Which assessment measures playfulness in children?

• A. CAPE
• B. COPM
• C. KELS
• D. Test of Playfulness

Answer: (D)

Playfulness in children is best understood by looking at how they approach and sustain play, including their motivation, sense of control, flexibility, and how they frame play with others. The Test of Playfulness is specifically designed to observe and rate these playful traits during actual play, focusing on four dimensions: intrinsic motivation (desire to play for its own sake), internal control (feeling in charge of their actions in play), disengagement from constraints (ability to suspend real-world rules during play), and framing (how they organize and communicate play). Because it targets these playful behaviors directly, it provides a direct measure of a child’s playfulness and can guide interventions to foster more spontaneous, imaginative, and satisfying play experiences. In contrast, the CAPE looks at participation in various activities and preferences, not the playful quality of the engagement; the COPM centers on a person’s perceived performance and satisfaction with activities, not specifically playfulness; and the KELS assesses daily living skills, not play behavior.