Healthy Bodies and Healthy Minds: Sensory Strategies for
Promoting Wellness in Children
Presented by Jenny L. Clark
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Meet your instructor
Jenny L. Clark
Jenny L. Clark, OTR/L, has helped children for the past 30 years as a licensed pediatric occupational therapist, working as a speaker, school-based occupational therapist, consultant, private practitioner at her own clinic (Jenny’s Kids, Inc.), independent contractor for early intervention services, author, and inventor.…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Identifying Occupational Wellness Needs in the Pediatric Population Through Evidence-Based Practices
Chapter One discusses AOTA’s "Vision 2025" for the promotion of health and wellness interventions to facilitate participation in meaningful occupations. Therapists learn about the ethical application of complementary health approaches in occupational therapy practice. Research-based evidence will be presented that indicates it is necessary for children and youths to get outside and move, to both promote wellness and prevent health-related problems such as childhood obesity, decreased attention, anxiety, and more. Therapists glean an understanding about why lack of movement contributes to physical, emotional, and behavioral challenges in children with childhood disorders including sensory processing disorder, attention deficit disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. Therapists will learn characteristics of "nature-deficit disorder," a term coined by Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, and why getting outside in nature is important for the health and well-being of our youth.
2. Occupation-Based Wellness Interventions for Children and Youth Part One: Nature and Nutrition
Chapter Two provides therapists with a vast array of practical interventions that address wellness-related issues for children. Therapists will learn about the benefits for children of exposure to nature. Therapists will develop a repertoire of fun and creative ways to get kids outside while integrating sensory-rich experiences, such as junior park ranger programs and geocaching with kids. This chapter will discuss agricultural literacy and how this impacts a child’s nutritional health. With this knowledge, therapists will glean intervention strategies to address this issue, such as involving children in therapeutic gardening. These pediatric occupation-based interventions include activities that parents, teachers, and therapists can implement in a variety of settings.
3. Occupation-Based Wellness Interventions for Children and Youth Part Two: Deep Breathing, Meditation, and Mindfulness
Chapter Three discusses wellness-related interventions for children, including deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness. It will explore a variety of engaging deep breathing activities for children, such as balloon breath and bee breath. Therapists will learn how meditation is a neurophysiological "brain break" for children that helps to improve attention, emotional regulation, and self-esteem. This chapter provides therapists with mindfulness strategies that can help children develop sensory self-regulation skills.
4. Yoga Poses as Therapeutic Intervention for Children and Youth
Chapter Four discusses the evidence-based therapeutic value of yoga poses for children and youth. Implementing yoga poses into therapy helps to address a wide spectrum of a child’s developmental needs, from emotional regulation and attention span to motor planning and coordination. Individual yoga poses are selected for discussion of sensory and musculoskeletal benefits. Therapists learn the qualities of yoga as an effective approach to help children overcome deficits so that they can experience quality of life through meaningful and joyful activity.
