In this episode of OT Evidence in Action, we delve into a systematic review examining the impact of play-based occupational therapy on playfulness and social play in children with autism spectrum disorder. We unpack the key findings from Rautenbach, Conolly, Hoosain, Zunza, and Plastow’s open-access article, highlighting what works and how therapists can apply these strategies in real-world practice.

Whether you’re an occupational therapist, educator, or parent, you’ll gain practical insights into how structured group play, guided approaches, and caregiver involvement can boost engagement and foster meaningful social interactions.

🔗 Read the full open-access article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19411243.2024.2360414

In this episode of OT Evidence in Action, we dive into one of the most essential (and often overlooked) areas of child development: sleep. Drawing on the latest evidence, we explore what makes a bedtime routine truly effective, from warm baths and storytime to consistent lights-out schedules.

We’ll unpack the bigger picture of sleep hygiene, including environmental setup, the influence of family schedules, and practical strategies that OTs can recommend. You’ll also hear about specific interventions such as mindfulness, sensory supports, and creative anxiety-reducing tools like “worry shells” that empower children and families to make bedtime more manageable.

Whether you’re an occupational therapist, parent, or educator, this episode provides evidence-based insights and actionable tools to support better sleep and ultimately better participation for children.

📖 Reference: Evidence-Based Approaches: A Pediatric Perspective of the Occupation of Sleep – available at OccupationalTherapy.com

In this episode of OT Evidence in Action, hosts Thandi and Sara explore the concept of social participation in paediatric occupational therapy through the lens of a compelling systematic review by Ana Cristina Cardoso da Silva and Fátima Corrêa Olivera, titled “Social Participation and Occupational Therapy: What Are We Talking About?”

This article challenges traditional views of social skills and reframes participation as a deeply contextual, political, and justice-oriented concept in OT.

🔗 Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.4322/2526-8910.ctoAR1883

Tune in as Thandi and Sara discuss:

• How social participation is shaped by inequality, exclusion, and cultural norms
• Practical ways to assess and support meaningful participation
• Creative interventions that promote social participation an inclusion
• Real-life stories that highlight the transformative power of participation

Whether you're an OT student or an experienced clinician, this conversation will inspire you to think more broadly about your role in supporting every child's right to belong.

In this episode of OT Evidence in Action, hosts Mathabo Khosa and Thandi Mashimbe explore the vital role of self-care in the development of children and youth aged 5 to 21 in South Africa. This discussion unpacks how Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) like dressing, hygiene, and toileting are taught, supported, and adapted in diverse South African contexts.

Drawing from international evidence, today's hosts explore evidence-based interventions such as cognitive strategies and video modelling. They reflect on how these can be creatively adapted to suit local realities, including resource limitations, cultural diversity, and infrastructure gaps.

🔗 Referenced Article:
Laverdure, P., & Beisbier, S. (2021). Occupation- and Activity-Based Interventions to Improve Performance of Activities of Daily Living, Play, and Leisure for Children and Youth Ages 5 to 21. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(2), 7502205050p1–7502205050p48.
👉 https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.039636

This episode offers valuable insights for OTs, students, and caregivers striving to empower young people with meaningful, contextually relevant self-care skills. Tune in to hear practical examples, inspiring adaptations, and a call to action for more locally grounded research in occupational therapy.

In our second episode of OT Evidence in Action, Jessica and Bianca delve into the crucial role occupational therapists play in supporting children’s success at school.

We review the article “Interventions within the Scope of Occupational Therapy to Improve Children’s Academic Participation: A Systematic Review” by Lester Coloma Grajo, Christine Candler, and Amira Saraf, published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy. This systematic review synthesises evidence from 46 studies and explores how OT interventions can improve academic participation for students aged 5 to 21 using occupation-centred and activity-based approaches.

You can access the article here: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.039016

We unpack:

• The evidence for commonly used sensory strategies like weighted vests and stability balls, and what to consider when recommending them.
• Why yoga in schools shows moderate evidence for improving participation and regulation.
• Creative and collaborative strategies that improve literacy engagement
• The strong evidence supporting OT-led handwriting interventions (and why therapist skill matters more than the program)
• Key takeaways to help you advocate, document, and collaborate more effectively as a school-based OT

Whether you’re a student, an early career OT, or simply curious about occupational therapy in education, this episode will give you some insights into applying evidence in practice and expanding the ways we support academic participation meaningfully and ethically.

In this episode of OT Evidence in Action, Bianca and Jessica explore the multifaceted world of play, a concept central to paediatric occupational therapy that is often misunderstood or oversimplified. Join us as we explore the distinctions between play as an occupation, play-work occupations, and play therapy, and how each serves a different but important role in holistic treatment.

We review the article “Children’s Play–Work Occupation Continuum: Play-Based Occupational Therapy, Play Therapy and Playwork” by Ted Brown and Helen Lynch, published in the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. This article examines how children's play transitions from spontaneous, intrinsically motivated activities to structured, adult-guided interventions, highlighting the continuum between play and work in therapeutic contexts. 

You can access the article here: https://doi.org/10.1177/00084174221130165

We unpack:

• What defines play as an occupation and why it's meaningful in its own right
• How play-work occupations differ from spontaneous play
• The role of play therapy, how it overlaps with and differs from play-based interventions in OT
• How OTs can advocate for play as a goal, a means, and a powerful therapeutic medium

Whether you're a student, clinician, or educator, this episode will leave you with a clearer understanding of how to frame, defend, and design play-based occupational therapy interventions with intention.