Children who engage in “risky play” seem more capable of risk-taking in everyday life (e.g., crossing the road safely). But play is a paradox; it is often defined as an activity done simply for its own sake. And yet therapists most commonly use play as a medium for intervention rather than promoting it as a valued occupation.

In this class, we will grapple with play as a paradox and consider how and why we might promote children’s engagement in play as an occupation. We’ll place particular emphasis on “risky play”.