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Care and Play Article Review
Play is considered one of the most critical occupations a small child has to do. In
occupational therapy, Play is viewed as an activity of daily living for children, meaning it
is a daily task that a child is to perform that is meaningful and relevant to their physical
and mental health and well-being. Additionally, Play is necessary for child development,
which is crucial because child development has a domino effect on development into
adolescence and adult development; in the grand scheme of things, that means that how a
child plays starting in infancy could have lasting effects during the duration of a child's
life (AOTA, 2023, p.9).
Developmentally speaking, Play can influence the child's ability to hit
developmental milestones. As children develop physically, they need to go through the
sequential reflexes as they establish; some examples are Moro, Rooting, Grasping,
Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex, Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex, and Galant Reflex
(Martorell, 2023, pp. 79-80). These reflexes help develop balance and gross motor skills
that later influence the development of fine motor skills, which are heavily integrated by
the occupation of play. Furthermore, there are different types of play, like exploration
play, pretend play, constructive play, and symbolic play, which the child will go through
while developing and strengthening performance skills like processing, motor, and social
skills (AOTA, 2023). For example, the article outlines a vignette in which Cooper and
Quiñones (2022, p.970) describe child play as Sam wrapping dolls in blankets with his
teacher, Sarah. What is developmentally happening is that Sam is playing pretend play
with his doll and blanket. As Sam wraps the doll in the blanket, a lot is going on, such as
using his processing skills like initiating, attending, sequencing, adhering, choosing,
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using, and handling to complete this task (AOTA, 2023, p. 45). Sam is using and
strengthening motor skills such as stabilization, reaching, bending, grasping, hand
manipulation, coordination, lifting, and activity endurance to complete his play (AOTA,
2023, p. 44). Socially, he is developing social skills with his teacher, Sarah, and
pretending to participate with his baby and doll, which may be pretend play, but it is
developing Sam's real-life social skills.
A critical take from the article by Cooper and Quiñones (2022, p.965) is the
impact of caregivers. Parents can impact a child and play, such as affecting a child's
development through play and the critical role caretaker’s children have when having the
necessary professional knowledge to provide the groundwork for a child's growth and
curriculum. While teachers, as mentioned above, Sarah plays an essential role with
children like Sam in delivering quality care that promotes the child's well-being and
growth. Parents as caretakers also have an indispensable role; according to Cooper and
Quiñones (2022, p.967), parents impact joint performance heavily. By feeding, changing,
washing, and other social roles the parents play in the child's life, they affect the child's
social behavior and show them actions to imitate. Parents emotionally smile, point, and
introduce objects for play to their children. They set the child up for emotion and
meaning behind their actions ( Cooper & Quiñones, 2022).
Faith is believing in what you cannot see. From a parent's and caretaker's point of
view, raising a child is a huge responsibility. The book of Proverbs speaks of raising
children in multiple places. "Whoever spares the rod hates his son,Ebut he who loves him
is diligent to discipline him" (Proverbs 13:24). Discipline is not necessarily beating a
child or quite literally with a rod but as a way to lay the foundation for a child and bring
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them up in the way of the lord and show them structure, routine, love, and live by faith.
"Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;Ehe will give delight to your heart."
(Proverbs 29:17). If you do teach your kids and provide them with discipline and
structure, you can enjoy them, play with them, love, them as they are gifts from the lord
and will bring you joy.
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References
American Occupational Therapy Association (2023). Occupational therapy
practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). American Journal of
Occupational Therapy, 74(Suppl. 2). 1-87.
https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot2020.74S2001
Cooper, M. & Quiñones, G. (2022) Toddlers as the one-caring: Co-authoring play
narratives and identities of care. Early Child Development and Care,
192(6), 964-979. doi: 10.1080/03004430.2020.1826465
Martorell, G. (2023). Child (3rd ed.). McGraw Hill LLC.
The Holy Bible ESV (2001). Crossway Bibles.
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