26/01/2026
What looks like simple play is actually some very intentional work!
In this session, this little guy led the way by deciding he wanted to build himself a โhouseโ โ and we used that idea to target a whole range of sensory and developmental skills.
Lifting, carrying and placing the large foam blocks gives ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ to the muscles and joints, which helps with ๐๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ, ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง. As he figures out where each block should go, how to climb up safely and how to adjust when things feel unstable, heโs working on ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ .
Climbing on and over the blocks challenges ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐, ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ โ all important foundations for everyday tasks like sitting at a table, using hands effectively and coping with classroom demands. The different heights, textures and movement provide rich sensory input, helping his nervous system learn to process and organise information more efficiently.
Each stage of the โhouseโ builds more than just walls. It builds confidence, perseverance and independence as he experiences success through meaningful, child-led play.
๐ก Big movement play like this isnโt just fun. When children lead the play, therapy becomes purposeful, motivating and incredibly powerful for learning, regulation and development.
Because in OT, play is the work ๐
