My Basic Set Up For Assessing Children’s Play
The following photos show the basic setup of toys I use to assess children’s development in clinic.
Note: These monkey and lion puppet toys have been my faithful companions for many years, they have relocated with me from Selayang to Bukit Jalil and then to Klang !
Playtime: It’s Not Just Fun, It’s A Window Into Your Child’s Mind
Have you noticed your pediatrician or therapist watching your child intently while they play, and then engaging your child in play?
They’re not just making sure your little one is entertained!
Play reveals plenty of information about how your child is developing.
What Play Can Tell Us About Children
✳Cognitive Skills (Thinking Power):
The ways your child builds, sorts, and explores toys show us how they solve problems, think logically, and understand their world.
✳Physical Development ( On The Move) :
Running, jumping, drawing, and building… it’s not just about the movement. These actions tell us about coordination, big-body skills(Gross Motor Skills), and fine motor skills.
✳Language and Communication Skills ( Chatter and Connection) :
Pretend play, storytelling, and those endless questions? This is how we see their vocabulary grow, their understanding develop, and their social skills shine.
✳Emotional and Social Skills ( Feelings and Friends ) :
How a child works with others, shares (or doesn’t!), shows their emotions, and handles different play scenarios tells us a lot about their emotional and social development.
Play As A Powerful Assessment Tools
Pediatricians carefully observe children’s playtime to:
◉ Track developmental milestones:
Is your child developing as expected?
◉ Identify challenges:
Is there any area that requires extra support?
Are there any abnormal behaviors, actions, or sensory issues?
(Such as behavioral patterns in children with autism
◉ Understand your child’s unique personality:
Discover their strengths and unique learning styles.
Play For Children With Special Needs
I often hear parents say, “Doctor, I only see my therapist playing with my child. It seems like my child is not learning anything and it is a waste of money!”
But that’s not the case.
Parents and therapists use play in powerful ways to help kids with Autism , language delays, and other challenges learn and thrive.
Remember, play is a child’s superpower!
It’s how they learn, grow, and become amazing explorers of the world.
