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

4

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

Live Webinar - Google Meet

4 CE Hours

PT/PTA, OT/OTA, ASHA

$150

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

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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 woman wearing a shirt that says emory is playing with a baby

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

  • Lori Goldberg, MS, CCC-SLP
  • Adrienne Wolf, MA, CCC-SLP

Lori Goldberg, MS, CCC-SLP

Adrienne Wolf, MA, CCC-SLP

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