Part Two: Hunting for Minis Online
My Go-To Sites for Ordering Sandtray Miniatures Online
As I mentioned in the last post, I love hunting for miniatures. But…I don\’t always have a TON of extra time to set aside for tracking town the perfect piece for a certain client, situation, metaphor, etc.
So, over the years I\’ve found several amazing sites where I can find exactly what I need, in a pinch! Most of these are companies that specialize in creating/providing therapeutic aides FOR THERAPISTS!
How awesome is that?!
And many of these sites also carry sand, portable sand trays, and other therapeutic materials you could use outside of sandtray sessions (gotta love a one-stop-shop!).
Ok, here\’s my list of most-loved websites for finding sandtray miniatures (in no particular order), let\’s get to it!
(Another quick note: I receive no financial compensation for sharing my opinions regarding these websites, these are just my faves)
1. Play Therapy Supply
https://www.playtherapysupply.com
Play Therapy Supply is literally just like it sounds; they have pretty much anything you might need to outfit your play therapy practice, including awesome sandtray materials.
Here you will find all different types of trays, sand, carts/stands for your tray, really unique single miniatures, and sets of miniatures. If you\’re just getting started or wanting to beef up your collection, the starter kits and multi-packs are not to be missed!
2. Child Therapy Toys
https://www.childtherapytoys.com/
Child Therapy Toys has a TON of different types of therapeutic aides, much like Play Therapy Supply.
This site has an amazing assortment of miniatures, but the standout is how EASY they make it to find just want you need. They have a ton of diverse categories of miniatures that are perfectly labeled and separated, so you don\’t have to spend a ton of time searching.
Need a bargain? Child Therapy Toys has 99 cent minis and a section for minis under $3… who doesn\’t love a great deal?!
3. Toys of The Trade
http://www.toysofthetrade.com/
Toys of The Trade specializes in providing those harder-to-find themes, while also providing starter kits and a wide range of categories to choose from.
4. Twice Upon a Toy
Twice Upon a Toy is a really unique and wonderful company that provides used toys, books, puppets, and therapeutic games.
This is where you\’re going to find really unique pieces to round out your collection. Their inventory changes regularly, so you\’re going to want to check in now and then to make sure you don\’t miss something special!
5. Kennedy\'s Minis
https://www.kennedysminis.com/
If you are looking for high-end, beautifully crafted miniatures that your clients are going to connect with and use time and time again, please visit Kennedy\’s Minis.
Kennedy creates amazing, unique miniatures that will resonate with so many of your more abstract-thinking clients.
I have a ton of her original pieces in my miniature collection, and they get used ALL the time… especially the tidal wave (mostly for anxiety, obligations, overwhelm), tornado (a very common fear and source of trauma here in the south), and the various people representing different emotions, milestones, and phases of life.
And the absolute best part, there is a special order form on her website and she can craft a miniature to meet your specific needs. I can\’t say enough great things about Kennedy and the work that she does!
6. Misc. Marketplaces
Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Amazon, Etsy…
There\’s a ton of marketplace sites online where you can find just about anything.
FB and Ebay will often have sellers trying to offload massive collections of miniatures or sets of figures or toys, and they are usually pretty inexpensive.
The internet is a massive place, s0 if you have something specific in mind, it\’s likely out there somewhere.
OK, these are my favorite online resources for finding miniatures…I hope this list helps in your pursuit of the perfect mini collection!
If you\’ve got a beloved website or marketplace you use to stock your shelves, let us know in the comments or head over to our FB group to share!
Happy (miniature) hunting!