Online Occupational Therapy for Children Course

Gain foundational knowledge of occupational therapy and understand how it is used to assist children in need to develop optimally, improve their skills, build their self-esteem, and enhance their engagement by referring to this course.

Children require novel experiences to ensure their optimal development. However, for children who have cognitive, physical or sensory disabilities, getting such novel experiences by engaging in play, exploration, socialisation, and learning can be a challenge. In such case, ongoing support becomes necessary to help them develop optimally, improve their engagement and communication abilities, gain a sense of fulfilment, and achieve independence. This is where occupational therapy comes into play.

Occupational therapy is a form of treatment that is aimed at enabling people with specific diagnosis or functional problems to perform day-to-day activities. In order to deliver on that goal, an occupational therapist closely analyses the performance and behaviours of the affected individual toward the occupations he or she engages in and the environment in which those occupations are carried out. From there, appropriate interventions are developed that will allow the individual to cope with the disability, and effectively perform occupations or activities. In children, those occupations can be in the form of play, learning, school performance, dealing with other children and adults, and other daily activities they engage in.

This Online Occupational Therapy for Children course will provide you foundation knowledge in this form of treatment. It will provide a definition of occupational therapy and outline its themes, theories and concepts, along with the models used in the field to promote inclusive therapy practice. The course will also explore children’s development, including the many contributors to their occupational performance. Furthermore, the course will touch upon the role of occupational therapists and families in assisting children and adolescents in understanding their needs and coping with their developmental challenges.

Course Units

Unit 1: Foundation Knowledge of Occupational Therapy

• Occupational Therapy and the Prevailing Themes in the Practice
• Determining Different Models for Inclusive Therapy Practice

Unit 2: Getting Started with Occupational Therapy Practice Children

• Knowing the Foundational and Developmental Theories
• Varied Models of Practice Applied by Occupational Therapists

Unit 3: Understanding Children’s Development

• Systems and Contexts as Contributing Factors in the Occupational Performance of a Child
• Variables That Contribute to Play Development

Unit 4: Development from Childhood to Adulthood

• Adolescents and Their Physical, Psychological, and Social Development
• The Role of Occupational Therapists in Understanding and Addressing Developmental Issues in Adolescents

Unit 5: Getting the Family on Board

• Understanding Family Life Cycle and Resources and Children with Special Needs
• Family Involvement: Developing and Maintaining Partnership with the Family

Expected Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Define occupational therapy and identify its importance, themes, and best practices.
• Understand different aspects of children’s development and factors that contribute to their occupational performance.
• Explain the role of the occupational therapist in understanding the needs of children and adolescents with developmental issues and providing interventions that will enhance their occupational performance.
• Know the value of family involvement in the success of occupational therapy in improving the cognitive, sensory, physical, and motor abilities of children.

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