In this episode of OT Evidence in Action, Bianca and Jessica explore the multifaceted world of play, a concept central to paediatric occupational therapy that is often misunderstood or oversimplified. Join us as we explore the distinctions between play as an occupation, play-work occupations, and play therapy, and how each serves a different but important role in holistic treatment.

We review the article “Children’s Play–Work Occupation Continuum: Play-Based Occupational Therapy, Play Therapy and Playwork” by Ted Brown and Helen Lynch, published in the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. This article examines how children's play transitions from spontaneous, intrinsically motivated activities to structured, adult-guided interventions, highlighting the continuum between play and work in therapeutic contexts.

You can access the article here: https://doi.org/10.1177/00084174221130165

We unpack:

• What defines play as an occupation and why it's meaningful in its own right
• How play-work occupations differ from spontaneous play
• The role of play therapy, how it overlaps with and differs from play-based interventions in OT
• How OTs can advocate for play as a goal, a means, and a powerful therapeutic medium

Whether you're a student, clinician, or educator, this episode will leave you with a clearer understanding of how to frame, defend, and design play-based occupational therapy interventions with intention.