Play at Different Ages
Play is the primary job of a child. It spans throughout childhood and serves as an enjoyable way to promote intellectual and social development. Play can be seen as an organized or spontaneous activity that takes different shapes as the child ages. When addressing a child with special needs, it is important to keep in mind how play looks for a child their age to enhance their well-being.
In early childhood, playtime is vast, taking up most of their day. From 0-4 years old, movement, exploration, and interaction teach a child about themselves and the world around them. A child develops increased coordination, emotional maturing, self-confidence, and social skills during play. Ways that a child plays during this time evolve from passive exposure and sensory exploration to the functional use of toys and interactive play. A young child with special needs will benefit from repeated exposures, explanations, demonstrations, as well as supported use of items to participate in play. A caregiver will often become an integral part of the play experience as they move towards the more independent use of an item or to a more interactive state. See Table 1 for Examples of play for 0-4 year-olds.
By the time a child enters elementary school, there is progressively less time spent playing as their day begins to fill with instruction. Engagement in cooperative activities, like sports teams and recreational clubs, begins and children assert their preferences with more force. Informal play often continues during unstructured time at home and school. A child with special needs may need additional support in the form of a person as well as accommodations or modifications to participate in organized activities. Development of skills may also be addressed through play by a caregiver, giving it a goal-directed feel. A child’s preferences should guide the play experience for increased engagement. See table 2 for Examples of play for 4-10 year-olds.
In middle school, play becomes increasingly organized and social. More time is spent on fewer activities. Clubs, teams, and deeper interest activities will take up hours after school and on weekends. Finding the balance between required activities, interests, friends, and responsibilities is essential for a child’s well-being. A preteen with special needs may also have the addition of therapies and other stresses that are important to consider when scheduling. Additionally, their way of demonstrating satisfaction and happiness may vary so honing in their mode of expression is essential for maintaining their well-being. See table 3 for examples of play for 10-14-year-olds.
Throughout the teenage years, play is mostly self-directed and furthers self-exploration and expression. Participation varies with the type, number of activities, and time spent involved. Finding a balance continues to be essential yet may be difficult as responsibilities increase. Although parental supervision typically lessens over this period, it is important children maintain home security and develop a support network. For children with special needs, parental involvement may continue to be fundamental for participation. Furthermore, it may be beneficial to think about the future to develop sustainable interests that meet an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional needs.
Examples of play for 0-4-year-olds
| Sensory | Rattles, singing, music, dancing, finger paint, looking in mirrors, putting items in their mouths, finger painting, using bath toys, blowing bubbles, lotion play |
| Motor | Clapping, rolling balls, stacking blocks, completing shape sorters, chasing, climbing, drawing, art projects, cooking activities, puzzles, Legos |
| Social/Imaginative | Playground time, games such as duck-duck-goose, Simon says, playing in a treehouse, dress up, building a fort, using a phone |
| Cognitive | Reading books, matching, sorting shapes, organizing belongings, counting |
Examples of play for 4-10-year-olds
| Interest | Music, arts and crafts, foreign language, choir, reading, coloring, computer activities, playing with more complex toys like American Girl or a remote-control car, cooking, puzzles |
| Cooperative activities | Sports teams, recreational clubs, video gaming |
| Social | Girl or Boy Scouts, playground activities (basketball, sledding, capture the flag, looking for treasures), religious groups, board games, hiking, playing pretend with more complex themes |
Examples of play for 10-18-year-olds
| Interest | Playing instruments, acting, cooking, outdoor groups, meditation, workout groups |
| Cooperative activities | Sports teams, recreational clubs, video gaming |
| Social | Mad libs, “getting to know you” questions, recess activities, religious groups, going to coffee shops or stores |
| Downtime activities | Daydreaming, listening to music, reading, taking a walk, watching a show, movies |