Sleep has an effect on nearly every aspect of a child’s growth, development, learning, behavior, and overall wellbeing, yet many pediatric professionals receive limited formal training in sleep. This introductory from Liz Harden course provides a practical, evidence-informed foundation for understanding pediatric sleep and supporting families through a family-centered, neurodiversity-affirming lens.
Participants will explore the science behind sleep, including the biological processes that regulate sleep, key sleep hormones, sleep architecture, and changing sleep needs across developmental stages. The course then introduces the core foundations of healthy sleep, examining how schedules, routines, physical activity, environment, and emotional security contribute to restorative sleep.
*Our eCourses are hosted online on the Thinkific platform. Clicking the arrow above will redirect you to our course page in Thinkific. There you will be able to see the complete course description, learning objectives, policies, etc. It is also where you will complete checkout and enrollment.
In this course from Liz Harden of Little Dipper Wellness, clinicians will explore the science of sleep and deepen their understanding of one of the most foundational aspects of child development. Through an evidence-informed, family-centered approach, you’ll gain practical knowledge you can immediately apply to better support the children and families you serve.
Throughout the course, you’ll build a strong clinical foundation in pediatric sleep by exploring typical sleep development, common pediatric sleep challenges, assessment considerations, and effective intervention strategies. You’ll also learn how sleep impacts regulation, behavior, learning, and participation in daily routines, helping you recognize the broader role sleep plays in a child’s overall well-being.
Whether you’re new to pediatric sleep or looking to strengthen your existing knowledge, this course equips you with actionable tools, increased confidence, and practical strategies to have meaningful conversations with families and integrate sleep support into your everyday clinical practice.
This AOTA course is designed for pediatric therapists, educators, healthcare providers, and other professionals seeking a foundational understanding of pediatric sleep and its role in supporting child development and family wellbeing.
Module 1: The Science of Sleep
Module 2: Healthy Sleep Foundations
Module 3: Clinical Sleep Considerations
The Therapeutic Edge Collective is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. PD activity approval ID#16318. This distance learning-independent activity is offered at 0.2 CEUs, introductory, OT Service Delivery. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
Liz Harden
Liz Harden, MPH is the founder and lead sleep coach at Little Dipper Wellness. She holds a Master of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Education from UNC–Chapel Hill and is a certified sleep coach and mindfulness instructor. With over a decade of experience, Liz supports families with tailored, evidence-based sleep coaching and provides education and training for pediatric providers and early intervention teams.
She created this course exclusively for The Therapeutic Edge, and we’re thrilled to get to learn from her!
I’ve been following The Pocket OT for a while now and wanted to let you know how helpful the website has been. It’s empowered me because I am in a rural area and need fun treatment ideas for our small team.
Jennifer, COTA
I felt burned out and wondered why I became an OT. After taking Cara’s course and mentoring program, I found my WHY again!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Kimberly J. Charlotte, NC
5/5 stars!
The Trauma-Informed Care course was absolutely amazing. I learned so much and can’t wait to use it.
Rebekah Schachner, OTD Student
I wanted to let you know I have attended some other Trauma related courses in the past, however, I think since yours is from the OT perspective, I found it to be much more informative and useful to implement in to future treatments. Thank you so much!
I thought I knew what executive function was but after the master course, I am completely looking at the students on my caseload in a new way. It’s amazing how behavior and EF are related.
Tasha, Miami
Cara not only brought a plethora of knowledge to our community, but she was also able to talk to parents with a compassionate understanding of the challenges they face.
Cara Koscinski is one of my favorite resources to share! She has such a passion for teaching and sharing her extensive knowledge about everything from sensory issues to everyday strategies that make life work. Cara’s an amazing expert with first-hand experience. She explains things in a way that anyone can understand, and her tips are always practical, compassionate, and helpful! I just LOVE her and her tips!
Cara uses real-life examples to solidify concepts. Her experience and practical tips will make a huge difference in my clinic. Also, her PASSION is contagious. I’ll be back for more. Thanks!
Julia R. OTA in CA
