The Power of Play: Linking Play to Language, Cognitive, Social-Emotional and Literacy Development

No. Of Credits:

4

  • PT/PTA CE Approval # 
  • OT/OTA CE Approval # 20-1290700
  • ASHA CE Credit

Live Webinar - Google Meet

June 21, 2025

Course Duration: 4 CE Hours

Price:

$150

  • $126 - Early Bird Discount before 5/14/2025
  • $126 Group (5+) Discount before 5/14/2025

Course Description

This course is designed to give an overview of Dr. Carol Westby’s stages of symbolic play in typically developing children, as well as the relationship between symbolic play and cognitive, language, social and literacy development. Patterns of play in children with various developmental diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, will be described. Informal methods for observing and evaluating play skills will be explored. The elicitation and facilitation of language through symbolic play will be discussed. Case examples and videos of symbolic play sessions will be presented.

A man is teaching a group of students in a classroom.

Program Objectives

  1. Review stages of presymbolic and symbolic play and their relationship to language, cognitive, social-emotional and literacy development
  2. Describe how the assessment of level of play development in children determines appropriate therapeutic goals
  3. 3. Describe specific intervention techniques/strategies that can be used in therapy, as well as at home

Participants will be able to

  1. Identify examples of presymbolic and symbolic play
  2. Assess levels of play using Westby’s Symbolic Play Scale
  3. Differentiate differences in play skills with children with ASD
  4. Develop therapeutic interventions using appropriate play based strategies
A man is teaching a group of students in a classroom.

Course Schedule

7:45-8 Check-in

8-8:15 Intro/Housekeeping

8:15-9:45 Presymbolic/symbolic play; Relationship to  language/cognitive development; Assessment of play, Case examples

9:45-10 Break

10-11:30 Higher stages of symbolic play; Differences in play with children with ASD; Treatment strategies; Case examples

11:30-12:15 Q & A

12:15-12:30 Course Quiz and Survey

Instructors

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