Reclaiming Play in OT: Can Toys Help Shape Who We Become?
Presented by Nicole Quint and Brittany Saviers
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Audio Runtime: 57 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 21 Minutes
Dr. Brittany Saviers, an occupational therapist and researcher known for her work on play, creativity, and occupational identity, joins host Nicole Quint for an inspiring conversation about reclaiming the role of play in pediatric practice. Together, we explore how unstructured, child-led play—and the toys that support it—shape not just skill development, but who we become. From toy affordances to play equity, this episode invites you to reimagine how, why, and what we play with in therapy. Tune in for practical strategies and fresh perspectives to help you advocate for play as a core occupation.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze play as a critical contributor to occupational identity formation and skill development, alongside the importance of unstructured, intrinsically motivated play
- Apply evidence-based, practical strategies to leverage toy/play affordances for meaningful engagement across pediatric populations.
- Apply toy affordance principles and play categories to interpret pediatric case scenarios
Meet your instructors
Nicole Quint
Nicole Quint is a professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Care Sciences at Nova Southeastern University. She serves as the program director for the postprofessional DrOT program and the dual-degree DrOT/PhD program. With over 20 years of pediatric experience, Dr. Quint specializes in pediatric…
Brittany Saviers
Dr. Brittany Saviers is an assistant professor and academic fieldwork coordinator at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) and has practiced in pediatric and family-centered settings since 2008. She earned her PhD in occupational therapy from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her dissertation,…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Reclaiming Play in OT: Can Toys Help Shape Who We Become?
Brittany Saviers joins Nicole Quint to explore how unstructured, child-led play shapes both development and identity, offering practical strategies and fresh insights to help therapists advocate for play as a core occupation in pediatric practice.
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Beyond the Clinic: How Can Adaptive Sports Transform Kids’ Lives?
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Outdoor Play in Pediatric Therapy: How Can We Create Meaningful Spaces for Children?
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Neurodiversity-Affirming OT Practice: How Can We Promote Authentic Play?
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Reclaiming Play in OT: Can Toys Help Shape Who We Become?
Nicole Quint and Brittany Saviers