Early Movers in Occupational Therapy
The first 5 years form the building blocks for a child’s life, making the early years crucial for influencing the long-term wellbeing of children with disabilities. Early Intervention Occupational Therapy works with young children and their families to support engagement in things children want to do, need to do, or are expected to do. The 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (which provide recommendations for children’s physical activity, sleep, and sedentary time) can support this development. There is a disconnect, however, in the use of this resource in early intervention, and children with disabilities are less likely to meet the guidelines than their peers without disabilities. Occupational therapists could bridge this gap, by using this resource to support children with disabilities, but we first need to understand their capacity to do so. This research investigates the appropriateness of incorporating the guidelines as a paediatric occupational therapy early intervention approach. This research will inform the future applications of the guidelines in practice.​
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Want to learn more? Contact​ our research team!
