Holistic Paediatric Health for Children 3-18 Years of Age | Learn with ReLAB-HS and Tracy Prowse

Take part in our new programme of courses to learn all about sporting injuries, lifestyle strategies and developmental assessments in children.

In partnership with ReLAB-HS we have a brand new programme of 7 courses which will teach you the foundations of holistic management of children health. You will cover everything from how to assess developmental milestones to spot and treat common sporting injuries in children. Everything you need to know will be covered in this programme.

We are really proud to say there is something for everyone in these courses regardless of how experience a clinician you are when it comes to working with children. The lessons you learn will be directly applicable to your clinical setting. Find out more by watching the promo video below.

Instructor

Tracy is a child and adolescent health physiotherapist, mindfulness teacher, pain practitioner, lecturer and trainer who is based in South Africa. She uses an integrative and functional medicine approach in order to facilitate a journey towards wellbeing. Her special interest lies in paediatrics and the adolescent patient, although she has a varied caseload of all ages.

Tracy divides her time between running her private practice in Stellenbosch and consulting privately, as well as lecturing and facilitating both the Physifun Programme and some of the modules on the Train Pain Academy Pain Certification Programme. She has a Masters Degree in Sports Physiotherapy, a Certificate in Pain Management & Treatment, and a Certification in the two-year training programme in Mindfulness-Based Interventions Certification through Stellenbosch University.

The Programme

The brilliant thing about taking in part in this programme is that there is something for everyone regardless of how experience you are with working with paediatrics. By taking part you will be given an overview of the various biological, psychosocial, environmental and behavioural factors that affect a child’s development and health. Tracy hopes to provide her participants with the understanding and practical take-home tools of how to capitalise on a child’s nervous system’s complexities to make significant and long-lasting changes to their patient’s health and wellness.

Below is breakdown of each course within the programme. As always we recommend taking part in the courses sequentially however if you feel you just want to do a few or a single course then that’s an option too!

The Courses

Modern Lifestyles and Classroom Ethos in Early and Middle Childhood Development
Modern day children are typically moving less and having more screen time than previous generations. They are less likely to engage in free play and, while they are more likely to play formal sports, there are high dropout rates from these sports by the time children are aged 13. In the last ten years, the number of children being diagnosed with developmental disabilities has also increased. Research highlights the benefits of exercise for all children, including those with developmental disabilities. This course, the first in a series on the physical, cognitive and emotional development of children, discusses the impact of modern lifestyles on children and explores a classroom ethos that can encourage play and movement.

Play is Essential for Healthy Development

Assessment and Exercise Interventions in Early and Middle Childhood Development
With physical activity levels decreasing and developmental disabilities increasing, it is important that therapists and teachers understand how to screen children for developmental difficulties. Children who are identified as needing more input during this screening process can then be encouraged to exercise in a safe and meaningful way. This course, the second in a series on the physical, cognitive and psychosocial development in early and middle childhood, explores some key assessment and intervention ideas for children aged three to seven years.

Learn to Screen for Developmental Delay

Academic Readiness and Developmental Disabilities in Early and Middle Childhood Development
By the age of seven, most children will be ready to participate in formal learning and sports. However, some children may not develop the necessary postural control or motor skills to engage in these activities. There are many factors that could cause these delays, including genetic conditions, developmental disabilities and other environmental or personal factors. This course, the third in the series on the physical, cognitive and psychosocial development in early and middle childhood, explores some of the factors which affect a child’s development, as well as suggesting specific strategies which can be used to enhance a child’s participation in school and sports.

Enhance Childrens Play

Developing Physically Active and Sporty Kids – Benefits and Barriers
Obesity and other developmental issues are increasingly common in children. 5.6 percent of children are considered obese, and the prevalence of developmental disabilities has increased by 9.5 percent in children aged 3 to 17 years. While it is recognised that physical activity positively impacts weight, health, learning and attention, many children are not sufficiently active. As will be highlighted in this course, health professionals can empower parents and teachers to encourage physical activity in children to improve long-term outcomes.

Empower Children To Be More Active

Developing Physically Active and Sporty Kids – Overuse Injuries and Burnout
A large number of children and adolescents participate in organised sports every year. While there are clear benefits associated with physical activity, there is a trend for children to specialise sooner and train more. As a result, children are experiencing more overuse injuries, and some are burning out. Physiotherapists are well-placed to work with parents and coaches to help prevent and manage these conditions in children.

Enjoy Injury-Free Sports

Developing Physically Active and Sporty Kids – Injuries Specific to Children and Teenagers
Large numbers of children and teenagers participate in organised sports every day. There are correspondingly high injury rates in these age groups, particularly overuse injuries. Children are not, however, “mini-adults”. While an adult might present with a tendinopathy or ankle sprain, a child is more likely to present with an avulsion fracture or growth plate injury. Thus, physiotherapists who work with young athletes must have an understanding of common paediatric injuries to optimise a child’s management and outcomes.

Learn Common Paeds Sporting Injuries

Holistic Healthcare Interventions for Children
Holistic healthcare practitioners believe that all body components are intertwined and play a role in a person’s well-being. By considering the physical, intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual aspects together, the therapist and client can work together to optimise function and improve overall health. Children develop all elements of well-being simultaneously. One facet of health affects another, so to determine the overall cause of a child’s impairment, it is essential to examine the whole child.

A Holistic Approach Will Transform Outcomes

This work is supported by the USAID funded Learning Acting Building for Rehabilitation in Health Systems (ReLAB-HS) project and is not possible without the generous and committed contribution of the Leahy War Victims fund.

ReLAB-HS is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is implemented under cooperative agreement number 7200AA20CA00033. The consortium is managed by prime recipient, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.