Why Your Child's Therapy Session May Look Like Playtime

Sometimes therapy sessions can look a like playtime. Whether it is jumping on a trampoline, swinging, playing with slime or playing board games; play is "serious business" for kids. Children learn and develop foundational skills through play. During sessions, therapists often elicit attention and focus using activities that are fun and interesting. Not only do they want their little patients to enjoy the sessions, they also want them to benefit from the activity. Behind the scenes, therapists have selected these particular play activities to target specific skills. For instance, did you know that engaging in a board game works on a multitude of skills such as taking turns, attention, emotional regulation, executive functioning, fine motor, visual motor, visual spatial, and so on?

If your child is already in therapy, watching how the therapist plays with your child can help you carry over the language and presentation to "practice play" at home. They may also give you tips aboutwhat types of toys and games your child would benefit from most and how to include siblings and family members.

But what if my child does not seem to play as their siblings or peers do? Your child may benefit from an occupational therapy evaluation to assess development skill levels and investigate factors that could be contributing to the lack of play. These "experts of play" can provide your child with tailored therapeutic play experiences to address targeted skills.