Occupational Therapy with Children: Understanding Children's Occupations and Enabling Participation

Occupational Therapy with Children draws on contemporary research to examine children’s roles, their occupations and the skills which underpin their ability to participate in society. The book will develop the occupational therapist’s understanding of how to optimise the participation of children in the various environments in which they are required or choose to engage. Occupational Therapy with Children maintains a developmental perspective and incorporates child-centred interventions to improve performance deficits.

Section one examines children’s roles and occupations in contemporary society at a broad level. Coverage includes the child’s participation in the family, at school and in the community. This section considers environmental influences on childhood activities, and highlights children’s changing occupational time use and the impact this has on health and wellbeing. Section two focuses on childhood as a period of significant development and skill acquisition. This is profiled as a dynamic period for the therapist to encourage occupational mastery across the spectrum of childhood experience: in play; in self-care; as a student; and beyond the school grounds. Topical chapters evaluate participation in physical activity and consider the potential for ‘healthy’ leisure, along with the risk characteristics associated with certain approaches to leisure.

Occupational Therapy with Children is aimed at students and practitioners of occupational therapy. Other childhood professionals, particularly early childhood educators, will also appreciate the articulate approach this book takes towards the development of the child.

• Highly illustrated with contemporary photographs, drawings and succinct tables
• Includes case studies; providing worked examples of therapeutic applications
• Draws on the World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to frame the concept of children’s occupations and societal participation
• Responsive to developments in occupational science
• Expert contributors provide international perspectives

From the Foreword by Professor Charles Christiansen, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
[Occupational therapists] will find that this book provides a framework that makes planning effective therapy with children practical, relevant, and effective . . . [Rodger & Ziviani’s] contribution to the literature has helped unleash the genie of occupation in the service of improved therapy with children.

Occupational Therapy with Children draws on contemporary research to examine children’s roles, their occupations and the skills which underpin their ability to participate in society. The book will develop the occupational therapist’s understanding of how to optimise the participation of children in the various environments in which they are required or choose to engage. Occupational Therapy with Children maintains a developmental perspective and incorporates child-centred interventions to improve performance deficits.

Section one examines children’s roles and occupations in contemporary society at a broad level. Coverage includes the child’s participation in the family, at school and in the community. This section considers environmental influences on childhood activities, and highlights children’s changing occupational time use and the impact this has on health and wellbeing. Section two focuses on childhood as a period of significant development and skill acquisition. This is profiled as a dynamic period for the therapist to encourage occupational mastery across the spectrum of childhood experience: in play; in self-care; as a student; and beyond the school grounds. Topical chapters evaluate participation in physical activity and consider the potential for ‘healthy’ leisure, along with the risk characteristics associated with certain approaches to leisure.

Occupational Therapy with Children is aimed at students and practitioners of occupational therapy. Other childhood professionals, particularly early childhood educators, will also appreciate the articulate approach this book takes towards the development of the child.

Sylvia Rodger is Head of Division, and Jenny Ziviani Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy, within the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Queensland. Their clinical and academic activities are characterised by a keen focus in paediatric occupational therapy, as evidenced by extensive publications in the field.