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Lift Up Your Everyday - Play

Occupational therapy advice for play

Every child wants to play. It’s how they learn about themselves and the world around them. Play helps build children’s confidence, sense of identity and feelings of connection. But the most important thing about play is having fun! 

Play happens in many shapes and forms, places and occasions. Every child should be encouraged to explore play, in a way that works for them, including children with disabilities and those in restrictive environments, such as a hospital. 

If you’re a parent, guardian or carer, or work in the early years' settings, we have a range of expert advice from occupational therapists. They will help you involve your toddler or young child in activities that will build children’s life skills and support their development.

Expert advice to make the most of play time with your children

Dr Sally Payne, occupational therapist and Professional Advisor at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, shares her expert advice on how to make the most of play time with your children.  

1. Play for play’s sake

Play is a valuable activity for its own sake. Being playful, laughing and getting lost in the moment is important for children’s health and wellbeing, helping them manage the stress and pressures of everyday life. Try dressing up, playing hide-and-seek or splashing in puddles. Join in if you feel like it!

2. Taking the lead

Allow your children to take the lead when playing. Instead of imposing a structure, let them choose what to play with and how to play. Offer play choices if you need to, but respect their preferences – whether expressed verbally or non-verbally. Giving children a sense of control over their play will help build their confidence and self-esteem. 

3. Variety

You can provide opportunities for different types of play, including play that is creative, physical and social. Screens, whether it’s a TV or a tablet, are an inevitable part of many children’s lives. Set some boundaries, agreeing in advance when they can have screen time and for how long. And whatever the type of play, join in and have fun too! 

4. Go outside

Dress for the weather and take activities that are normally played indoors, outside. Being outdoors helps boost children’s mood and can have a calming effect. Draw with chalks on the pavement, have a pretend picnic or make a dirt track for toy cars.  

5. Get moving

Children’s play often includes physical activities such as running, jumping, climbing, pushing and pulling. Find a space where children can enjoy physical play safely, for example a community playground or park. Take a ball or frisbee to increase active play options and encourage children and adults to play together. 

6. Connect  

Find time to play with your child and enjoy being in the moment with them. Notice and respond to your child’s playful cues – this will help create emotional connections between you. Playing with other people helps children develop self-awareness, communication skills and confidence. 

7. Play tools

Toys aren’t essential for play. Use household items and other objects – like pots, pans and blankets – to encourage children’s imagination and creativity. Adapt objects for play if you need to, for example by removing distracting features or adding a handle so they are easier to grip or move.    

8. Discover and explore

Give your children time and opportunities to explore, take risks and discover things for themselves. Build a den with a blanket and chairs, create an obstacle course using garden furniture or make a marble run from cardboard tubes.  

9. Doing it their way

Activities that are playful to a child may not appear playful to others – and that’s OK. Respect children’s right to play in a way that is meaningful to them – and advocate for your child’s right to play in their own way if you need to. Play is any activity that a child chooses to do for fun, amusement or enjoyment! 

Watch these videos for expert advice from occupational therapists

Sally has advice on using household items to encourage children’s imagination and creativity.

Naomi shares different ways to play that have a positive impact on your children's development. 

Find out how Sally makes board games more accessible.

Find out more about how occupational therapy can improve your life in many ways.  

Who are occupational therapists?

Occupational therapists (OTs) help people of all ages overcome challenges with completing everyday tasks or activities – what we call ‘occupations’.

Occupational therapy is a science-based, health and social care profession that’s regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council. Occupational therapy helps you live your best life at home, at work – and everywhere else. It’s about being able to do the things you want and have to do. That could mean helping you overcome challenges learning at school, going to work, playing sport or simply doing the dishes. Everything is focused on your wellbeing and your ability to participate in activities.

Find out more about occupational therapy.

What are occupations?

An occupation is any activity that we need, want or like to do to live and to look after out physical and mental health, and our emotional and spiritual wellbeing. We do occupations from the moment we're born, on our own or with others.

Occupation isn't just your job or activities of daily living. An occupation can be self-care, such as washing, eating or sleeping; productive such as work, study, caring or domestic activities; and leisure, such as playing sports, hobbies or socialising.

We're all different and so are the occupations that matter to us. They vary depending on our environment, interests and values, talents and skills. Our occupations also change throughout out lives. 

Find out more about what occupations are. 

Who are the RCOT?

We are the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. We’ve championed the profession of occupational therapy and the people behind it for over 90 years. More than 36,000 occupational therapists are members of our organisation. We’re here to help achieve life-changing breakthroughs for our members, for the people they support and for society as a whole through occupational therapy.

Why is the RCOT leading this campaign?

We have a vision, that people everywhere value the life-changing power of occupational therapy. One of the ways we can achieve this is by sharing occupational therapists’ advice more widely with the nation.

Do I still need to seek medical and health advice?

The advice given through this campaign doesn't replace the one-to-one medical and health advice you may receive direct from an occupational therapist, your GP or another healthcare professional.

Find out more about the support occupational therapists give to help people overcome challenges completing everyday tasks or activities.

Visit the Lift Up Your Everyday campaign for more expert advice from occupational therapists. 

Find out more