This book provides designers, planners, educators, and therapists with the practical information required to remove inequity in outdoor spaces, by creating inviting and inclusive solutions so that all children and their families, regardless of situation or circumstance, can experience the joys and benefits of outdoor play without stigma. It is the first of its kind, co-written by an occupational therapist and landscape architect both with proven expertise in inclusive play space design. The Nature of Inclusive Play fills an untapped niche in promoting the value of outdoor play. It focuses on what embodies play and shows how, through inclusive outdoor play design, developmental skills can be enriched. The topics covered in the book include: • a discussion of the health benefits associated with being outdoors • the history of and value of play • an overview of typical child development • the importance of sensory regulation • an inclusive design review process • design guidelines. All topics are supplemented with nine applicable case studies of exemplary inclusive outdoor play spaces, including examples from North America and Africa. It is a much-needed guide for landscape architects, urban planners, allied healthcare professionals, early childhood educators, academics, and students.

This book provides designers, planners, educators, and therapists with the practical information required to remove inequity in outdoor spaces, by creating inviting and inclusive solutions so that all children and their families, regardless of situation or circumstance, can experience the joys and benefits of outdoor play without stigma. It is the first of its kind, co-written by an occupational therapist and landscape architect both with proven expertise in inclusive play space design. The Nature of Inclusive Play fills an untapped niche in promoting the value of outdoor play. It focuses on what embodies play and shows how, through inclusive outdoor play design, developmental skills can be enriched. The topics covered in the book include: • a discussion of the health benefits associated with being outdoors • the history of and value of play • an overview of typical child development • the importance of sensory regulation • an inclusive design review process • design guidelines. All topics are supplemented with nine applicable case studies of exemplary inclusive outdoor play spaces, including examples from North America and Africa. It is a much-needed guide for landscape architects, urban planners, allied healthcare professionals, early childhood educators, academics, and students.

The benefits of interacting with nature for our social, cognitive, and physical wellbeing are well documented. But how practical is it to take therapy into nature, or bring nature into therapy? This evidence-based and accessible guide demonstrates easily workable, creative, tried-and-tested strategies for bringing nature into therapy. It includes simple and fun ready-to-go activity ideas. Using the life-course as a framework, the authors highlight the impact of nature at every stage of human development. From younger children to older adults, anyone can benefit from outdoor therapy, and different therapeutic offerings can be adapted to suit most individuals and groups. Resources are included to help assess a programme's readiness to incorporate nature, create plans to take therapy outdoors (or bring the outside in), and evaluate the impact it could have for patients or clients. With testimonials from service users who have felt the benefits of nature-based practices, and case studies highlighting excellence in practice from health and social care professionals across various fields, this book will inspire and empower allied health and mental health practitioners to take their therapy practice outdoors.

Wolters Kluwer, publisher of the cornerstone Occupational Therapy text Willard & Spackman's Occupational Therapy, is pleased to announce an exciting new first edition that will start a tradition of publishing excellence in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program . Aligned with the most recent standards in the field,Foundations of Theory and Practice for the Occupational Therapy Assistantprovides the evidence-based, practice-focused information students need to succeed from classroom to clinic. Throughout this comprehensive book, learning activities and clinical scenarios bring concepts to life and enhance student retention. In addition to covering, theory, principles, therapeutic processes, conditions, and more, this accessible text contains elements that span the curriculum, providing beginning occupational therapy assistant students with a solid resource for fieldwork and practice. Contributions from experienced practitioners working in a broad range of settings ground the theoretical concepts in the real-world, and invite the students to understand their role in the clinical setting. Thirteen case studies, referred to throughout the text with an icon, help students understand the relevance of the occupational therapy assistant's role in the clinical setting. In addition, the book includes a sample complete case summation, along with additional online forms students can use in their own work.

The Fingergym Fine Motor Skills School Readiness Program is a unique classroom-trialled, group rotation program that uses fun and motivating fine motor-based activities to help children become more independent in the classroom. Developed by experienced occupational therapy and education professionals, this program is a must-have for any preschool, kindergarten, prep, or primary educational setting. Fingergym incorporates play-based learning to encourage problem-solving by ""having a go"", no matter what the outcome. In this way children learn confidence and resilience in the classroom while mastering essential developmental skills. The program includes over 140 activities covering aspects such as strengthening, kinaesthesia, proprioception, spatial planning, eye-hand coordination, fine motor speed, letter and number formation, and cutting. Published as a book and two-CD collection, Fingergym (TM) is based on a firm theoretical background and comes with full instructions, customizable forms, printable templates and sheets, and a timed musical track to guide children through their activities. Helpful curriculum links to such areas as mathematics, science, language, reading, writing, and art allow integration of the program with teaching requirements. Find out more at the www.fingergym.info website