Occupational therapy supports the development of individuals across the lifespan, and throughout the lifespan there is functional play. When we say functional play, we mean the play that is meaningful to us, whether we are talking about a toddler playing with blocks, a school aged child playing with bracelet kit, or a teenager playing with a basketball. All of these occupational therapy toys are tools for supporting development and functional performance through and in the function of play!
Functional Play
In this blog post, we are covering functional play to support development using toys you might find in most households.
Today we are talking about using everyday toy items in developing skills in therapy sessions or at home, all to promote child development.
What is functional play?
Functional play refers to using toys, objects, and items designed for play in their intended function to participate in play as an occupation.
For example, functional play is:
- Building blocks into a tower or other imaginative construction
- Coloring with crayons
- Driving matchbox cars along the floor
- Swinging a bat to hit a ball
- Kicking, throwing, or rolling a ball
- Pushing a doll in a play stroller
- Using a volleyball to play a volleyball game
Many toys can be used in ways different than their intended nature. We see this a lot in occupational therapy sessions where we think outside the box with the toys we have on hand. Toys are used in ways not exactly inline with their function, or the reason why they were created.
- We use blocks or jump ropes to make an obstacle course path.
- We make playdough using crayons.
- We stack kitchen containers.
- We climb up the slide.
Each of these examples stretches the object’s typical use into other ways to play.
Functional play is neither right, or wrong.
It’s good and natural to think outside the box. Functional play offers tools for healthy development in children. The opposite of functional play, or using those very same toys in ways that they were not intended is healthy for the development of children, as well!
Like many homes, ours has lots of children’s toys in random locations. Books under the coffee table. Light up balls in the hallway. Sports equipment by the door.
But. Then I remember the function that all of these toys brings to my children. These plastic pieces, wooden blocks, and little figures are tools for learning and development. They are the tools of functional play!
We all use toys, tools, equipment, and materials in functional play.
How do kids use basic toys in imagination, language development, social skills, fine motor strength, sensory integration, gross motor development, and problem solving?
Toys are tools of function and help to develop a child’s skills in so many areas. Grab a cup of coffee, move the ninja turtles from their couch battle scene, and read on!
The Function of Play in Kids
But first, here are a few easy play ideas we’ve shared on the blog using toys you probably have around the house:
The Role of Play for Children
- Peek a boo games
- Board books with an adult
- Cloth toys
- Teething toys
- Texture toys
- High contrast toys
- Play mats
- Floor play
- Balls and sorting toys
- Bath toys
- Scribbling with crayons
- Putting toys into a sorter
- Rolling a ball
- Carrying a bag full of toys
- Pushing a toy shopping cart
- Cause-effect toys
- Board books
- Pretend play with baby dolls, figures, cars
- Building with blocks
- Coloring with crayons
- Painting
- Cutting with scissors and snipping paper
- Board games
- Crafts
- Drawing activities and supplies
- Sports games and sporting events
- Video games
- Books
Teenagers are involved in play, too! Even during the teens, children are developing skills in executive functioning skills, and refining motor skills, motor planning, and skill use.
Functional play in the teenage years includes:
- Board games
- Books
- Video games
- Social activities
- Crafts
- Cooking activities
Functional Play Teaches
- Use a child’s interests to create pretend play situations.
- Model appropriate language or problem solving.
- Encourage imitation of actions using cars or action figures.
- Work on arm strength and shoulder girdle strength by pushing cars up a ramp.
- Provide proprioceptive situations by playing and building couch cushion forts for dolls.
- Respond to attempt to communicate in pretend play with animal figures.
- Encourage turn-taking.
- Allow your child to “lead” a play situation.
- Encourage grasp development with toy manipulatives.
- Discus social interactions with small figures in small worlds, like this outdoors small world scene.
- Work on multi-step direction following in a pretend play situation where the bug needs to hop on the block, then go around the sticks, and get food from under the rock.
Baby Play Ideas for babies and toddlers
Toddler Play Ideas for kids aged 2-4
School-Aged play ideas for educational learning
