NBCOT Occupational Therapy Certification Practice Exam

When evaluating the scenario where a child becomes frustrated while problem-solving with interlocking blocks, the most relevant area to consider is constructional play. This type of play involves activities that require planning, organizing, and coordinating different pieces to create a specific structure or form.

Frustration during this task could indicate challenges with spatial awareness, fine motor skills, or cognitive processing involved in understanding how the blocks fit together. In constructional play, children learn to manipulate objects, develop problem-solving skills, and understand cause-and-effect relationships. If a child struggles in this area, it can manifest as difficulty assembling the blocks, leading to increased frustration.

The other types of play, such as sensorimotor play, pretend play, and play with rules, do not directly relate to the specific skills required for manipulating interlocking blocks. Sensorimotor play focuses on physical interactions with the environment, pretend play involves imagination and role-playing, and play with rules pertains to structured games with set guidelines. Thus, constructional play is the most appropriate area to investigate when a child experiences frustration while engaging in this activity.