Promoting Upright Mobility in Young Children

Presented by Venita Lovelace-Chandler

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This course will be retired and no longer available as of December 31, 2024. Please complete the course by December 31, 2024 to receive credit or look for Parent Child Interaction: Why Intervention Must Start Early, available in the course catalogue.

How early should a child be placed in standing or encouraged to take steps? When should a child who is non-ambulatory be given a motorized car? All therapists working in pediatrics need to meet the developmental, postural, and movement needs of young children. This course provides the evidence-based interventions to foster upright postures, standing, and walking, when possible, and the use of other forms of independent mobility, including motorized devices, when the child is not starting to walk. All interventions utilize concepts of child motivation and interaction with the environment for cognitive growth, communication, and participation with family members and peers.

Meet your instructor

Venita Lovelace-Chandler

Dr. Lovelace-Chandler has been an educator in pediatric topics for over 30 years to professional and post-professional physical therapy students. She has over 40 years of experience in pediatrics, has recertified as a specialist two times, and still carries a small caseload. She taught numerous Advanced Clinical Practice…

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Chapters & learning objectives

Concepts for Best Practice

1. Concepts for Best Practice

This chapter provides the existing evidence that best practices in pediatric therapy include the avoidance of pain, opportunities for engagement and participation, and independent mobility.

Fostering Sitting and Standing Based Upon Evidence

2. Fostering Sitting and Standing Based Upon Evidence

What are the most important movement activities to foster in young children? This chapter presents the evidence supporting sitting, looking, reaching, and standing activities as important for cognitive development and social participation. Concepts of motor control, including repetition to learn a task, and strengthening are emphasized.

Upright Postures and Mobility

3. Upright Postures and Mobility

This chapter provides examples of interventions to promote standing, assuming standing, and upright mobility. Participants will be encouraged to practice the interventions with child or a doll.