The Power of Play: Linking Play to Language, Cognitive, Social-Emotional & Literacy Development
No. Of Credits: 4 CEH
On Demand
On Demand
Course Duration: 4 hours
Price: $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
Course Schedule
- Introduction
- Presymbolic/symbolic play; Relationship to language/cognitive development
- Assessment of play
- Case examples
- Higher stages of symbolic play
- Differences in play with children with ASD
- Treatment strategies
- Case examples
Instructors
Lori Goldberg, MS, CCC-SLP
Lori Goldberg, MS, CCC-SLP has a Masters Degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders from Syracuse University. She has 30+ years experience in evaluating and providing speech and language therapy services to children of all ages. Before starting at PPT, Lori worked for a number of years in the Palm Beach County and NJ public schools. Prior to working in schools, she worked at Bradley Hospital in Providence, RI and Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA. Lori has been a presenter at the Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium.
Adrienne Wolf, MA, CCC-SLP
Adrienne Wolf, MA, CCC-SLP received her Masters degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Queens College of the City University of NY (CUNY). She has 35+ years experience as a pediatric speech-language pathologist. She has conducted evaluations and therapy with infants and toddlers in Early Intervention and in her private practice. She also worked in school systems and private practice in NY and NJ with elementary, middle and high school students. Adrienne is passionate about supervising/mentoring graduate students and CFYs, providing consultations/training with parents and advocating for children with special needs at their IEP meetings.