Why Therapists Use Play-Based Approaches

Why Play Is the Therapy

If you’ve ever left a speech therapy, occupational therapy, or even psychology session and found yourself wondering, “Wait… did we just pay for someone to play with our child for 45 minutes?”

You’re not alone. That feeling is real and totally valid.

Especially in the early stages of seeking support, when everything is new, a little overwhelming, and often incredibly expensive, it’s easy to look at a session filled with make-believe, blocks, or bubbles and think, “Is this really worth it?”

The short answer? Yes. Here's why therapists use play-based approaches.

Play Is the Work of Childhood

To adults, play might look like silliness. Or downtime. Or “just fun.”

But to your child’s developing brain, play is serious business.

It’s how they:

• Practice and experiment with language

• Strengthen fine and gross motor skills

• Make sense of their emotions

• Develop flexible thinking and problem-solving

• Build safety and connection in relationships

• Learn to regulate and co-regulate

• Explore their identity and voice

• Grow confidence and self-esteem

In play, your child isn’t “switching off.” They’re switching on! Often more fully than at any other time in the day.

Why Therapists Use Play-Based Approaches

For neurodivergent children (and honestly, all children), play is not a reward at the end of hard work; it is the work.

A great therapist doesn’t force skills onto a child:

• They follow the child’s lead.

• They join their world.

• They connect through curiosity, not compliance.

When your speech pathologist is pretending to run a café with your child, they’re building communication skills, sequencing, turn-taking, vocabulary, and narrative structure.

When your OT is crawling through a tunnel or setting up a car wash for toy vehicles, they’re working on motor planning, proprioception, sensory regulation, and focus.

The learning is embedded. The child is engaged. The progress is real, even when it doesn’t look “academic.”

The Most Beautiful Part?

Your child probably doesn’t even realise they’re in therapy.

To them, they’re just playing with someone who sees them.

And that’s exactly how it should be.

So the next time you find yourself second-guessing that “play-based” session, remember, it’s not “just” play, it’s brain-building, confidence-boosting, and foundational.

It’s therapy that meets your child where they are.