Supporting Growth Through Joyful Connection
This page offers tools and strategies to help you engage meaningfully with your child through play. By exploring different types of play, you’ll discover simple, everyday ways to support your child’s social, emotional, and cognitive development—all while having fun together.
Click the links below to access downloadable handouts with play ideas and tips to support your child's learning and development.
By Rute Mendes and Pamela Zary
Welcome & Introduction
Thank you for joining us today.
We're here to talk about play - a simple, yet powerful way children learn and grow.
The pandemic disrupted play - but now is the time to bring it back.
Remember: For kids, play IS learning.
What is Play?
Definition of Play:
Any activity that is freely chosen, personally directed, and intrinsically motivated.
Key Features:
- Child-led & choice-driven
- Joyful & engaging
- Safe space to try, fail, learn, and connect
Acknowledging the Impact of the Pandemic
For Children:
- Fewer social opportunities
- Interrupted routines
- Delayed social-emotional growth
For Parents:
- Emotional strain
- Overwhelm
- Limited capacity to engage
Reminder: Your child is not "behind." They are on their own timeline. Let's reconnect through play.
Videogaming & Child Development - Temple Grandin’s Perspective
- Children with autism may fixate on video games - these can be redirected for learning.
- Use game interests (e.g., Mario, Minecraft) to teach real-world skills like math, art, and problem-solving.
- Limit gaming to ~1 hour/day - no more than 10 hours per week.
- Gradually shift focus from games to related creative or educational activities.
- Patience and creativity from adults are key to turning passions into growth opportunities.
Co-Regulation Matters
Children regulate through the adults in their lives.
Your calm supports their calm.
When you regulate, you create safety for your child's emotional growth.
Life Skills Built Through Play
Cooperation & Teamwork
Patience & Waiting
Handling Disappointment
Communication & Social Language
Problem Solving & Flexibility
Empathy & Emotional Understanding
Skill Focus: Cooperation & Teamwork
Taking turns
Negotiating roles
Listening to others' ideas
Key for friendships and workplace success
Skill Focus : Patience & Waiting
Waiting for a turn
Delaying gratification
Builds emotional regulation & flexibility
Bonus: Understand the Hook Model (used in gaming to create habits)
Skill Focus: Handling Disappointment
Losing a game
Learning that losing is part of playing and doesn't define your worth
Play plan changes
Adapting when things don't go as expected
Builds resilience and bounce-back skills
Developing emotional strength for life's challenges
Skill Focus: Communication & Social Language
Practicing conversations
Building verbal skills through play dialogue
Reading body language
Understanding non-verbal cues
Supports classroom and job participation
Foundation for lifelong social success
Skill Focus: Problem Solving & Flexibility
Adapting plans
Learning to adjust when original ideas don't work
Navigating disagreements
Finding solutions that work for everyone
Builds executive function skills
Developing critical thinking abilities that last a lifetime
Skill Focus: Empathy & Emotional Understanding
Comforting others
Learning to respond to others' emotions
Learning how actions affect people
Understanding cause and effect in relationships
Practicing kindness & emotional literacy
Building vocabulary for feelings
Play as a Tool for Emotional Regulation
Play helps children:
- Burn off stress
- Express emotions safely
- Practice calming strategies (e.g., sensory play)
How Parents Can Support Play
Create space & time for unstructured play
Join at their level - follow their lead
Let them problem-solve when safe
Validate feelings
Remember: Losing is part of learning
Have Fun!
Be authentic and create memories!
Easy Play Ideas for Busy Parents
The images above offer a variety of ideas to help you engage in meaningful play with your child. These include:
- Imaginative Play – such as pretend restaurants or space explorers
- Movement Play – like obstacle courses or dance parties
- Construction Play – building couch forts or using recycled materials
- Sensory Play – including water play or bubbles
- Creative Play – through drawing and storytelling
- Board Games – to practice turn-taking and managing wins or losses
- Nature Play – exploring parks, gardens, or even your backyard
Each type of play supports different areas of your child’s development while strengthening your connection through joyful interaction.
Follow Their Joy
Follow your child's interests
Whether it's hockey, dinosaurs, or bugs
Joy fuels learning
Play is most powerful when fueled by joy and connection
Closing Thoughts
Join our parent workshops, visit our resource library, or schedule a consultation with our play specialists.
Every child has different preferences and strengths. Start with what they enjoy and gradually introduce new experiences in small, supportive steps.
"Play is powerful. It's how children connect, grow, and learn to navigate their world. When we protect and prioritize play, we give children tools for emotional strength, relationship-building, and lifelong learning."
The Power of Play