Lit Review- The Power of Play

Source: Heather Kuhaneck, Anita Bundy, Sarah Fabrizi, Helen Lynch, Alice Moore, Rosa Román-Oyola, Karen Stagnitti, Amiya Waldman-Levi; Play as Occupation: The State of Our Science and a Research Agenda for the Profession. Am J Occup Ther July/August 2024, Vol. 78(4), 7804185150. doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050824

LEARN Brief and Infographic Credits: Dr. Adanays Aranda, Dr. Jeannie Haubert, Ashlea Sovetts

Overview: 

The authors explain that occupational therapists -with the backing of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child- view play as a human right. They provide a strong review of literature examining the role of play as a powerful component of not just occupational therapy, but of the human life experience.  In suggesting that play also benefits adults, the article hints at strategies for addressing teacher and staff wellness in addition to benefits to students.  The article identifies important gaps between knowledge and practice, particularly in serving neurodiverse students.  Exploring innovative ways to incorporate play into the school day supports LEARN’s key organizational pillars, particularly health and access.

Key Insights:

• Play offers numerous health and cognitive benefits, but children today do not engage in play enough to garner the benefits it offers.
•  Engaging in play influences mental and physical well-being/development in children. Play is also important for adults, but research in this area is limited.
• Examining play through a neurodiverse lens reveals a need for continued advocacy of play inclusivity.

Action Steps:

• Be Fair, Equitable Use: The play environment promotes fair use to people with diverse abilities.
• Be Smart, Simple and Intuitive Use: The design is straightforward, making it easy to understand, allowing individuals to be successful and gain confidence through play.
• Be Safe, Tolerance for Error: The play environment is tolerant of error by meeting current safety standards, considering unintentional actions, and promoting emotional security for personal growth and development.
• Be Comfortable, Size and Space for Approach and Use: The play environment is comfortable for individuals with diverse sensory needs, body size, posture, mobility, environmental sensitivity, and motor control.
• Taken from https://mrcrec.com/inclusive-playground-guide#section6

Full Study: https://research.aota.org/ajot/article-standard/78/4/7804185150/25212/Play-as-Occupation-The-State-of-Our-Science-and-a