Intentional play to support the development of children-in-distress in spaces of high need and resource constraint

High numbers of children-in-distress globally indicate the need for evidence on low-threshold interventions to buffer against risk and promote positive developmental outcomes. Especially in spaces where structural disparity challenges and abuse result in excessively high numbers of children-in-distress, limited options exist for care and support, given contextual resource constraints. This article draws on comparative study data exploring intentional play to address the high need for support in spaces where resources are limited. Two places of residential care that care for children-in-distress in South Africa were purposively selected. At one place of residential care, intentional play is incorporated by trained caregivers, who prioritise intentional daily play, and at the other, play takes place by happenstance. Mixed-method data was collected at two time points in 2021 and 2022 with 8-12-year-old children (n = 59, CASE 1 = 37, CASE 2 = 22, boys = 29, girls = 30) and caregiver participants (n = 11). Collected data provided insight into holistic child developmental outcomes (academic, physical and psychological health and wellbeing) in the context of intentional play. Children who benefited from daily intentional play demonstrated more positive developmental outcomes than the comparison group. The study demonstrates the value of prioritised, regular, intentional play to promote holistic child development.