NYC Gazette

Graduate students in the Performance & Development Across the Lifespan course at Steinhardt School, New York University, are gaining hands-on experience at an adventure playground on Governor's Island. The course is designed to help future occupational therapists understand human development from infancy through old age.

The students engage in activities such as climbing and sliding while observing children at play. This helps them learn about how play promotes various developmental skills. "This is an integral course to becoming an occupational therapist because we work with people across the lifespan," says Clinical Assistant Professor Lisa Raymond-Tolan.

Brett Landin, a student in the program, described the experience as "eye-opening" for understanding child-led play beyond traditional clinical settings. The course is co-taught by Raymond-Tolan and Associate Professor Tracy Chippendale, covering topics from childhood milestones to aging challenges.

Raymond-Tolan emphasizes that development should not be seen as strictly hierarchical but rather as cyclical. Her teaching encourages compassion and understanding beyond technical assessments of development. Chippendale focuses on later life stages, exploring changes and roles older adults may face.

Students conduct interviews with caregivers and older adults to develop essential skills needed in their future practice. "Interviewing clients is an important skill in occupational therapy," says Chippendale.

The visit to The Yard allows students to reflect on their own experiences and consider the societal roles they will take on as therapists. Antonella Zanatti highlights the importance of active sensory experiences for children's growth, hoping parents will recognize this value too.