Exploring Parents' Experiences of Raising a Child with Sensorimotor Impairments and Expectations for Leisure Participation

<p>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.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Grantor dc:publisher

Eastern Kentucky University

Year dc:date.available

2017

Author dc:creator

• Eicher, Emily

• Family-Centered
• Leisure
• Phenomenological
• Sensorimotor Impairments
• Occupational Therapy

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2017 Emily Eicher

Repository record dc:identifier

https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/485

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:encompass.eku.edu:etd-1483