Play with a tot first (5)
I believe the answer is:
drama
'play' is the definition.
('drama' can be a synonym of 'play')
'with a tot first' is the wordplay.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'a tot' becomes 'dram' (I've seen this before).
'first' becomes 'a'.
'dram'+'a' is 'DRAMA'.
(Other definitions for drama that I've seen before include "Stage play - turmoil" , "Exciting series of events" , "Exciting play or event" , "Play - big emotional scene" , "Emotional sequence of events (made out of a crisis?)" .)