Purposeful Play for Therapeutic Progress
Presented by Nicole M. Sergent and Lacy D. Morise
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Nonfinancial: Nicole Sergent has no competing nonfinancial interests or relationships with regard to the content presented in this course.
Financial: Lacy Morise is owner of Milestones & Miracles, LLC. She is also author of 1-2-3 Just Play With Me. She receives compensation from MedBridge for this course. There is no financial interest beyond the production of this course.
Nonfinancial: Lacy Morise has no competing nonfinancial interests or relationships with regard to the content presented in this course.
Play today does not look like it did even 10 years ago for American children. These changes have affected children developmentally, socially, and academically and have played a role in mental health changes. Pediatric therapists should be leaders in the field of promoting and preserving play as the best way to help children learn and maintain health and wellness. In this course, therapists will learn the societal factors that have led to the change in play trends and the associated effects. Evidence-based benefits of play in each developmental domain and for academic learning, sensory regulation, and mental health promotion are identified. Concepts and terms associated with research and theory around play are identified and applied to therapeutic settings by using video examples to guide the learner through identifying milestones and planning play-based intervention that encourages growth in multiple developmental domains. By sharing types of play, and toys by purpose and age/stage, therapists will be empowered to become play advocates both in their own practice settings and in their communities.
Meet your instructors
Nicole M. Sergent
Nicole Sergent is a pediatric physical therapist living and working in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. With more than 20 years of experience working with children in a variety of settings, Nicole currently works primarily as an independent contractor for the West Virginia Birth to Three program (early intervention)…
Lacy D. Morise
Lacy Morise is a pediatric speech-language pathologist working in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Lacy is an independent contractor for the West Virginia Birth to Three program (early intervention) working with children aged 0–3 and their families. The combination of skilled rehabilitation with the educational…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Evolution of Play
In this chapter, we will identify the key characteristics that define and describe play. We will identify influences over time that have changed opportunities for children to engage in play.
2. Why Play Matters for Children, Families, and ProfessionalsÂ
In this chapter, evidence-based research on the benefits of play is reviewed, including how play affects gross motor, fine motor, speech and language, cognitive, and social-emotional development. The benefits of play for sensory regulation, academic success, and mental health are shared. Terms and concepts related to play-based intervention are reviewed and examples shared.
3. Play With a Purpose: Examples and Resources
In this chapter, resources to identify early milestones in specific developmental domains are shared. Using a worksheet prepared as a resource for the course, therapeutic session planning incorporating goals from multiple areas of development into a play activity is modeled using video examples.
4. Play Advocacy and Practical Considerations
In this chapter, we will identify the types and stages of play children engage in. We will look at toys that are appropriate for each type and stage of play by age. We will highlight leaders in the field of play research and how you can advocate for play within your work and community.
