Pediatric Lab

Explore development, play, sensory-motor performance, and participation in RIT’s Pediatric Lab. The open, configurable space allows occupational therapy students to observe children’s performance, plan developmentally appropriate activities, and examine how physical and social environments influence engagement. A dedicated viewing room supports observation, supervision, reflection, and caregiver learning.

What is a Pediatric Occupational Therapy Lab?

The Pediatric Lab is designed for teaching occupational therapy evaluation and intervention with children and youth. Play, self-care, learning, social participation, and family routines provide the context for developing clinical reasoning.

The room can be arranged for movement, sensory-motor activities, developmental assessment, tabletop work, caregiver coaching, and simulated intervention. Multiple ceiling suspension points support a range of movement experiences and allow students to learn safe equipment setup, activity grading, and therapeutic use of suspended equipment.

What Do Students Learn and Do in the Pediatric Lab?

Students learn to:

• Observe development and occupational performance during play and daily activities
• Examine gross-motor, fine-motor, visual-motor, sensory-motor, and self-regulation skills
• Administer and interpret pediatric assessments
• Analyze the sensory, motor, cognitive, and social demands of an activity
• Plan play-based and occupation-centered interventions
• Set up and use suspended equipment safely
• Grade movement and sensory-motor activities for different abilities and goals
• Select toys, materials, adaptive equipment, and environmental supports
• Address participation in home, school, community, and social settings
• Practice caregiver interviewing, education, coaching, and collaborative goal setting
• Observe interactions from the viewing room and reflect on clinical decisions
• Document evaluation findings, goals, intervention plans, and outcomes

Students learn to preserve the creativity and playfulness of pediatric practice while describing activity demands and outcomes with greater precision.

What Technology and Equipment Will Students Work With?

The Pediatric Lab includes:

• Multiple professionally installed ceiling suspension points
• A wide variety of suspended sensory-motor equipment
• Swings and other movement-based equipment
• Floor mats and safety equipment
• Scooter boards, bolsters, and gross-motor activity equipment
• Fine-motor, visual-motor, and manipulative materials
• Toys and play materials representing a range of developmental levels
• Pediatric positioning and adaptive equipment
• Materials for self-care, school, and family-centered activities
• Developmental and functional assessment tools
• A separate equipment-storage room
• A dedicated observation and viewing room

The configurable layout allows faculty and students to create different activity environments while maintaining the space needed for safe movement, observation, and instruction.