Tiny Teachers, Transformative Teamwork

by Jill Knight, PP-OTD, OTR/L, Inna Swann, Ph.D., D.P.T., PT, PCS, C/NDT and Jan Traughber, Ed.D., CCC-SLP

On Feb. 4, 2025, students in the physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology programs traded professors with years of education and clinical experience for teachers under the age of three. Baby Day — an interdisciplinary learning experience — provides these graduate students an opportunity to be at eye level while they engage in interactive, hands-on, learning experiences with the children and demonstrate their ability to apply classroom learning to their clinical practice. Members of the Searcy community generously share their time and their children with the graduate students and also gain insights into their babies’ healthy development. 

Professionals in physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology play a crucial role in early childhood development. During the critical period of birth to three years, children progress through a series of predictable developmental milestones in gross motor, fine motor, cognitive, language and social-emotional skills. Graduate students must become proficient in identifying these milestones to determine whether a child is developing typically or may need intervention. Intentional collaboration requires professionals to understand the scope of practice for each profession, educate families on developmental expectations, demonstrate the skills in obtaining and sharing assessment findings across disciplines, develop comprehensive treatment plans, and implement early intervention strategies that address multiple areas of need. By integrating knowledge from each field and incorporating common objectives within assessment or treatment sessions, therapists enhance the overall development and well-being of young children.

Speech-language pathology student Taylor Triplett enjoyed the interprofessional teamwork. “Baby day was such a fun and unique experience that gave us a glimpse of what it will look like to collaborate with other professionals as a team to provide services for patients in our future careers,” she said.

Graduate students are at the forefront of early childhood intervention. Through hands-on clinical experiences like Baby Day, they develop the skills needed to assess developmental milestones, primitive reflexes and early communication skills in infants and toddlers while working as a team. Their training prepares them to identify potential concerns, implement evidence-based interventions and collaborate with families and other professionals to support optimal child development. By investing in this specialized education, students are better equipped to enter the workforce and ensure that young children receive the best possible start in life. By understanding developmental milestones, primitive reflexes and early communication skills, these future professionals can provide timely interventions that set children on a path toward success.