The Goof off Group

Play is an essential childhood occupation that promotes development of cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and social skills. The fourth edition of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (OTPF-4; American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2020) defines play as engagement in activities that are intrinsically motivated, non-obligatory, and freely chosen. Occupational therapists have a unique opportunity to employ knowledge regarding the individual and contextual factors influencing engagement to facilitate participation in play (AOTA, 2020), supporting this occupation as a means of joyful connection with others (Chen & Chippendale, 2018).