The Power of Play: Linking Play to Language, Cognitive, Social-Emotional & Literacy Development
4 CEH
On Demand
4 hours
Speech Language Pathologists, Speech Language Pathology Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants
$50
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.
Program Objectives
- Review stages of presymbolic and symbolic play and their relationship to language, cognitive, social-emotional and literacy development
- Describe how the assessment of level of play development in children determines appropriate therapeutic goals
- Describe specific intervention techniques/strategies that can be used in therapy, as well as at home
Participants will be able to
- Identify examples of presymbolic and symbolic play
- Assess levels of play using Westby’s Symbolic Play Scale
- Differentiate differences in play skills with children with ASD
- Develop therapeutic interventions using appropriate play based strategies