Guide Kids from Sleepless Nights to Regulated Days with Supporting Pediatric Sleep for Behavioral Regulation

Table of contents

• Course Rating 4.9/5
• Be the therapist who makes real change (even while waiting on referrals). Still waiting on the sleep study, stuck supporting a family who is stuck?
• Be the therapist who is unshakeably prepared. Be ready for those waiting room curveballs - when a parent drops a sleep concern as their child is dragging you toward the crash pad
• Be the therapist who uses evidence-based tools made for real nights, real kids, real OTPs. Learn from multiple 2025 meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Get tools for tonight’s real-world challenges
• Learn from lived experience: We lived it. We overcame it. I’m here to walk you through it
• Learn from an expert instructor: Devina's credentials
• Outcomes and full course outline
• Legalities: Disclosures, refunds, ADA requests, AOTA approved provider statement, privacy policies and terms
• FAQ

Be the therapist who makes real change (even while waiting on referrals). Still waiting on the sleep study, stuck supporting a family who is stuck?

Whether you are in early intervention, homes, schools, clinics, or hospitals learn your role in pediatric sleep health.

Takeaway You can make meaningful progress long before a sleep study by addressing the sleep‑dysregulation cycle with practical, evidence‑based strategies that help families right now.

Be the therapist who is unshakeably prepared. Be ready for those waiting room curveballs - when a parent drops a sleep concern as their child is dragging you toward the crash pad

This course bridges what you already know (sleep matters) with what you’ve needed: ways to help children who aren’t sleeping well that are practical, evidence-based, and grounded in lived experience.

Support sleep for:

• Autistic individuals
• Premature infants
• Sleep apnea
• ADHD, SPD, anxiety, NAS
• Pain, elopement, meltdowns, bedwetting, nightmares, and more.

Takeaway When you understand pediatric sleep through a functional, regulation‑based lens, you can confidently respond to unexpected concerns in any setting.

Be the therapist who uses evidence-based tools made for real nights, real kids, real OTPs. Learn from multiple 2025 meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Get tools for tonight’s real-world challenges

• Caregiver education handouts, sensory diets, and HEPs including targeted exercises for sleep-disordered breathing.
• SMART goal bank spanning nine domains—from CPAP tolerance to daily routines to postural support.
• Parent-facing pediatric sleep questionnaire built to save time and catch concerns others miss.
• Quick-reference cheat sheet and implementation plan so you know exactly who you’ll support and how. Self-paced, modular learning in video and/or text format.

Takeaway You will gain ready‑to‑use tools, goal banks, handouts, and clinical reasoning frameworks that translate research into immediate, real‑world practice.

Learn from lived experience: We lived it. We overcame it. I’m here to walk you through it

I was raising my 3 children – each under 5 at the same time – every one of them with their own unique sleep challenges.

Even as they got older I still couldn't sleep. As an Autistic adult, I spent most of my life consistently getting less than 15 minutes of deep sleep a night. Now? My sleep score is GREAT.

Takeaway This course blends professional expertise with personal experience to offer guidance that is compassionate, realistic, and deeply informed by what families truly face.

Outcomes and full course outline

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the recommended number of hours of sleep a child needs based on their age.

2. Discriminate between the stages of sleep and the functional significance of each stage in supporting cognitive, emotional, and physical readiness for daily tasks.

3. Discriminate between common sleep disorders and identify their signs.

4. Interpret findings from a sleep evaluation to determine which evidence-based intervention(s) are most likely to effectively improve functional outcomes in everyday occupations.

5. Plan a holistic sleep intervention program for a child with SPD.

6. Justify the selection of interventions (e.g. environmental modifications, strengthening exercises, sleep hygiene, physical agent modalities, sensory diets, caregiver and patient education, etc.) used in therapy sessions to enhance sleep quality, thereby optimizing a child’s occupational performance.

Full course contents

• Introduction

  • Course Overview

  • Learning Outcomes

• Sleep and Behavior

  • Assessment of Sleep

  • Assessment Tools

• Setting Goals

  • Example Sleep Goals

  • Cultural Differences

• Impact of Sleep Deprivation

  • On Parents and Children

  • Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome (The 5 S's)

  • Meeting Parents Where They Are

• Understanding Sleep

  • Sleep Duration and Quality

  • Phases of Sleep

  • Sleep Disorders

    • Sleep Apnea

    • Enlarged Adenoids

    • Parasomnias

    • Behavioral Insomnia

    • Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)

    • Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder/Circadian Rhythm Disorders

    • Allergies

    • Pain

• Interdisciplinary Collaboration

  • Working with Other Professionals

  • Pharmacological Interventions

  • Common Natural Supplements

• Sensory Processing and Sleep Hygiene

  • Sensory Processing Disorder

  • Sensory Diets

  • Sleep Hygiene

    • Consistent Bedtime Routine

    • Creating a Sleep-Conducive Atmosphere

    • Relaxation Techniques

    • Gradual Desensitization

    • Exercise

    • Diet

    • Snacks to Help Children Sleep

• Therapeutic Approaches

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)

  • Meeting Children Where They Are

  • Making Changes

  • Using Melatonin to Reset Sleep Cycles

  • CPAP Mask Tolerance

  • Strategies to Help Children Wear Their CPAP

  • Oral Motor Exercises

  • Toys and Games for Respiratory Control

  • Core Strengthening Exercises

• Specific Populations

  • Helping Babies and Toddlers Sleep

    • Sleep Regressions

    • Cry It Out

    • Advocating for Gentle, Responsive Caregiving Practices

    • Supporting Infant Sleep

    • Safe Co-Sleeping Practices for Infants

    • Positioning for Reflux

    • Sleep Strategies for Neonatal Substance Exposure and Premature Infants

  • Helping Children Sleep in Their Own Bed

  • Strategies to Promote Independent Sleep

  • Bedtime meltdowns

  • Teenage Sleep

    • Parental warmth

    • Devices as Self-Soothers

    • Dopamine Seeking in ADHD

    • Mindful Technology Use

    • Alternative Self-Soothing Activities

    • Setting Up the Environment for Success

    • External Assistance for Impulse Control

    • Collaborative Problem-Solving Conversations

    • Internalized Echolalia

    • Tracking

• Technology for Sleep Routines and State Management

  • Setting Up a Bedtime Routine with Technology

  • Setting Up a Wake-Up Routine with Technology

  • Sleep Technology

• Elopement

• Conclusion

• References, Handouts, Goal Bank, Screener

Legalities: Disclosures, refunds, ADA requests, AOTA approved provider statement, privacy policies and terms

Queen Diva's Playhouse, LLC is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. PD activity approval ID# 12657. This independent distance learning activity is offered at 0.2 CEUs, Advanced, Occupational therapy service delivery and Foundational skills. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA or indicate AOTA approval of a certification or other professional recognition.

Meets the requirements of NBCOT professional development units (PDUs) for 2.5 hours.

For special needs/ADA requests contact me at [email protected]. Certificate of Completion and AOTA CEUs: Provided with successful completion of course, survey, and exam completion with an 80% passing score.

Disclosures: I'm the author of From Surviving to Thriving: The Art and Science of Guiding Children to Develop Behavioral Regulation and have used images from this book and will receive financial compensation from purchases of this book.

Refund/Cancellation Policy

All of Queen Diva's Playhouse, LLC courses will be independent distance learning so will not be cancelled by the provider. However, if something unexpected comes up where the provider was forced to stop offering the course or the course became inaccessible to the learner before they finished the course, Queen Diva's Playhouse, LLC will provide a refund to those who have not finished the course.

Queen Diva's Playhouse, LLC will consider refunds on a case‑by‑case basis when requested by learners due to learners being able to download course content as soon as they login. Queen Diva's Playhouse, LLC courses will all be self‑paced, significantly reducing the likelihood a learner would need to cancel. Contact information: [email protected]

You can find our privacy policies here.

FAQ

Who is this course designed for?

This course was created specifically for occupational therapy practitioners, but the content is accessible and valuable for speech therapists, psychologists, educators, nurses, social workers, and parents who want a deeper understanding of pediatric sleep without losing clinical depth.

Will this course help me even if I am not an occupational therapist?

Yes. While the course is grounded in OT scope and reasoning, the strategies, frameworks, and downloads are useful for any professional or caregiver supporting a child with sleep challenges.

What ages does the course cover?

The course spans birth through age 18, with dedicated sections for infants, toddlers, school‑aged children, and teens.

How do I know if a child’s sleep challenges fall within my scope as an OT?

You will learn how to identify red flags, when to refer, when to collaborate, and when sleep concerns fall squarely within OT’s role in routines, sensory processing, regulation, and participation.

What if the child has multiple diagnoses affecting sleep?

The course addresses sleep in the context of autism, ADHD, SPD, anxiety, pain, trauma, NAS, premature birth, sleep apnea, and more, helping you understand how overlapping factors influence sleep and regulation.

Will this course help me support autistic children, ADHD profiles, or children with SPD?

Absolutely. The course is neurodivergent‑affirming and includes specific strategies for sensory seekers, sensory avoiders, PDA profiles, ADHD dopamine‑seeking patterns, and autistic sleep differences.

Does the course address sleep challenges in infants and toddlers?

Yes. You will learn about sleep regressions, responsive caregiving, safe co‑sleeping, reflux positioning, and sleep strategies for premature infants and infants with neonatal substance exposure.

Does the course cover sleep regressions or responsive caregiving approaches?

Yes. You will learn how to support families through regressions without using harmful or developmentally inappropriate methods.

Will I learn how to support children who co‑sleep or who cannot sleep independently?

Yes. The course provides gentle, responsive strategies for co‑sleeping families and step‑by‑step approaches for promoting independent sleep when appropriate.

Does the course teach me how to evaluate sleep or use sleep assessment tools?

Yes. You will learn how to screen for sleep concerns, interpret sleep evaluations, and use OT‑appropriate assessment tools to guide intervention.

Will I learn how to write sleep‑related goals for IEPs or therapy plans?

Yes. The course includes a SMART goal bank across nine domains, including CPAP tolerance, routines, sensory regulation, and sleep‑disordered breathing.

Does the course include interventions I can use immediately in sessions?

Yes. You will receive practical, evidence‑based strategies you can use the same day, including sensory diets, environmental modifications, strengthening exercises, and caregiver coaching tools.

Does the course cover sensory‑based sleep strategies?

Yes. You will learn how sensory processing influences sleep and how to design sensory diets and bedtime routines that support regulation.

Will I learn how to collaborate with pediatricians, ENTs, sleep specialists, or mental health providers?

Yes. The course teaches you how to communicate findings, advocate for referrals, and work within an interdisciplinary team.

Does the course address sleep‑disordered breathing or CPAP tolerance?

Yes. You will learn how to identify red flags, support CPAP mask tolerance, and use oral motor and respiratory exercises that improve sleep‑disordered breathing.

Are pharmacological or supplement‑based interventions discussed?

Yes. The course reviews common medications and natural supplements from an educational standpoint so you can collaborate effectively with medical providers.

Does the course include strategies for sleep hygiene for teens with delayed sleep cycles or device dependence?

Yes. You will learn how to support circadian rhythm disorders, dopamine‑seeking patterns in ADHD, and mindful technology use.

Will I learn how to support families who are overwhelmed or exhausted?

Yes. The course includes scripts, coaching strategies, and realistic, compassionate approaches for meeting families where they are.

Does the course include sleep hygiene education for insomnia that actually works for neurodivergent children and their families that I can give to parents?

Yes. You receive 18 practical downloads, including handouts covering all common pediatric sleep concerns, sensory diets, questionnaires, and implementation guides.

How many CEUs does this course provide?

The course provides 0.2 AOTA CEUs and meets NBCOT PDU requirements for 2.5 hours.

Is this online pediatric occupational therapy continuing education course on sleep and behavior AOTA approved?

Yes. Queen Diva’s Playhouse, LLC is an AOTA Approved Provider, and this course meets all required standards.

How long do I have access to the course?

You receive lifetime access to the course materials, including future updates.

Is the course self‑paced?

Yes. You can complete the course on your own schedule, in video or text format.

What is the refund policy?

Refunds are considered on a case‑by‑case basis due to the immediate availability of downloadable materials, and full refunds are provided if the course becomes inaccessible before completion.

Are ADA accommodations available?

Yes. You can request accommodations by contacting [email protected].

Does the course include lived‑experience perspectives?

Yes. The course integrates both professional expertise and lived experience as an autistic adult and parent of children with sleep challenges.

Will this course help me feel more confident addressing sleep concerns in real‑world settings?

Yes. The course is designed to make you unshakeably prepared for real‑life sleep concerns across homes, schools, clinics, and hospitals.

About Devina King, B.A. Psy, MSOTR/L, ASDCS, ADHD-RSP

Devina is an autistic occupational therapist, parenting coach, author, and credentialed autism and ADHD specialist with over 17 years of experience working with children, specializing in behavioral regulation and neurodivergence. As both a clinician and a parent, she combines professional expertise with personal experience parenting neurodivergent children who previously struggled with behavioral disorders. This unique perspective allows her to bridge the gap between science and real-world application, offering compassionate, evidence-based behavior treatment strategies that empower children to thrive.

You can learn more about Devina's credentials, lived experience, and approach here.

Publications

Devina has written many books. Her book From Surviving to Thriving: The Art and Science of Guiding Children to Develop Behavioral Regulation available on Amazon here, provides actionable insights for parents, educators, and professionals looking to support children in building essential self-regulation skills. Devina is an AOTA approved professional development provider specializing in online pediatric occupational therapy continuing education courses. Reviewers praise her works for her comprehensive, refreshing and practical, compassionate approach that takes complex psychological concepts and evidence based approach and breaks it down into concepts anyone can understand and apply. Devina has been included in publications such as this article in Psychologist Brief available here and this article in Doctors Magazine available here. Stop by her store here to explore her latest resources, workshops, CEUs and parent coaching sessions designed to help children succeed in their behavioral development journey!