Allison Platter on Instagram: "Rethinking ‘Functional Play’: Embracing Neurodivergent Joy 🧠🎨 Too often, therapists label neurodivergent children’s unique play styles as “non-functional,” imposing neurotypical standards that can invalidate their natural expressions. But play isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s a personal, meaningful experience. Play is: ♾️what gets the heart pumping with ♾️excitement experimentation ♾️discovery ♾️fueling one’s interests ♾️brings enjoyment ♾️unstructured 🔍 Research e

A to Z Occupational and Speech Therapy on Instagram: "How do you use water wow for functional play? 💧 Water Wow + Prone Play = Big Benefits! When your child is lying on their tummy (prone position) and using a Water Wow book, they’re doing so much more than creating magic pictures! ✨ Here’s what this simple activity supports: • Core strength – holding themselves up on their elbows helps build shoulder, back, and trunk muscles. • Postural stability – essential for handwriting and sitting upright

Why is play important?

Development through play