Abstract
Purpose Play occupation has been identified as an essential part of children’s lives, and it subsequently features in paediatric occupational therapy. However, few studies address the current place of play and play occupation in occupational therapy practice. This study aims to address this gap in knowledge by exploring paediatric occupational therapists’ perspectives on the place of play and play occupation in occupational therapy practice in Ireland. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to gather data about the current use of play in the occupational therapy for children under 12 years. Convenience sampling and snowball recruitment techniques were used to recruit paediatric occupational therapists. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. Findings In total, 65 therapists responded to the survey (estimated response rate, 32%). Results are organised into four sections: demographics and practice context, play assessment practices, use of play in practice and perceived barriers to play-centred practice. Respondents reported that they valued play as a childhood occupation. However, the survey findings identified that the primary focus was on play as a means to an end. Lack of education on play (research, theory and interventions) and pressures in the workplace have been identified as barriers to play-centred practice. Research limitations/implications Findings indicate that there is a mismatch between therapists valuing play as an occupation and how play is used in occupational therapy practice. Unless clarifications are made about play occupation as being different to skills acquisition in childhood, play occupation will continue to get overlooked as an authentic concern of occupation-centred practice. Thus, play as occupation deserves further attention from educators, researchers and practitioners as a means of strengthening occupation-centred practice, in particular play-centred practice in the paediatric context. Originality/value Play has been described as an important occupation in childhood, and consequently, it features in paediatric occupational therapy. However, little is known about the current place of play in occupational therapy practice. This study addresses this gap by considering the current place of play in occupational therapy practice in Ireland.
Highlights
Play is recognised in Irish paediatric occupational therapy as an important domain of childhood and an essential focus in working with children with disabilities and their families (Buchorn and Lynch, 2010; Lynch and Moore, 2016)
Unless clarifications are made about play occupation as being different to skills acquisition in childhood, play occupation will continue to get overlooked as an authentic concern of occupation-centred practice
Little is known about the current place of play in occupational therapy practice. This study addresses this gap by considering the current place of play in occupational therapy practice in Ireland
Summary
Play is recognised in Irish paediatric occupational therapy as an important domain of childhood and an essential focus in working with children with disabilities and their families (Buchorn and Lynch, 2010; Lynch and Moore, 2016). Miller Kuhaneck et al (2013) found a similar result when they replicated and expanded upon the original Couch et al (1998) survey on the current roles of play in occupational therapy practice with children of age three to seven years in the USA. Despite advancements over the 15-year period in terms of promoting play practice and research, play was used primarily as a means of eliciting improvement in another area, such as fine motor skills (Miller Kuhaneck et al, 2013) Results of their studies once more called for a change in practice if we are to fully embrace our role in play (Couch et al, 1998; Miller Kuhaneck et al, 2013). This paper reports the findings from the national sample in Ireland
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