Play as an occupation

Play is perhaps the single most important part of a child’s development. Through play, the child learns to explore, develop, and master physical and social skills. Play is the “occupation” that a child voluntarily involves him/herself. As a child ages, the style and types of play will differ. During adolescence and into adulthood, work and leisure replace play.

As human beings age they develop motor, cognitive, and social skills that they use to master their environment. Childhood is that magical time when development flourishes and is noticeable to a casual observer. Unfortunately, there are many disabilities, diseases and dysfunctions that can hinder the development of a child.

With younger children, the occupational therapist uses a knowledge base of developmental sequences of play to facilitate the child’s ability to develop age-appropriate skills. As children get older, therapy tends to become more functional in nature. It is the occupational therapist's job to make the child as independent in as many occupations as possible within their ability level.