Anande Ferreira is a mama and pediatric occupational therapist with a special interest in playfulness and sensory integration. She has over 10 years experience supporting children and their families. Upon completion of her Masters degree focused on playfulness, she presented her research at the World Federation of Occupational Therapy Congress and has published in the Occupational Therapy International Journal. On this podcast Her and Kristen talk about what play looks like and what people's expectations are of play.

Key Takeaways:

1. Misconception of Play: Play can look different for everyone and sometimes caregivers think it should look a certain way with children. This can sometimes create concerns that may not need to be concerns.
2. Play in Diverse Settings: Integrating play in various settings, including structured and unstructured environments, supports different aspects of development and learning.
3. Role of Adults: Adults should facilitate and support play without overly directing it, allowing children the freedom to guide their own play experiences and creativity.
4. Play and Emotional Health: Play provides a safe space for children to manage their emotions, build resilience, and develop coping strategies in a non-threatening way.

Do you find yourself wondering what play really looks like? Then this episode is for you.

Find Kristen here: @kristen.rb.peterson or at KristenRBPeterson.com

Find Anande here: @playmoreot

Find Anande’s course here: Making sense of It

Find Anande’s Book here: Born to Play