PERSPECTIVES & THEORIES IN OSHC

Sutton-Smith - Rhetoric’s of Play

Brian Sutton-Smith’s Seven Rhetorics of Play helps OSHC educators understand the different “stories” adults tell about play—and how those stories shape what we allow, value, and plan for children. In this module, you’ll learn the seven rhetorics in plain language, hear a creative “voice of Sutton-Smith” narrative (educational purpose only), listen to educators plan how to use the lens in their service, hear an Educational Leader interview on mentoring play perspectives across a team, work through a realistic case study, and complete a critical reflection using the Circle of Change (revised) so learning leads to more intentional, child-centred practice.
Format

Online
Module

Author

Belinda Wright

Duration

45 - 60 Mins

Price

$49

About the module

In OSHC, play is everywhere—big body play, quiet making, jokes and teasing, rule-making games, group culture, negotiation, and experimentation. But adults often interpret play through invisible beliefs: “play must be educational,” “play should be safe,” “play is just downtime,” or “play builds character.” Sutton-Smith’s Seven Rhetorics makes those beliefs visible, giving educators a language for understanding why people disagree about play—and how to make more balanced, purposeful decisions.

This module supports educators to:
  • recognise the different ways play is framed (by adults, policy, families, and teams)
  • reduce conflict and confusion by naming the “play story” driving decisions
  • plan richer experiences that value multiple forms of play (not just one “approved” type)
  • strengthen team alignment so play support is consistent across educators

Understand the rhetorics

A clear introduction to Sutton-Smith’s seven rhetorics—what they mean and how they show up in OSHC decision-making.

See it in practice + leadership

Bring the lens to life through a “voice of the theorist” narrative, educator implementation dialogue, a real case study, and an Educational Leader interview on mentoring shared play perspectives.

Reflect → improve

Use the Circle of Change (revised): Deconstruct → Confront → Theorise → Think Otherwise, then consolidate in “What have I learnt?” with one next step to trial.

How this module works

This module follows a consistent, educator-friendly structure:
  • Introduction to Brian Sutton-Smith + What are the Seven Rhetorics of Play?
    A practical overview of each rhetoric and why it matters for OSHC practice.
  • “Let’s hear from Brian Sutton-Smith”
    A short creative narrative where “Brian” speaks to applying the rhetorics in an OSHC setting (educational purpose only).
  • Educator dialogue: implementing the rhetorics lens
    A realistic conversation between educators after completing the module—brainstorming how to:
    - notice which rhetoric is shaping their responses
    - hold multiple play purposes at once
    - make more consistent decisions as a team
    - communicate play decisions to children and families
  • Interview: Educational Leader perspective
    A grounded interview focused on:
    - how an Educational Leader mentors play perspectives across a team
    - how to handle differing beliefs (e.g., “learning vs leisure,” “risk vs safety,” “structure vs freedom”)
    - how to support educators to respond consistently in the moment
    - what to do when play is misunderstood as “behaviour”
  • OSHC case study: play disagreement in action
    A realistic scenario where educators interpret the same play moment differently. Learners practise identifying the rhetorics at play and choosing responses that are child-centred, safe, and defensible.
  • Critical reflection (Circle of Change – revised)
    Deconstruct → Confront → Theorise → Think Otherwise to challenge assumptions and shift default responses to play.
  • What have I learnt?
    A short consolidation step to name key takeaways and commit to one practical change to trial.
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The “Let’s hear from…” section is a creative narrative designed for educator learning and is not a direct quote from published works.

What educators will be able to do after this module

Educators who complete this module will be better able to:
  • Name the different “play stories” influencing adult decisions
  • Reduce team inconsistency by building shared language about play
  • Make more balanced judgements about play that is loud, risky, messy, or socially complex
  • Plan environments and experiences that honour multiple play purposes
  • Communicate play decisions more clearly (within the team and with families)
  • Support children’s agency while maintaining safety and inclusion

Who this module is for

  • OSHC educators wanting a deeper, practical way to interpret and support play
  • Educational Leaders / service leaders mentoring consistent, intentional play-based practice across the service
Ready to make better play decisions—with more clarity and less conflict?

Belinda Wright

Founder | Director of Learning | OSHCologist | Researcher

I’m Belinda Wright—an OSHC practitioner, leader, and learning designer with almost two decades in the sector. I’ve completed a Graduate Certificate in Education (Learning & Leadership) and I’m currently completing a Master of Education (Learning & Leadership), with research focused on educational leadership in OSHC. This course is designed to make theory practical—so educators can use it to deepen observations, strengthen pedagogy, and improve everyday practice.