Course curriculum

  • Course Description

    In this course, participants will learn information and relevant skills to design mealtime field trips and branch out with newly established feeding skills. Through a combination of readings, case studies and an expert panel, participants will gain knowledge to coach families in designing sensory experiences with foods, exploring a variety of feeding environments and developing strategies for facing challenging food scenarios. (.2 AOTA CEUs)

Objectives

Individuals who take this course will be able to:

  • Explain mealtime field trips and why they are important to implement for picky eaters to support participation in mealtime routines a primary activity of daily living.

  • Articulate ideas and strategies for successful mealtimes across a variety of feeding environments to caregivers for after therapy ends to support participation in mealtime routines a primary activity of daily living.

  • Apply lessons and challenges experienced by feeding therapists to their own practice to support participation in mealtime routines a primary activity of daily living.

  • Identify and describe a sensory diet for grocery shopping to promote positive sensory experiences with a variety of foods to support participation in mealtime routines a primary activity of daily living.

  • Develop plans to coach parents through challenging food situations and helpful daily habits to support participation in mealtime routines a primary activity of daily living.

  • Identify feeding needs in a sample scenario and create treatment suggestions to support participation in mealtime routines a primary activity of daily living.

Instructors

  • Kristen Burke

    OTR/L

    Kristen Burke

    Kristen Burke is an occupational therapist, who has worked in the field of early intervention for the past 17 years. She is the team lead for the occupational therapy and nutrition team at TEIS. In her leadership role, she enjoys supporting the professional development of other therapists. She also works as part of the training module development team at TEIS. She is passionate about collaborating with families to combine her knowledge and experience with their ideas in order to maximize their child's potential. In addition to her work in early intervention, she has worked as a community organizer to support families and community organizations to include children of all abilities.
  • Janet Watkiss

    MOT OTR/L

    Janet Watkiss

    Janet Watkiss is a full time pediatric occupational therapist in the Greater Pittsburgh PA area. She practices full time in Early Intervention/ Birth to three years old for the past 17 years. Janet has leadership roles in Reflective Supervision, Onboard training, and EI Coaching Coordinator. Supports colleagues through mentoring and consultation. Her prior work experience includes pediatric outpatient and inpatient OT services related to functional feeding disorders, sensory processing dysfunction, and complex medical and developmental delays within a team approach, and served as a OT consultant addressing specialized feeding concerns of post NICU infants and post multi-organ transplant patients at The Children’s Home and Lemieux Family Center’s Pediatric Speciality Hospital . Janet has extensive training and education in therapeutic feeding strategies, sensory processing disorders, and specialty certification in Infant Mental Health. She is a graduate of Chatham University with a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy ‘99 and has served as adjunct facility in Chatham University’s Occupational Therapy Program since 2015 to present. She is a member of AOTA, NBCOT, Zero to Three Organization, and charter member of PA Association of Infant Health. She resides in Western Pennsylvania. Her roles as spouse, parent, and grandparent are central. She enjoys traveling with her husband to visit family and new destinations.

AOTA Classification Codes

1.) Occupation (ADL), rest and sleep, play 2.) Performance Skills- motor skills 3.) Client Factors- body functions, body structure