Playfulness, Growth and Development Lab Making the World Smarter, Safer and Healthier Projects and Services Apply for OT Doctorate Program Lab News Artificial Intelligence Biotechnology Computer Science Cybersecurity Data Analytics and Visualization Digital Marketing and Media Mathematics Nursing Occupational Therapy Physician Assistant Physics Speech-Language Pathology WelcomeAt the Playfulness, Growth, and Development Laboratory (PGD Lab), we focus on the study of mental health determinants such as adversity and their impact on an individual’s social and emotional functioning—with a unique emphasis on playfulness as a key contributor to children's and adults’ growth and development. The PGD Lab conducts an array of research projects establishing theoretical foundations, identifying individual and community needs, creating theory-driven and sensible interventions and studying their effectiveness. We also develop assessment tools, clinical resources, intervention programs and training materials. Current Projects and Services Families and Children's Resilience Children’s relationships with their parent/caregiver contribute significantly to their growth and development. We have found that the opportunity for children to play and be playful with caregivers is of immense importance to their learning, development and mental health. We develop and study the effectiveness of strength-based assessments and interventions that empower parents and caregivers to promote healthy play opportunities within the family context. Collaborators: Lola Halperin, Ed.D., OTR/L, Sacred Heart University and Dr. Danette, L. Brown, Ph.D., Executive Director SACFS Team Members: Ashely Mathew, Jaime Doerler, Sharine Christian, Leeyah Azizi and Dalia PlanerSample Work: Research Poster: Ensuring Research Integrity through Standardized Educational Modules for ResearchersResearch Poster: Paternal Reflective Functioning and Its Impact on Joint PlayVideo: Paternal Reflective Functioning and its Impact on Joint Play Student Resilience Over the past two decades, college students have experienced a steady increase in mental health issues like anxiety and depression, which worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies have identified risk factors related to these challenges, while a few have explored potential protective factors which could contribute to college students' mental well-being. This project explores resilience factors to support graduate student education and professional development. Collaborator: Anita Bundy, ScD, OT/L, FAOTA, FOTARA, Colorado State University Team members: Piermiline Datilus and Suzan Khavkin Healthy Aging The healthy aging project focuses on studying the effectiveness of the Healthy Aging Wellness (HAW) program for community-dwelling older adults using different modes of service delivery. Collaborators: Jeanine Stancanelli, M.P.H., OTD, OTR/L, Mercy University, NY and Alexandra Laghezza, Ph.D., OTR/L, Doctoral Capstone Coordinator Team Members: Jessica Kwok and Rachel Hirsch Workshop: How to Use the PC-SCP The PC-SCP is an observational tool used by clinicians to assess how parents or caregivers support children's playfulness during unstructured play sessions, with the option for in-person, video-recorded or telehealth administration. It aims to guide clinicians in developing family-centered interventions that promote parent/caregiver-child relationships and skill development. Purchase the manual: The Parent/Caregiver's Support of Children's Playfulness (PC-SCP) Manual Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) for OTs Free downloadable resources on Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) for Occupational Therapists:TIC For Pediatric OTsTIC for OTs Working with Adults and Older Adults Lab News Researchers Link Playfulness to Cognition in Award-Winning Study Read more Researchers Link Playfulness to Cognition in Award-Winning Study Dr. Amiya Waldman-Levi, clinical associate professor in the Katz School’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, has been awarded the 2022 Cordelia Myers AJOT Best Article Award for her study linking the development of playfulness in infants to the cognitive functioning of toddlers.She and her co-authors Dr. Dana Shai, principal investigator of the research and a professor at the Academic College Tel Aviv Yaffo, and Dr. Anita Bundy, department head in occupational therapy at Colorado State University, will receive the award in April from the American Journal of Occupational Therapy at the AOTA INSPIRE 2023 conference in Kansas City.Read the entire story on the Katz School blog. OT Specialists Aim to Improve Child Development Through Healthy Play Read more OT Specialists Aim to Improve Child Development Through Healthy Play As the COVID-19 pandemic and poverty-related stress increase the need for social-emotional support for children and families, a team of specialists led by Katz School professor Amiya Waldman-Levi has created a strength-based intervention program that aims to improve children’s development through playful interactions with their parents.The program, Promoting Health Through Play Opportunities (originally Playing Playfully Teacher Group Training Program but renamed when parents and parent-child OT sessions were added) seeks to foster the ability of parents and children to improve their use of coping skills and overall resilience in the face of adversity. Specifically, the program provides tools for helping parents become change agents in their child’s life through the promotion of healthy play opportunities within the family.Read the full story on the blog. Healthy Aging: A Wellness Intervention Program Read more Healthy Aging: A Wellness Intervention Program There is evidence that social-emotional factors contribute to older adults’ engagement and satisfaction in life despite a decline in physical and mental health as they age. This collaborative project between the Occupational Therapy program at Mercy College and the Katz School’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program will test the effectiveness of health, aging and wellness (HAW) group programs.The research team will conduct a pilot study comparing in-person and remote delivery of the HAW programs for older adults living independently in a community. The program combines yoga, hope theory and mindfulness to support physical, mental and emotional aging in place. This work builds on a preliminary study in which the researchers found that the newly developed HAW program had a positive impact on older adults’ sense of hope.Collaborators: Amiya Waldman-Levi, director of scholarship and research and clinical associate professor, Occupational Therapy DoctorateJeanine Stancanelli, associate director and associate professor of occupational therapy, Mercy CollegeAlexandra Wagner, doctoral capstone coordinator and clinical assistant professor, Occupational Therapy Doctorate Researchers Link Playfulness to Cognition in Award-Winning Study Read more Researchers Link Playfulness to Cognition in Award-Winning Study Dr. Amiya Waldman-Levi, clinical associate professor in the Katz School’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, has been awarded the 2022 Cordelia Myers AJOT Best Article Award for her study linking the development of playfulness in infants to the cognitive functioning of toddlers.She and her co-authors Dr. Dana Shai, principal investigator of the research and a professor at the Academic College Tel Aviv Yaffo, and Dr. Anita Bundy, department head in occupational therapy at Colorado State University, will receive the award in April from the American Journal of Occupational Therapy at the AOTA INSPIRE 2023 conference in Kansas City.Read the entire story on the Katz School blog. OT Specialists Aim to Improve Child Development Through Healthy Play Read more OT Specialists Aim to Improve Child Development Through Healthy Play As the COVID-19 pandemic and poverty-related stress increase the need for social-emotional support for children and families, a team of specialists led by Katz School professor Amiya Waldman-Levi has created a strength-based intervention program that aims to improve children’s development through playful interactions with their parents.The program, Promoting Health Through Play Opportunities (originally Playing Playfully Teacher Group Training Program but renamed when parents and parent-child OT sessions were added) seeks to foster the ability of parents and children to improve their use of coping skills and overall resilience in the face of adversity. Specifically, the program provides tools for helping parents become change agents in their child’s life through the promotion of healthy play opportunities within the family.Read the full story on the blog. Healthy Aging: A Wellness Intervention Program Read more Healthy Aging: A Wellness Intervention Program There is evidence that social-emotional factors contribute to older adults’ engagement and satisfaction in life despite a decline in physical and mental health as they age. This collaborative project between the Occupational Therapy program at Mercy College and the Katz School’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program will test the effectiveness of health, aging and wellness (HAW) group programs.The research team will conduct a pilot study comparing in-person and remote delivery of the HAW programs for older adults living independently in a community. The program combines yoga, hope theory and mindfulness to support physical, mental and emotional aging in place. This work builds on a preliminary study in which the researchers found that the newly developed HAW program had a positive impact on older adults’ sense of hope.Collaborators: Amiya Waldman-Levi, director of scholarship and research and clinical associate professor, Occupational Therapy DoctorateJeanine Stancanelli, associate director and associate professor of occupational therapy, Mercy CollegeAlexandra Wagner, doctoral capstone coordinator and clinical assistant professor, Occupational Therapy Doctorate
