Sand therapy

February 7, 2017 by Anna -

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Feeling stressed out? This long winter got you down? We know just the cure! There’s something quite Zen about watching Jamie play with fresh new sand. Make sure to view with sound for a little bit of calming enrichment!

YouTube video

8 Comments

  1. Avatar Cheryl on February 7, 2017 at 2:17 pm

    there is definitely something zen like about that. I could watch her for a long time



  2. Avatar DIANE M. KASTEL on February 7, 2017 at 2:22 pm

    WONDERFUL VIDEO! IT IS INTERESTING THAT JAMIE USUALLY CHOOSES TO USE HER HANDS TO PICK UP THE SAND FOR THE BUCKET, INSTEAD OF USING THE SHOVEL!



  3. Avatar Mary Russell on February 7, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    Watching that just makes me smile. I need to go find some sand to play in. Thanks. Hugs for everyone at the sanctuary.



  4. Avatar Jo on February 7, 2017 at 7:13 pm

    Honestly reminds me of watching my first grand child play with sand!! The Chimps are just ppl in disguise ~ we are so close!! Hugs to you all!



  5. Avatar Kathleen on February 7, 2017 at 8:11 pm

    Who knew Jamie was a zen master.

    “This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” – Alan Watts



  6. Avatar Francoise on February 8, 2017 at 8:51 am

    Lovely. Zen is the right word. And it’s clear, looking at Jamie’s face, she too is in a zen-like state. The sand have felt wonderful in her hands. When I saw her packing the sand into the bucket I thought what she’d do with wet sand! Maybe a bit messy….



  7. Avatar Francoise on February 8, 2017 at 2:01 pm

    Anna, I watched this again — it is calming! — and noticed that Jamie preferred her right hand and appeared less coordination with her left. Are chimps the same as humans in that they favor one hand when it comes to fine motor skills?



    • Avatar Anna on February 8, 2017 at 3:30 pm

      Hi Francoise, that’s an interesting observation. I believe handedness is not as pronounced in chimps as it is in humans. You may notice in videos of Jamie coloring with a crayon that she is often using her left hand, and I believe she switches back and forth sometimes.



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