Competency Three:
The ability to provide opportunities to play for infants, children, youth, and families.
One of my professional goals is to integrate play into my everyday practice. The Play Handout I created discusses the importance of play and how it positively impacts brain development, social and communication skills, and physical functioning in children. Furthermore, I also mention how play environments and interactions in hospitals are an invaluable resource that should be utilized when possible.
This discussion post explores how to use play to support healthy development outside of a hospital setting. I discuss the benefits of Waldorf and Montessori schools and how play environments can vary greatly, but all share the same goal of healthy child development.