Reclaiming Play in OT: Can Toys Help Shape Who We Become?
Presented by Nicole Quint and Brittany Saviers
12-Month Subscription
Unlimited access to:
- Thousands of CE Courses
- Patient Education
- Home Exercise Program
- And more
Audio Runtime: 57 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 21 Minutes
Dr. Brittany Saviers, an occupational therapist and researcher known for her work on play, creativity, and occupational identity, joins host Nicole Quint for an inspiring conversation about reclaiming the role of play in pediatric practice. Together, they explore how unstructured, child-led play—and the toys that support it—shape not only skill development, but also who we become. From toy affordances to play equity, this episode invites you to reimagine how, why, and what we play with in therapy. Tune in for practical strategies and fresh perspectives to help you advocate for play as a core occupation.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze play as a critical contributor to occupational identity formation and skill development, alongside the importance of unstructured, intrinsically motivated play
- Apply evidence-based, practical strategies to leverage toy/play affordances for meaningful engagement across pediatric populations
- Apply toy affordance principles and play categories to interpret pediatric case scenarios
Meet your instructors
Nicole Quint
Nicole Quint is a professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy in the College of Health Care Sciences at Nova Southeastern University. She serves as the program director for the postprofessional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DrOT) program and the dual-degree DrOT/PhD program. With more than 20 years of pediatric…
Brittany Saviers
Dr. Brittany Saviers is an assistant professor and academic fieldwork coordinator at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) and has practiced in pediatric and family-centered settings since 2008. She earned her PhD in occupational therapy from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her dissertation,…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Reclaiming Play in OT: Can Toys Help Shape Who We Become?
Brittany Saviers joins Nicole Quint to explore how unstructured, child-led play shapes both development and identity, offering practical strategies and fresh insights to help therapists advocate for play as a core occupation in pediatric practice.
More courses in this series
What Is Occupational Therapy’s Distinct Role in School Mental Health?
Nicole Quint and Susan Bazyk
How Do We Create Opportunities for Occupation-Based Practice in Pediatrics?
Nicole Quint and Wendy Stav
How Can You Safely Maximize Occupation and Quality of Life in Children With CHD?
Nicole Quint and Nicole Schwam
What Is the Call to Action for Sensory Integration Intervention?
Nicole Quint and Sarah Schoen
Rehabilitation and Educational Technology: Where Do I Start?
Nicole Quint and Melissa Schaeffer
How Can We Unlock the Potential for Self-Determination in Youth?
Amy Coopersmith and Nicole Quint
Are We Truly Listening? The Role of Patient- and Family-Engaged Care in OT
Nicole Quint and Elise Bloch
Beyond the Clinic: How Can Adaptive Sports Transform Kids’ Lives?
Nicole Quint and Sarah Adam
Outdoor Play in Pediatric Therapy: How Can We Create Meaningful Spaces for Children?
Nicole Quint and Thomas Morgenthaler
Neurodiversity-Affirming OT Practice: How Can We Promote Authentic Play?
Nicole Quint and Sharon Eva
Is Regulation the Missing Link to Pediatric Engagement?
Amy Laurent and Nicole Quint
Reclaiming Play in OT: Can Toys Help Shape Who We Become?
Nicole Quint and Brittany Saviers
Could Nature Boost Your OT Practice?
Nicole Quint and Allie Evancho
Is Maternal Mental Health the Missing Link in Pediatric OT?
Nicole Quint and Teddie Buchner
Tackling Maternal Mortality and Inequities: What Is OT’s Role?
Nicole Quint and Patricia Corbin
Postpartum Recovery: What Powerful Role Can OT Play?
Nicole Quint and Zesarae Bodie