Why Play?

Why Play Matters More Than Ever in Childhood Development

As parents and educators, we are constantly making decisions that shape our children’s futures — what they learn, how they learn, and especially how they spend their time. Screens and social media are now woven into everyday life, and figuring out the right time to introduce them can feel overwhelming.

If you’re navigating that choice, one highly recommended resource is the bestselling book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. It offers powerful insight into how the rapid rise of screen time and social media has impacted children’s mental health. It encourages us to pause and reflect before handing over a device and instead consider what childhood truly needs.

And here’s the good news — one of the most important ingredients for childhood is still wonderfully simple:

Play. Real, hands-on, imagination-driven play.

Play is not a break from learning. Play is learning.

Through play, children…
* strengthen fine motor skills for writing, cutting, buttoning, and more
* build coordination and body awareness
* problem-solve and think creatively
* learn to share, communicate, and express emotions
* grow confidence through exploration and mastery
* develop bilateral coordination using both hands together for daily tasks

When children manipulate toys, climb, draw, build, and pretend — their brain and body are working together to create neural pathways that support school readiness and lifelong learning.

The Childhood We Want to Protect

We live in a fast-paced, digital world. Devices can entertain, and sometimes they’re even helpful. But they should never replace the meaningful experiences that nature intended:

• running through the yard

• solving puzzles

• dreaming up imaginary worlds

• creating with little hands

• laughing and connecting with real people

Those are the moments that shape confidence, abilities, and emotional well-being.

Let’s Bring Play Back

As caregivers, we have the power to protect the joys of childhood — not by banning everything, but by choosing what matters most, first. Let’s set strong foundations through play, connection, and hands-on learning before screens take center stage.

More play. More movement. More curiosity.
That’s where development grows. 

3 in 1 Wooden Toy

Boost your child's development with the engaging and well-crafted Wooden 3-in-1 Fine Motor, Sensory Motor, and Visual Motor Skills toy! This versatile educational tool combines three essential skill-building activities into one charming wooden set, designed to captivate little hands and curious minds.

• Fine Motor Skills: Encourage precision and control as kids manipulate knobs, buttons, and sliding pieces, strengthening hand-eye coordination and dexterity.

• Ways to incorporate this activity during fine motor time in schools:

  • Pinching and Picking Games: Combine the toy with tasks that require pinching small objects like beads or paper clips. This can boost fine motor coordination alongside writing assignments.

  • Finger Strength Warm-Up: Start fine motor lessons with a minute or two of squeezing or manipulating the toy. Once fingers are warmed up, students transition to writing or cutting tasks more easily.

  • Creative Breaks: Allow little breaks where kids use the toy to relax fingers between long writing sessions. This playful pause helps maintain focus and reduces hand fatigue.

  Incorporating the activity alongside paper and pencil tasks turns fine motor time into an engaging and effective learning experience!

• Sensory Motor Development: Textured surfaces and varied shapes provide stimulating tactile feedback, promoting sensory exploration and cognitive connections.

• Visual Motor Integration: Colorful, interactive components challenge visual tracking and spatial awareness, enhancing the connection between sight and movement.

Made from durable, wood with a playful design, this 3-in-1 toy is perfect for early learners eager to explore, create, and grow. Add a touch of natural charm to your child’s playtime while supporting their essential developmental milestones. Explore this must-have skill-building set today at ECL-shop.com!

Why is play important for development?

Play is important for development and learning because it nurtures essential skills that contribute to success in school. Activities during play help improve fine motor development, allowing children to control small movements with their hands and fingers. This enhances tasks such as writing, cutting, and manipulating small objects. Coordination also benefits from play, as children learn to synchronize their movements smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, bilateral use of the upper extremities—using both hands together—is developed through play, which is crucial for many academic activities like tying shoelaces, typing, and playing musical instruments. By engaging in playful activities, children build a strong foundation for academic achievements and everyday skills in a fun and natural way.

School Based Occupational Therapy vs Pediatric Private Occupational Therapy?

School-based occupational therapy (OT) and private pediatric OT differ primarily in setting, goals, and funding sources.

School-Based OT:

• Setting: Provided within the school environment.

• Goals: Focuses on helping students succeed in their educational environment by targeting skills necessary for participation in school activities. This includes improving handwriting, classroom behavior, sensory processing, and other skills that affect learning and social interaction.

Private Pediatric OT:

• Setting: Delivered in private clinics, homes, or community settings outside of school.

• Goals: Broader focus on overall development, including fine motor skills, gross motor skills, sensory integration, daily living activities, and sometimes addressing specific diagnoses or challenges. Goals are tailored to the child’s unique needs beyond just educational performance.

In short, school-based OT is education-centered and integrated into the school day, while private pediatric OT offers more specialized, individualized care in various environments.

Why I love the Peek A Boo Tunnel!

The Peek A Boo Tunnel at ECL-shop.com is the perfect blend of fun and function. Featuring a breathable mesh top, it keeps the space open and inviting—no scary surprises here! Designed for crawling play, it encourages upper extremity weight bearing, helping little ones build strength and coordination. Plus, its structure promotes sensorimotor and vestibular activity, supporting balance and spatial awareness in the most playful way. Dive into adventure and development with this stylish, engaging tunnel today!

This toy is perfect for OT school-based therapists collaborating with adapted physical education (APE) professionals for incorporating in obstacle courses. Use it by placing Velcroed items or puzzle pieces inside the tunnel. Students can crawl through to collect these pieces, then match them based on color, patterns, numbers, or letters. This encourages gross motor skills along with cognitive skills like recognition and matching, making therapy sessions both fun and effective!