Introduction: Occupational therapy (OT) students often face challenges observing children in real-life, unstructured play environments during their coursework. Playground:NYC’s The Yard, an adventure playground on Governors Island, provides a unique opportunity for children to freely play, build, and explore without adult guidance. Through workshops, OT students not only observe children at play but also engage in the play themselves, offering a powerful hands-on learning experience that enhances their pediatrics coursework, fieldwork, and future practice.
Objectives: How do observations of children in an adventure playground foster learning outcomes for OT students?
Methods: As part of a Development Across the Lifespan course, first-year OT students participated in a 2-hour workshop to observe and engage in play at The Yard. Second-year students attended voluntarily, connecting the experience to their Pediatrics coursework. The workshops highlighted the developmental impact of child-led play, including gross, fine, cognitive, and sensory skills, as well as the value of independence and problem-solving in risky play. Students enhanced their observational skills using the Test of Playfulness and the Test of Environmental Supportiveness (Bundy & Skard, 2008). Participation in an online survey and optional focus group offered insights into the learning experience.
Results: Results are in progress.
Conclusion: This innovative approach to teaching OT students about child-led play strengthened their observational skills, understanding of play types, and appreciation for environmental factors that support authentic play. Other OT programs should explore community-based settings for meaningful play observation opportunities.