Play Skills | Occupational Therapy Adelaide
Play skills refer to a child’s ability to engage in activities that are fun, exploratory, and critical for learning and development. These might include pretend play, building with blocks, or playing with peers. Difficulties in this area can impact social interaction, problem-solving, and reaching developmental milestones. At Thrive Health Therapies, we help children develop play skills to grow, learn, and fully participate in home, school, and community life.
What is Play?
Play is a natural and vital part of childhood that serves as the foundation for learning, growth, and development. It encompasses a wide range of activities that are intrinsically motivated, enjoyable, and often driven by curiosity. Through play, children explore the world around them, learn new skills, and express themselves creatively.
Play can take many forms, including:
Exploratory play: Engaging with objects and materials to understand their properties, such as stacking blocks or scribbling with crayons.
Pretend play: Using imagination to create stories or scenarios, such as playing "house" or pretending to be a doctor.
Social play: Interacting with peers or family members, such as playing tag or board games.
Physical play: Activities that involve movement and coordination, such as climbing, running, or riding a bike.
Each type of play contributes uniquely to a child’s cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development.
Play is far more than just a way to pass the time; it is a critical component of a child’s overall development. Here are some of the key benefits of play:
Cognitive Development: Play helps children develop problem-solving skills, memory, attention, and creativity. Activities like puzzles and building blocks encourage logical thinking and spatial awareness.
Social Skills: Through play, children learn how to communicate, take turns, negotiate, and cooperate with others. These skills are essential for building relationships and functioning in group settings.
Emotional Regulation: Play provides a safe space for children to express their feelings, manage stress, and build resilience.
Physical Development: Active play strengthens fine and gross motor skills, improves coordination, and enhances overall fitness.
Language Development: Pretend play and storytelling activities foster vocabulary growth, comprehension, and expressive language skills.
Play is also essential for fostering independence and self-confidence, allowing children to take risks, solve problems, and master new skills.
Why is Play Important?
How Can You Tell if My Child Has Problems with Play?
While every child develops at their own pace, some children may struggle with play skills due to developmental delays, sensory processing challenges, or other underlying issues. Here are some signs that your child may need support with play:
Limited Variety in Play: Prefers only one type of play or activity and avoids trying new games or toys.
Difficulty Engaging with Peers: Struggles to take turns, share, or join in group activities.
Lack of Imaginative Play: Finds it challenging to engage in pretend play or create scenarios.
Avoidance of Physical Play: Avoids climbing, jumping, or other active play activities, which may indicate motor skill challenges.
Short Attention Span: Quickly loses interest in play activities and moves on to something else.
Poor Coordination: Finds it difficult to manipulate toys, stack blocks, or perform tasks that require fine or gross motor skills.
Frustration During Play: Becomes easily upset or overwhelmed when attempting new games or activities.
If you notice any of these signs, it may be beneficial to seek guidance from a professional, such as an occupational therapist, who can assess your child’s play skills and provide targeted support.
How Do Occupational Therapists Help with Play Skills?
Occupational therapists (OTs) play a crucial role in helping children develop and enhance their play skills. At Thrive Health Therapies, our experienced therapists work with children and their families to create personalised strategies that support play development. Here’s how we help:
1. Assessment and Goal Setting
Our therapists begin by assessing your child’s current play skills, strengths, and areas of difficulty. This may include observing your child during play, gathering input from parents and teachers, and using standardised assessments. Based on this evaluation, we set achievable goals tailored to your child’s unique needs.
2. Building Foundational Skills
We focus on developing the underlying skills that support play, such as:
Fine motor skills: Improving hand-eye coordination and dexterity to manipulate toys and materials.
Gross motor skills: Enhancing balance, strength, and coordination for physical play.
Sensory processing: Addressing hypersensitivity or under-responsiveness to sensory input to help children feel more comfortable during play.
Social communication: Teaching strategies for interacting with peers and adults during play.
3. Creating a Playful Environment
Our therapy sessions are designed to be engaging and fun, using activities that align with your child’s interests. This approach encourages participation and helps children learn through play.
4. Parent and Caregiver Education
We provide parents and caregivers with practical strategies to support play development at home. This includes:
Suggestions for toys and activities that match your child’s skill level.
Tips for encouraging imaginative and social play.
Strategies to manage challenging behaviours during play.
5. Collaborating with Other Professionals
If needed, we work closely with other professionals, such as speech pathologists or physiotherapists, to address additional areas of development and ensure a holistic approach to your child’s growth.
6. Monitoring Progress
We regularly review your child’s progress and adjust therapy plans as needed to ensure continued growth and success in play skills.
How Can I Encourage Play at Home?
Parents and caregivers play a vital role in fostering their child’s play skills. Here are some tips to support play at home:
Create a Play-Friendly Space: Designate a safe, organised area for play that includes a variety of toys and materials.
Follow Your Child’s Lead: Let your child choose activities they enjoy and join in to encourage interaction.
Provide Opportunities for Social Play: Arrange playdates or group activities to help your child practise social skills.
Encourage Outdoor Play: Activities like climbing, running, and exploring nature support physical and sensory development.
How We Deliver Occupational Therapy at Thrive Health Therapies
Thrive Health Therapies offers community-based, clinic-based, and telehealth occupational therapy.
Community-Based Services: We provide community-based occupational therapy in your home, school or kindergarten, or a location convenient to you throughout metropolitan Adelaide. Learn more about our service areas.
Clinic-Based Services: We provide clinic-based sessions at our Findon clinic.
Telehealth Services: We also offer comprehensive telehealth services, providing clients with convenient, video-based therapy consultations for those who may have difficulty travelling to our clinic or prefer the convenience of remote support.
Funding Options for Occupational Therapy
We accept a variety of funding options, making augmentative and alternative communication therapy accessible for everyone:
Private Health Insurance
Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plans (GP Team Care Arrangements)
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)
Why Choose Our Occupational Therapy Services?
No wait time: We can start working with paediatric or adult clients straight away!
Experienced: Our occupational therapists have extensive experience working with individuals of all ages.
Extensive Coverage in the community: We serve a large geographical area, providing occupational therapy services across all of metropolitan Adelaide from Gawler to Aldinga. We see clients at home, in their school or kindergarten, or at a location convenient to them.
Clinic space: Our Findon clinic has been specially designed to be appropriate for a wide range of presentations and disabilities.
Individualised care: Every client receives a personalised therapy plan based on their unique needs and goals.
Neuroaffirming Practice: We provide compassionate and affirming services to support and empower neurodiverse individuals.
Multi-Disciplinary Approach: We offer a wide range of allied health services under one roof, allowing for a holistic approach to your health.
NDIS Registered: We are proudly registered with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Home Care Package (HCP) and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP): We accept a variety of funding options, helping our clients access the support they need.
LGBTQIA+ friendly: We celebrate, value and include people of all backgrounds, genders, and sexualities, Our Findon clinic is a welcoming, safe and inclusive space for all LGBTQIA+ people and families.
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Play skills refer to a child’s ability to engage in play activities that promote learning, social interaction, creativity, and problem-solving. These skills include both physical and social aspects, such as taking turns, sharing, using imagination, and exploring the environment.
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Play is essential for a child’s development as it:
Builds fine and gross motor skills.
Enhances cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving and decision-making.
Fosters social skills, including communication and cooperation.
Supports emotional regulation and self-expression.
Encourages creativity and imagination.
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Signs of difficulties with play skills may include:
Limited interest in toys or activities.
Difficulty interacting with peers or sharing.
Trouble with imagination or pretend play.
Avoiding physical activities due to coordination or motor skill challenges.
Difficulty following the rules of games or understanding turn-taking.
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Occupational therapy helps children develop play skills by:
Assessing developmental delays or sensory processing challenges that impact play.
Providing strategies to improve motor, cognitive, and social skills.
Incorporating play-based activities into therapy sessions to make learning fun.
Teaching turn-taking, sharing, and other social skills.
Addressing sensory sensitivities that may affect a child’s ability to engage in play.
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Structured play activities, like building with blocks or puzzles, to develop problem-solving skills.
Pretend play scenarios to enhance imagination and social interaction.
Gross motor games, such as ball play or obstacle courses, to build coordination and balance.
Sensory play, like sand, water, or tactile activities, to explore textures and regulate sensory input.
Group play or peer interaction sessions to build confidence in social settings.
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No! We can start working with new clients right away.
Once we have received a referral form with all of your details, we are able to book an Initial Assessment as soon as possible, depending on your availability.
You can find our paediatric referral forms here and our adult referral forms here.
If you have any questions prior to referring please reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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If you are funded through Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) or Chronic Disease Management (CDM) we need the appropriate referral documentation from your GP.
For all other funding sources you can refer yourself or your child directly via our online referral form, or reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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Referring is easy! You can find our paediatric referral forms here and our adult referral forms here.
If you have any questions prior to referring please reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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Yes! As a registered NDIS provider, Thrive Health Therapies meets rigorous NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. We are passionately committed to upholding the NDIS Practice Standards, providing high-quality and safe supports and services for NDIS participants.
As a NDIS registered provider, we are also able to offer services to participants whose funds are managed by the NDIA.
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As a registered NDIS provider, interpreter services are available free of charge for NDIS participants. Please inform us if you require this service, and we will arrange this for you.
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We accept referrals from a wide range of funding sources, including the NDIS, home care packages, Department of Veterans Affairs, Chronic Disease Management (previously known as EPC) and private clients. Learn more about our accepted funding sources.
As a NDIS registered provider we are also able to accept participants who have chosen to have their funds managed by NDIA.
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Prices vary between services. Our therapists work with you to ensure you get the best program of services within your budget allocation.
Please contact us for a personalised quote.
FAQs About Play
If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact our friendly team on 0474 248 081 or email enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com
Your Trusted NDIS Registered Provider in Adelaide
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding for individuals with permanent and significant disabilities. As a registered NDIS provider in Adelaide, Thrive Health Therapies meets rigorous NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. We are passionately committed to upholding the NDIS Practice Standards, providing high-quality and safe supports and services for NDIS participants.
As a NDIS registered provider, we offer services to participants whose funds are managed by the NDIA.
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