This is a follow on from the highly successful Early Intervention for Babies Workshop, which addresses the next stage of development and how to support the child into ‘toddlerhood’.

This workshop will be facilitated by two of our professional website advisors, Occupational Therapist Ailish Kavanagh and Speech and Language Therapist Marinet van Vuren.  And will take place in a Steiner Playschool in Wicklow town on Saturday 15th October 2011, from 10am – 1pm.

Together the therapists will look at topics to help children, aged approx 2 - 5 years, develop and flourish during this period of their lives. They will also look at ways to help your child attain the extra skills they will require to become ready for a school setting.

The therapists will break the group into two smaller groups, as in the EI Babies Workshop, and will divide their time between the groups. Ailish, (OT) will focus her hour and a half session on topics including:

• - Hypotonia and how to increase tone
• - Sensory issues - why a child is tactile defensive or tactile unaware and how to deal with this
• - Wilbarger Protocol brushing technique
• - Fine-motor skills - how to deal with problems here
• - School and pre-school readiness

Marinet (SLT) will cover similar topics, during her session but will of course be coming from a Speech and Language view point. She will look at:

• - Hypotonia and oral-motor difficulties
• - Speech-Language Stimulation for Preschoolers
• - Phonological Awareness & Pre-reading Skills
• - Assessments and other important developmental milestones

Both parents are again encouraged to attend this workshop with their children.

The cost per family to attend is €110. Places are limited to 8 children.

For further information, or to book a place please call Jennifer on 01 661 8000. Alternatively you may purchase a place via our online shop .