Occupational Therapist Antonia Llull Discusses the Power of Inclusive Play

March 19, 2024 | Earlier this month, The Genius of Play™, a national movement spearheaded by The Toy Association™ to raise awareness about play’s vital role in child development, marked Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with the launch of “Let’s Play – A Playbook for Kids of All Abilities.” This free guide offers families and educators a variety of adaptive, play-based activities to help children meet developmental milestones and promote social inclusion while having fun.

Toy News Tuesday editors sat down with with Antonia Llull, an occupational therapist who helped develop the playbook, along with her MPOWERME team and Ellen Metrick, a human factors specialist with UL Solutions. Llull discussed the importance of inclusive play, her process behind creating the play ideas, and more. (Note: This interview is the first in a two-part series. Check back soon for more insights!)

Describe the process of creating the play ideas within “Let’s Play – A Playbook for Kids of All Abilities.”
My team and I chose evergreen play themes and activities that are familiar, low tech, and easily adaptable to be completed in various sized groups and locations, and those that we have continuously seen children and families benefit from. Drawing from my experience as a pediatric occupational therapist and the understanding of how integral play is for development, we focused on ensuring that each activity is adaptable and can be tailored to the unique needs and abilities of any child interested in it. The aim was to create a guide that would be both flexible and engaging, encouraging children to stretch their abilities and engage in meaningful play. My team and I selected the foundational activity and grew it with activity alternatives, challenge boosters, and schedule boosters to integrate activities into daily routines, supporting that playtime maximizes growth and learning and is adaptable to each child’s unique learning style and preferences.

Inclusive play encourages children of all abilities to play together. How does inclusive play positively impact kids?
Inclusive play invites, encourages, motivates, and teaches. It invites happy participation, encourages exploration of new ideas, motivates one to persist in those endeavors, and highlights what a child is learning and interested in. Inclusive play is a naturally powerful way to nurture empathy, cooperation, and emotional regulation among children, laying the groundwork for healthy social relationships while also providing the experiences necessary to build the physical, language, and cognitive skills of all the children participating, at their pace.

Can you share any anecdotes or stories from your own experiences that influenced the content of the playbook?
Countless heartwarming, thought-provoking, and learning moments have shaped the content of the playbook. My experiences with children, learning from children and their families, and my work as a pediatric occupational therapist has shown me the transformative power of play and its impact on the development of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, communication, and self-care skills. When I see a child feel included when their simple ring-stacked "building" becomes prominently featured and celebrated by other children that are building sophisticated building brick cities; a child figuring out how to keep up with their partner in a power wheelchair by riding a scooter next to her in a partner-relay race (modified two-legged race); or a child preparing cookie dough balls for her brother who has limited hand skills, to squash flat and help her shape them before baking — I can go on. When I see those interactions happen, it is pure joy and all who participate grow.

I speak for myself and my team who collaborated on “Let’s Play – A Playbook for Kids of All Abilities” when I say we are continuously inspired by children and those who care for them, which seeded our commitment to creating this resource dedicated to celebrating diversity, fostering growth, and nurturing the potential within every child.

The Genius of Play’s “Let's Play - A Playbook for Kids of All Abilities” is free to download online in a digital book format. For more information about The Genius of Play, visit thegeniusofplay.org.