{"h1":"Evidence-Based Therapy Approaches That Build Play Skills","faq":[{"a":"Naturalistic developmental behavioural interventions (NDBIs) — notably JASPER, the Early Start Denver Model and Pivotal Response Treatment — have the strongest trial and systematic-review support for advancing object, symbolic and joint-attention play in young children.","q":"What is the most evidence-supported approach for building play skills?"},{"a":"They embed goals within the child's own motivating play rather than adult-directed drills, using child choice, natural reinforcement and developmental scaffolding to build spontaneous, generalised play.","q":"How do these approaches differ from structured table-top teaching?"},{"a":"Early, often in the toddler and preschool years, since play is a primary developmental engine. A clinician-administered assessment determines the appropriate developmental targets for each child.","q":"At what age should play-skill intervention begin?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-evidence-based-therapy-approaches-build-play-skills-in-early-childhood","title":"What evidence-based therapy approaches build Play Skills in early childhood?","entity":{"key":"play-skills","kind":"ability","name":"Play Skills","slug":"play-skills"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Therapist","value":"therapist"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Social","value":"social"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Support","value":"support"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Act","value":"act"},{"kind":"route","label":"Behaviour-Therapy","value":"behaviour-therapy"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Family Empowerment","value":"family_empowerment"}],"parent":{"key":"abilities","label":"Abilities"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-evidence-based-therapy-approaches-build-pretend-play-in-early-childhood","title":"Evidence-based therapy approaches that build pretend-play"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-evidence-based-therapy-approaches-build-play-and-imagination-in-early-childhood","title":"Evidence-based therapy approaches for Play & Imagination"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-evidence-based-therapy-approaches-build-socialization-in-early-childhood","title":"What evidence-based therapy approaches build socialisation in early childhood?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-evidence-based-therapy-approaches-build-play-in-early-childhood","title":"Building Play Through Evidence-Based Therapy"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-evidence-based-therapy-approaches-build-social-skills-in-early-childhood","title":"Evidence-Based Approaches to Building Social Skills Early"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-evidence-based-therapy-approaches-build-social-development-in-early-childhood","title":"Evidence-Based Therapy for Early Social Development"}],"summary":"Play skills in early childhood are best built through naturalistic developmental behavioural interventions (NDBIs) — child-led, play-embedded approaches such as JASPER, the Early Start Denver Model and Pivotal Response Treatment, plus DIR/Floortime and play-based occupational therapy, all supported by systematic reviews. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","answer_md":"*Play is the work of childhood — and for children who find it hard, the right approaches turn isolated, repetitive activity into shared, joyful learning.*\n\n## In short\nThe strongest evidence base for building play skills in early childhood comes from **naturalistic developmental behavioural interventions (NDBIs)** — child-led, play-embedded teaching delivered in everyday routines. Approaches such as JASPER, the Early Start Denver Model and Pivotal Response Treatment, alongside DIR/Floortime and play-based occupational therapy, are supported by systematic reviews for advancing object play, symbolic play and joint attention. Selection is matched to the child's developmental profile, not the diagnosis alone.\n\n## The science\n- **JASPER** (Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement and Regulation) — manualised, RCT-supported; directly targets play diversity, sequencing and shared engagement.\n- **Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)** — an NDBI fusing developmental and ABA principles within natural play; trial evidence for play and social-communication gains in toddlers.\n- **Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)** — uses child choice, natural reinforcement and turn-taking to expand spontaneous, motivated play.\n- **DIR/Floortime** — follows the child's lead through affect-based interaction to climb the developmental ladder of two-way play and symbolic thinking.\n- **Occupational and play-based therapy** — addresses the sensory, motor and praxis foundations that underpin exploratory and pretend play.\n\nCommon active ingredients across these models: following the child's lead, embedding goals in motivating routines, scaffolding the next developmental step, and high rates of responsive adult contingency.\n\n## When to refer\nRefer for a developmental check where a child shows little spontaneous or pretend play, limited joint attention, repetitive object use, or play that is not progressing in complexity with age — particularly alongside social-communication concerns.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nDevelopmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional., under qualified clinician care — never from an app or form. A clinician-administered structured assessment profiles a child's [play skills](/play-skills) across object, social and symbolic domains, then matches an NDBI-aligned plan delivered through [play-based developmental therapy](/play-therapy) and our [AbilityScore® assessment](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated).\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO and CDC developmental milestone guidance; ASHA guidance on naturalistic social-communication intervention; Cochrane reviews of early intervention for autistic children; AAP developmental surveillance guidance.\n\n**Next step —** Partner with us to build a play-skills programme for your caseload. [Connect with a Pinnacle clinical team](/play-therapy).\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-evidence-based-therapy-approaches-build-play-skills-in-early-childhood","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-evidence-based-therapy-approaches-build-play-skills-in-early-childhood","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"abilities","label":"Abilities"}],"meta_title":"Building Play Skills: Evidence-Based Approaches","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Follow the child's lead: join whatever they choose, mirror their action, then add one small new step — a sound, a turn or a pretend twist — to scaffold richer play.","published_at":"2026-06-10T12:10:00.323071+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-play-skills-represent-developmentally-and-when-is-a-delay-in-it-clinically-significant","title":"Play Skills: Developmental Meaning and Clinical Significance","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-play-skills-in-child-development","title":"What is Play Skills in child development?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"which-icf-functioning-domain-does-play-skills-map-to-in-early-childhood","title":"ICF Functioning Domain for Play Skills in Early Childhood","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Understand the subject","total":3},{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-a-delay-in-play-skills-mean-for-my-child","title":"What Does a Delay in Play Skills Mean for My Child?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Recognise signs & 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Play Skills Child","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-red-zone-for-play-skills","title":"How should a therapist prioritise a child in the red zone for Play Skills?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-play-skills-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Play Skills Amber Zone — Your Next Steps","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-play-skills-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Play Skills in the Green Zone — What to Do Next","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-play-skills-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Play Skills red zone — your next steps","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore therapy & support","total":22},{"key":"home","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-my-child-s-play-skills","title":"How can I support my child's Play Skills?","reason":"Same 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A clinician's guide from Pinnacle.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}