Learn More > Play: The Occupation of Children
The act of playing is a vital tool in a child’s development. The primary
goals of childhood are to grow, learn, and play. It is often through play
that children learn to make sense of the world around them. It is a child’s
"job" or "occupation" to play in order to develop physical
coordination, emotional maturity, social skills to interact with other children,
and self-confidence to try new experiences and explore new environments.
Occupational therapists have expertise in evaluating children’s neurological,
muscular, and emotional development; and determining the effects of infant
and childhood illness on growth and development.
What can an occupational therapist do?
- Evaluate a child’s motor (movement), cognitive (thinking, reasoning),
social–emotional, and behavioral development.
- Recommend toys and play activities that promote healthy development and
provide stimulation to the child.
- Intervene when needed to promote development and skills for living.
What can parents and families do?
- Encourage exploratory play by using balls, sand and water toys, slides,
swings, finger paints, and magnets. During exploratory play, children use
their senses as they explore, discover, examine, and organize their activities.
- Try manipulative play by asking the child to perform a task, such as stacking
cereal boxes, slipping coins into a piggy bank, or playing with a deck of
cards. Handling items such as puzzles, pegboards, beads, and lacing cards
challenge the child’s eye and hand coordination and dexterity.
- Suggest imaginative or symbolic play that includes role-playing, playing
with dolls and stuffed animals, toy furniture, and telephones. This type
of pretend play encourages good social skills and a positive self-image.
- Choose toys that are appropriate for the child’s age and/or developmental
level. They do not have to be expensive or complicated to be beneficial
to the child. Common objects, such as pots and pans, empty boxes, spools
of thread, shoelaces, and wooden spoons can stimulate activity. The best
toys require active participation.
- Remember when choosing a toy to consider whether a child must be supervised
while playing with it. Toys should not have small parts that break easily
or can be swallowed.
(Adapted from www.aota.org)
