Experiences in early childhood, beginning prenatally, resonate throughout a child's life and affect all aspects of development, both positively and negatively. How those experiences are addressed from a family-centered perspective lays the foundation for a child's development and has profound implications for his or her quality of life. Occupational therapy can bring broad-based, holistic, strengths-based, and functional perspectives and practices to early childhood services.
This publication is a journey of occupational therapy in early childhood. It aims to develop perspectives, knowledge, and skills to improve the ability of occupational therapy professionals to have a positive impact on the lives of the recipients of their services, including children and families, teachers, and child care providers. The content can be used in the classroom or as a practice resource.
Each chapter provides cases to illustrate important concepts. In addition, the case of Lydia and Sam's family continues across the chapters to illustrate the changes that have occurred in early childhood programs and services for children with disabilities over the past 60 years and the importance of advocacy in fostering those changes. The experiences of the family illustrate what many families have encountered when raising a child with special needs and will help readers understand the changes in attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, science, advocacy, legislation, and programs and hope that have occurred over the decades.
