Play Development
“It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.”
– Leo F. Buscaglia
Play as the foundation for all development
At My Therapy House, our Occupational Therapists use a social-emotional, relationship-based approach to support your child in developing:
- Confidence, creativity, curiosity, ideas, imagination, sequencing and adaptation skills
- The ability to socialise with others and explore different play styles (e.g. pretend play, sensory play, role play, etc.)
- The ability to communicate and use their bodies in a fun and social way
- Resilience and flexibility when playing with others
Our multi-disciplinary team considers your child’s unique play styles, passions, and preferences, and use a DIRFloortime® approach to facilitate your child’s regulation, shared attention, engagement, reciprocal interactions, and problem-solving.
They use different Principles of Play depending on the needs and developmental stage of your child.
Through Play, our team explores a variety of themes, supporting your child in developing flexibility, adaptability, resilience, friendships, sharing, social and family norms, fears, beliefs and values, social communication, comprehension, and connection.
Our therapists use a range of assessment tools and work with you to determine what areas of play, interaction and social development your child may need the most support in.
You can hear more about how play develops and why it is so important to support children’s play for the development of their learning, communication, social, emotional, and gross and fine motor skills on the Empowered Parent Podcast Episode 68: Kerry Herbert (Early Childhood Teacher) – The Transformative Power of Play in Early Childhood Development.
Please contact us for more information.
About Play
Stages Of Play
Play is a way your child learns about themselves and others. It allows them to explore their world and make meaning around it, learn to be creative and innovative, and express their inner self. Play is all-encompassing and nonjudgmental and provides your child with a safe space to practice what they are learning about their world and other people. Play builds relationships and connections. Play stimulates the brain, emotions, and physical self.
Play gives feelings of happiness and the suspension of reality. Through play, children develop and grow as humans. They learn about themselves, their preferences, and their abilities, making meaning of life experiences through role-play. Play involves curiosity and discovery, creativity, communication, imagination, and fun. In play, it is the process, not the product, that is important.
Playfulness is at the centre of everything we do at My Therapy House. You can learn more about different types of play below:
Exploratory Play
Your child explores the world around them using all their senses to discover the texture and function of things.
Solitary Play
Your child explores all aspects of their environment from the sound of their voice and the feel of their own body. They appear uninterested or unaware of what others are doing.
Parallel Play
Your child plays near another person, possibly interested in what the other is doing, but not interfering or getting involved.
Interactive Play
Your child is interested in playing with others and is beginning to communicate, socialise, and share play ideas.
Cooperative Play
Your child shares their efforts to reach a common goal, interacts with others, expresses thoughts, and tries out new ideas.