Pediatric Pioneers Episode 12: Reclaiming Play in OT: Can Toys Help Shape Who We Become?

Dr. Brittany Saviers, an occupational therapist and researcher known for her work on play, creativity, and occupational identity, joins host Nicole Quint for an inspiring conversation about reclaiming the role of play in pediatric practice. Together, they explore how unstructured, child-led play—and the toys that support it—shape not only skill development, but also who we become. From toy affordances to play equity, this episode invites you to reimagine how, why, and what we play with in therapy. Tune in for practical strategies and fresh perspectives to help you advocate for play as a core occupation.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze play as a critical contributor to occupational identity formation and skill development, alongside the importance of unstructured, intrinsically motivated play
• Apply evidence-based, practical strategies to leverage toy/play affordances for meaningful engagement across pediatric populations
• Apply toy affordance principles and play categories to interpret pediatric case scenarios

Timestamps

• (00:00:00) Welcome
• (00:00:05) Introduction to play and its importance
• (00:01:56) Brittany Saviers: background and research
• (00:03:25) Key findings on play and creativity
• (00:06:35) Reimagining play culture in occupational therapy
• (00:10:50) The paradox of play as a right
• (00:13:54) Key questions for occupational therapists
• (00:19:44) The evolution of toys and their role
• (00:25:00) Generational differences in play
• (00:28:45) The kaleidoscope of play: understanding its complexity
• (00:31:30) Translating research into practice: practical applications for OTs
• (00:37:20) Occupational justice: ensuring equal access to play
• (00:40:20) Permission to play: empowering families and caregivers
• (00:43:30) Actionable takeaways: implementing play in therapy
• (00:45:35) Real-life scenarios: applying play concepts in therapy
• (00:51:36) The future of pediatric therapy: embracing play as a science

Pediatric Pioneers is brought to you by Medbridge. If you’d like to earn continuing education credit for listening to this episode and access bonus takeaway handouts, log in to your Medbridge account and navigate to the course where you’ll find accreditation details. If applicable, complete the post-course assessment and survey to be eligible for credit. The takeaway handout on Medbridge gives you the key points mentioned in this episode, along with additional resources you can implement into your practice right away.

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