Group items tagged

This blog provides a link to and a description of "approved" occupational therapy toys for pediatric practice, and divides the toys into age appropriate groups.

Self-initiation, exploration, and free play are vital parts of growing up and learning for children. Children with physical disabilities may be deprived of normal play opportunities and hindered during this vital part of growing up. This can lead to disturbances in psychosocial health in children, also known as a second disability that decreases potential for independent behavior and performance. This interesting article describes the important role that occupational therapists have to increase independence and opportunities for children with physical disabilities. OT practitioners should consider a variety of factors when addressing needs of these children to influence play activities. These include considering the uniqueness of each child, understanding their capabilities, positively influencing parent-child and peer relationships, considering role of other caregivers, adapting toys and materials, and modifying the environment or the setting to promote success and play situations.

With the intention of synthesizing research on OT interventions used to promote social-emotional development in young children with or at risk for disabilities, Jane Case-Smith reviewed and organized 23 studies into 5 themes. These 5 themes include: 1) touch-based interventions to enhance calming and parent-infant bonding, 2) relationship-based interventions to promote positive caregiver-child interactions, 3) joint attention interventions, 4) naturalistic preschool interventions to promote peer-to-peer engagement, and 5) instruction-based interventions to teach children appropriate social behaviors. Touch-based interventions were supported through research with infants in the NICU and showed higher cognition at 12 months than the control group. Relationship-based interventions were supported through research with children with ASD, institutionalized children, and children who spent time in the NICU. Joint attention interventions were supported for use with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Peer-to-peer engagement interventions were supported with the use of computer activities, toys, etc. Instruction-based interventions demonstrated that specific instruction in socially appropriate behavior appears to have moderately positive effects on improving children's social competence.