A Critical Reframing of Play in Relation to Indigenous Children in Canada

In this paper, we explore the implications of applying critical perspectives to the play occupations of Indigenous children in Canada, and of reframing play as an occupational determinant of health. First we consider the normalizing construction of play in early child development. We then apply critical perspectives to discuss the implications of reframing play as an occupational determinant by exploring how Indigenous children's play can be shaped by broader historical, political and socio-economic structures that may otherwise remain obscured. We propose that a critical reframing of play as an occupational determinant of health may be important in fostering health equity for Indigenous children.