Online Workshop Outline

The Learn to Play program for Kindergarten Teachers (1 Day Workshop) 14 Sep 2020

Presenter: Dr Siobhan Casey

Co-host: Emeritus Professor Karen Stagnitti

Please note that the workshop will be covering the Pretend Play Checklist for Teachers, so if centres don’t have a copy, staff may like to purchase a copy of the manual and score sheets, available for purchase on our website: 

PPC-T Manual

PPCT- Assessment Sheets

Pre-reading – will be emailed before the commencement of the workshop.

9 – 10.30am – the development of pretend play in relation to other developments such as narrative language, social skills.

11 – 12.30 – the Pretend Play Checklist for Teachers

1.30 – 3pm – Practical application of the morning by review of case studies. Participants will work in groups allocated into break out rooms for those who are not part of a group. Those who meet in a group will work face to face.

3.30 – 5pm – Practical application of the morning by review of case studies. Participants work in small groups.

2x Zoom links will be emailed to you. One link for the morning session (9 – 12.30) and one link for the afternoon session (1.30 – 5pm). Participants do not need to have a zoom account to access the training.

PRESENTER’S PROFILE – SIOBHAN CASEY

Dr. Siobhan Casey is a paediatric occupational therapist with over 15 years experience in working with children, their families and teachers in a variety of settings. In 2018, Siobhan was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy from Deakin University. Her research primarily focused on understanding the developmental processes that occur for self-regulation and pretend play capacities in supporting resilience in children. Her prior research included identifying important markers and processes for change, for children with Autism participating in the Learn to Play program. Siobhan has previously worked in early intervention community settings, private practice and specialist development schools and has presented on pretend play development at conferences both nationally and internationally. She enjoys delivering training to a wide range of audiences interested in promoting the opportunity for pretend play development in children.

PRESENTER’S PROFILE – KAREN STAGNITTI

Karen Stagnitti is Emeritus Professor in the School of Health and Social Development at Deakin University, Victoria, Australia. She is retired from full time teaching and research but continues to run workshops and write. She graduated with a Bachelor degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Queensland. For over 35 years she has mainly worked in early childhood intervention programs in community-based settings as part of a specialist paediatric multidisciplinary team. In 2003 she graduated from LaTrobe University with a Doctor of Philosophy. Her area of research is children’s play. Karen has over 120 publications, including journal articles, book chapters, and books. She has developed several play assessments including: Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment, the Pretend Play Enjoyment Developmental Checklist and the Animated Movie Test. From this research, Learn to Play Therapy was developed.