Play designed with a reason.
The Project PLAY uses the phrase purposeful play to describe activities that remain enjoyable and imaginative while also being designed around a particular need, experience, or skill.
A note. Purposeful play is not a replacement for free play, Child Life services, pediatric occupational therapy, mental-health care, or medical treatment.
Free Play
Child-led, spontaneous, flexible, and valuable without a required outcome.
Guided Play
An adult, story, environment, or activity introduces direction while the child still makes meaningful choices.
Purposeful Play
An activity is intentionally designed around goals such as engagement, expression, choice, creativity, coping, movement, attention, or skill practice.
How we design purposeful play.
- 1Keep the activity enjoyable
- 2Preserve meaningful choice
- 3Avoid forcing emotional disclosure
- 4Make activities easy to understand
- 5Consider different energy and ability levels
- 6Use stories without overwhelming the child
- 7Provide a clear beginning and ending
- 8Seek feedback from relevant professionals
- 9Avoid unsupported medical claims
- 10Respect privacy and dignity
We learn from many disciplines.
Listing a field indicates that ideas from it inform our thinking. It does not indicate a formal partnership.