
Explore the importance of developmental play from an occupational therapy perspective, highlighting positive risk taking and its benefits from childhood through adulthood.
Explore how developmental play wires the brain to build social, emotional, and cognitive skills through eight learning objectives, from types and stages of play to risk, neuroscience, and practical interventions.
Explore the types of developmental play—physical play, object play, symbolic and pretence play, and play with games and rules—and how each supports motor skills, creativity, language, and social development.
Explore Mildred Parten's six stages of play—unoccupied, onlooker, solitary, parallel, associative, and cooperative—based on 42 children observed in the first five years, and how they shape development.
Examine the conceptual assumptions of play, weaving epistemic and ludic theories with cognitive and psychodynamic perspectives to show how play supports emotional, social, and cognitive development in learning.
Explore how playfulness, a light-hearted and autonomous mindset, fuels engagement, enhances executive functioning skills like motivation and social responsiveness, and supports creativity and stress reduction across ages.
Play engages working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility, detailing components like the phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and central executive, and shows how impulse control supports learning and social development.
Discover how play activates the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum, supports executive functions and attention, and uses the just-right challenge to build cognitive and motor skills.
Risky play, especially rock climbing, builds inner trust, resilience, and practical life skills. It also enhances spatial and motor development, emotional and social needs, and physical and mental health.
Explore how risky play supports child development by building motor skills, confidence, self-esteem, and problem solving, while balancing safety through supervision and risk management.
Explore how developmental play informs intervention through sensory integration, proprioception, vestibular, and tactile regulation, with practical strategies for therapy spaces, activities, and family involvement.
Welcome to my course designed for occupational therapy professionals, educators, and parents seeking a deeper understanding of childhood development. Delve into the intricate world of play, from its diverse types to the crucial role it plays in neurological development and therapeutic intervention.
In this course, we'll embark on a journey through the stages of childhood play, unraveling its complexities and uncovering the transformative power of risk-taking. From imaginative play to sensory exploration, you'll gain insights into the myriad forms of play that shape a child's cognitive, emotional, and social development.
But we won't stop there. We'll also delve into the neuroscience behind play, exploring how it influences brain development and fosters essential skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and resilience. Understanding the science behind play will empower you to design more effective therapeutic interventions and educational strategies.
One of the most critical aspects we'll explore is risky play—the often misunderstood but vital component of childhood development. You'll learn how embracing controlled risk can promote confidence, independence, and emotional regulation in children, all while ensuring their safety and well-being.
Throughout the course, you'll discover evidence-based techniques and practical strategies drawn from the field of occupational therapy. Whether you're a seasoned therapist looking to deepen your expertise or a parent eager to support your child's development, this course offers valuable insights and actionable tools to enrich your practice and enhance the lives of the children you serve.
- The Spectrum of Childhood Play: Types and Stages
- The Neuroscience of Play: Insights into Brain Development
- Understanding and Embracing Risky Play
- Therapeutic Interventions and Strategies
- Practical Applications for Practice
Join me on this journey into childhood play and risk.