Date of Award

2017

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Camille Skubik-Peplaski

Department Affiliation

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Second Advisor

Shirley P. O'Brien

Department Affiliation

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Third Advisor

Anne Fleischer

Department Affiliation

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Abstract

The objective of this phenomenological study was to explore parents' experiences and expectations of raising a child with sensorimotor impairments and how leisure pursuits impact their expectations of their children. The development and participation in leisure activities is different for these children and could affect the parents' hopes and dreams for their child's future. Six children between the ages of 5-8 years of age, with sensorimotor impairments, participated in a movement program that was held for eight sessions at an outpatient pediatric clinic to address praxis and sensory processing impairments. Six parent dyads were interviewed during the fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth session of the program. Areas addressed in the semi-structured interviews included parenting challenges, school experiences, and sensorimotor impairments effect on child's leisure participation. Five themes emerged following the interviews, which were parenting expectations, school support, social participation, leisure participation, and ADLs for their children. Parents provided practitioners insight into their everyday lives and this information is essential for making occupational therapy services more family-centered.

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