LEARN TO PLAY
Therapeutic Child Play Program Designed by Karen Stagnitti PhD, BOccThy, GCHE
LEARN TO PLAY
The goal of Learn to Play Therapy is to help children develop their ability to engage in spontaneous pretend play. Pretend play is the most complex and mature form of play. Pretend play has an impact on the child's language (especially narrative language), social interaction, and emotional integration of the child's life experiences.
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Learn to Play is a therapy programme for children who may have developmental delays, ASD , or who have difficulty playing with their peers. During the Learn to Play therapy sessions, your child will have the opportunity to improve their pretend play skills and build up to what would be appropriate for their age and development. The sessions will include a variety of play activities that are ideal for your child's current stage of development and where they feel most confident. The play therapy sessions will gradually challenge your child as their pretend play abilities grow.
Structure of Learn to Play Program
Pre-screening call/ Discussion of Referral
Intake with Parents/Carers
Assessments
Therapeutic sessions commence
(duration depends on individual needs and goals)
Over a 6-month period in a special learning environment, the ‘Learn to Play' program was linked to improvements in children's language and social skills, indicating that the Learn to Play program is an effective intervention for children with developmental disabilities.
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