Handle with Care: Infant Development and Handling
Techniques for the Pediatric Therapist
Keiser University: 2085 Vista Parkway, West Palm Beach, FL 33411 Room TBD
March 8, 2025
Course Duration: 9 CE Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Price:
$300
- $275 - Early Bird Discount before 2/17/2025
- $275 Group (5+) Discount before 2/17/2025
Course Description
Designed for Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech Therapists, this course delves into the intricate nuances of approaching infant handling with a ‘whole child’ approach by focusing on key aspects of developmental milestones, sensory and neurological systems, and developing child-friendly handling techniques.
Program Objectives
- Understand whole child development for typical infants and toddlers
- Identify signs of atypical development in infants and toddlers
- Identify how underlying sensory-motor control and routine habits of positioning/handling contribute to development
- Learn importance of continuous assessment of alignment, postural control, and tolerance of sensory input for effective treatment
- Define handling, postural control, hand placement, and basics for movement facilitation.
- Apply handling strategies to infants/toddlers:
- With limited head/trunk control
- Who are learning transitional movements
- Transitioning to early walkers
- Differentiate handling approaches for tone differences (high tone vs. low tone) and across various patient examples.
- Develop interdisciplinary strategies for effective patient care, using observation checklists for assessment.
- Demonstrate knowledge of key elements and timing of typical infant/toddler development related to the musculoskeletal, sensory and neurological systems.
- Identify signs of atypical development and correlate impact of alignment, social engagement and self initiated movement on overall development and progression in milestones.
- Understand and implement handling/positioning techniques to facilitate and promote optimal development in infants/toddlers with high tone, low tone, or developmental delay.
Instructors
Mary Pengelley, PT, DPT
Mary Pengelley has been a pediatric physical therapist since 1983. She has worked with children of all ages including young adults who have grown up with a variety of developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, genetic disorders, muscular dystrophies, spinal muscular atrophy, brachial plexus injury, and torticollis. Mary is the Rehab Director at Progressive Pediatric Therapy in West Palm Beach FL, is certified as an Assistive Technology Practitioner, teaches pediatric classes for DPT students, and also teaches continuing education webinars and live classes for licensed therapists.