What is a Playroom Buddy Volunteer?

Please note: We appreciate your interest, but we will not be recruiting any new Playroom Buddies during 2012.

Jacob participates in an individual home school program based on socialization and play. This is where PlayRoom Buddy volunteers join Jacob in his amazing playroom for lots of fun and excitement.

The playroom is about having fun, letting go and moving closely alongside Jacob. There is a commitment requirement of two hours twice a week for a minimum of six months. This gives Jacob the opportunity to connect with you and become familiar with you and trust you as you play with him. There is no prior experience necessary as training is provided for the techniques in this socialization and play therapy.

An optimistic and open attitude is the basis for Jacob’s complementary therapy line up, especially the time spent in the playroom. It is the attitude alone which differentiates Jacob’s line up from the other therapies available.

Here are some possible scenarios for you about how you may play with Jacob. Jacob really likes to play. Sometimes he likes to do this on his own, in his own world, and you may notice this. You can still hang out with him when he does this, just be near him, and be with him. Even though you may not be playing together, he still knows you are there, he can feel your warmth. At the moment he likes to play the Copy Me game. So if he asks you to “copy my sound” then please, have a go at making the same sound as him.

Jacob sometimes likes to say the same thing over and over. Or maybe you will see him make the same movement again and again. Doing this makes him feel comfortable ... so please don’t stop him. Just be there with him, and love him whilst he does it.