Orchestration of Work and Play Within Families

This study identified the process of occupational scaffolding through which parents foster their children's competence as adults; the need for deconstruction of the notion of work and play as separate experiences; and new ideas to guide occupational therapy practice with parents who are juggling paid work, household work, and time with their children.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Parental occupations within families include parents' participation in household work and in play with their children. This study explored the nature of parents' play with their preschool-aged children and how it was orchestrated within their daily occupations. METHOD: Participant observations and intensive interviews were conducted with 10 families with preschool-aged children. Data were analyzed with a grounded theory approach. RESULTS: Parents used two types of strategies to orchestrate work and play in their families: Strategies of segregation resulted in play interspersed with household work, and strategies of inclusion resulted in play embedded in household work. CONCLUSION: This study identified the process of occupational scaffolding through which parents foster their children's competence as adults; the need for deconstruction of the notion of work and play as separate experiences; and new ideas to guide occupational therapy practice with parents who are juggling paid work, household work, and time with their children.