Play Season: Ep 4 Functional and Relational Play

Belle’s OT Corner

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Functional play is the gateway into our children exploring toys, objects for their intended purpose. This developmental milestone opens doors to deeper learning, independence, and confidence as children figure out that spoons are for eating, blocks are for building, and crayons can create beautiful marks on paper.
In this episode we dive into how to find playful moments throughout your entire day. From morning routines to bath time, cooking to cleaning up, every interaction becomes an opportunity to build these skills. The beauty lies in seeing how naturally children learn when we model without demanding, when we create environments that support their unique needs, and when we celebrate their discoveries.
The episode explores practical strategies like using your affect and body language to engage attention, modelling without expectation, and giving children space to problem-solve. These approaches honour the child's natural learning process while supporting their development. Listen to discover how small moments of playfulness can transform your child's development journey while bringing more joy and connection to your daily interactions.

As always, please do share it around with anyone that you think could benefit from it and follow me on @bellesotcorner on instagram and Facebook for more insights.
DISCLAIMER:
Whilst I will always make evert effort to share correct information as at the date of the podcast, research is constantly happening and as a profession we learn more everyday. One therapist may have a different way of doing things to another, and every child's needs are unique. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others Consult your child's paediatrician or therapist for any recommendations for your child.