Antique stores
• Flea markets
• Children’s resale shops
• Thrift stores-goodwill

4. DIY Miniatures

Make your own miniatures using wood blocks, clay molding, stones, and other craft supplies.

5. Conferences

This can often be a great place to pick up items you can use for miniatures.  Check out vendor booth swag and sign up for giveaways.

6. Things around your home.  

Go throughout your junk drawers and craft supplies. You might also find useful miniatures from: 

• Old jewelry
• Empty medicine and vitamin bottles
• Net bags from fruits and vegetables.
• Buttons
• Keys
• Your child’s unused toy stash

7. Ask friends who are cleaning out their children’s toys.

8. Nature

Rocks, twigs, leaves, seashells all make great additions to your sand tray miniature collection

9. Sign up for contests with online play therapy supply stores and at vendor booths at conferences.  You might just be a winner!

10. Create a “Miniature Swap” with colleagues to trade out unused miniatures.

11. Buy trinkets on vacation that could be used. 

12. Dollhouse furniture

13. Kids meal toys from fast food restaurants

14. Birthday party goodie bags 

15. Novelty Erasers are another inexpensive way to add variety to your miniatures.  You can buy collections from Amazon, Oriental Trading, Arts and Craft Stores and play therapy supply stores.

16. Purchase a sand tray kit from retailers like Amazon, Child Therapy Toys, Play Therapy Supply, and Toys of the Trade.

17. Buy from other therapists online in therapist Facebook groups or Etsy. 

Other fun additions to your sand tray therapy room:

1. For water play in the sand, kids (and adults) love medicine droppers and turkey basters
2. Kitchen items like rolling pins, whisks, basters, and measuring cups, are also a big hit.
3. Reusable containers from takeout food or office supplies make great mini sand trays and can be used by clients for container work

Add to the discussion below and let us know where you find your miniatures!