Building Resilience Through Play
By Jessica Jordan, MS. OTR/L
What Is Resilience and What Does Play Have To Do With It?
Resilience is defined as “the capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties.” On the other hand, play is defined as “engaging in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.”
So how do these two ideas connect?
It might not seem obvious at first, but play can be a powerful tool in building resilience—starting from a very young age. While resilience isn’t something that can be directly taught, it can be nurtured and developed through meaningful experiences. And play is one of the most developmentally appropriate ways to do just that. Let’s explore how.
The 3 Most Important Factors in Building Resilience
I recently listened to an episode of the Brain Architect Podcast, where they outlined three key ingredients for developing resilience in children:
Supportive relationships
Reducing stress
Building coping skills
Of the three, supportive relationships stood out as the most critical. That immediately resonated with me as a mom to two young kids and as an occupational therapist, I see firsthand how much connection and trust shape a child’s development.
That bond begins early from the womb to the moment they arrive earthside. Bonding and attachment are essential, especially in infancy. These early connections help shape how the brain organizes itself and how a child will grow socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically.
What I found comforting is that these supportive relationships don’t have to come only from a parent. They might come from a grandparent, cousin, auntie, teacher, therapist, or close family friend. What matters most is that the child has someone in their corner, someone they trust.
How Play Supports Resilience in Daily Life
So where does play come in?
Play is where children practice life. It’s where they experiment with ideas, push through frustration, make up the rules (and break them), and learn what works. It’s also where they begin to trust themselves, their choices, their voice, and their growing ability to recover when things don’t go as planned.
When play is supported by an attuned adult or peer, someone who notices, encourages, or simply stays close that’s where resilience builds. We’re giving kids safe, supported space to take risks, express emotions, and try again when something feels hard.
Whether it’s navigating conflict during imaginary play, handling disappointment during a game, or feeling proud after sticking with a tricky puzzle, these moments wire the brain for resilience.
Final Thoughts
Play isn’t just for fun (although we’re big fans of fun, too!). It’s also a meaningful and essential part of developing the skills needed to bounce back, self regulate, and grow. So the next time your child is immersed in play, remember: there’s more going on than meets the eye. You’re witnessing the building blocks of a resilient, emotionally grounded, and confident human being. And that’s pretty amazing.
Let us know below, how do you see resilience forming in your child’s play?
Helpful Links
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