Reclaiming Black Childhood: Engaging Adultified Black Children in Play Therapy STL Workshop 2.21.26

Facilitator: April Duncan, DSW, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™

Session Date: February 21st, 2026

Session Time: 9:00 am-12:15 pm CST

Location: Equal Shares Counseling, 9715 Olive Boulevard, Ground Floor, Olivette, Missouri, 63132

CEs: 3.0 APT Contact CEs

Session description:

Systemic & institutional racism in American Black children often robs them of a childhood. As a result, Black caregivers may also encourage their children to abandon play to prepare them for an unjust world. In turn, they are often denied the ability to fully engage in play, in and out of the play room. This also may lead to difficulty gaining play therapy buy-in from Black caregivers around certain categories of toys that may be taboo. Using an Ecosystemic Play Therapy approach, this workshop explores how adultification appears in play therapy with Black children and family, including how the grief of the killing of unarmed Black Americans may contribute to parenting practices towards Black children. Attendees will explore play therapy activities to build rapport and gain buy-in with caregivers who may have parenting practices rooted in intergenerational trauma. Participants will also explore key items to promote cultural pride in the playroom and promote cultural inclusivity. Additionally, participants will explore other expressive therapies such as sand tray, music and games to activate the therapeutic powers of play and help Black children reclaim their childhood.

Learning objectives:

1. Discuss play themes that may signal adultification in Black children.
2. Analyze categories of play that may be viewed as problematic in Black families.
3. Identify play therapy interventions to address adultification in Black children in individual & group play therapy.

Agenda:

• 9:00 am-10:30 am Lecture & experiential learning
• 10:30 am-10:45 am Break
• 10:45 am-12:15 pm Lecture & experiential learning

What you'll get:

• 3 APT Contact Workshop CEs
• Certificate of Completion

*Course evaluation must be completed to receive CE credits. Certificates will be provided upon completion of workshop and evaluation.