It is a stressful time when your child needs extra help. I am the mom of three boys with autism, and I know this feeling well. Thankfully, I have learned how to seek help when needed through the years. If you have started your child in therapy like speech, occupational, or physical therapy, you have already taken a massive step toward helping your child and your family. In this week’s blog, I talked with our awesome therapists and reflected on my own experience to provide some ways to help others make the most out of therapy sessions.
Be Open and Honest About Your Child’s Abilities and Behaviors
There is no need for embarrassment when it comes to your child. You are seeking out therapy to help your child. It is important for you to fully disclose to your child’s therapist what type of behaviors to expect when working with your child. This helps the therapist know where to start and how to keep your child and themself safe. Your therapist probably has some tips and ideas on how to help with problem behaviors. This is so important. For instance, when my middle son cries, he wants to be completely alone in his room. It is typical for someone to want to console a crying child, but if my son is crying and you try to hug him or comfort him, he may push you away or hit you. My youngest son, despite being the loudest person in the world, hates it when people talk loud. It is better now, but he used to hit his head if someone was being too loud. All these things are important things for therapists and anyone who interacts with your child to know.
Be Present During The Session
Be present during the therapy session, if possible. Sometimes your child will see their PT, OT, or Speech Therapist at school. In that case, you can communicate with them between sessions. If you are having therapy in a clinic or at home, try to be a part of the therapy. I love sitting down with my boys during music therapy. I get to listen to my oldest play the piano and sing and my younger two get to explore new instruments. I am also there to HELP the therapist should the boys have any issues like meltdowns or any problem behavior. It happens. I want to help them. Every child is different so talk to your child’s therapist and see what they need from you and how you can be a part of therapy sessions. Ask questions! The therapist will answer any questions you have.
Ask For Homework
Ask your child’s therapist to create goals that include YOU. For example, you can ask your child’s therapist for homework that you and your child can do together. These could even be games you do with your child. The game, Twister is a great game that teaches following directions and works on gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. Uno Stacko is a great game for turn-taking, learning colors, and fine motor skills. Connect 4 works on fine motor, colors, counting, and turn-taking. ALL these games work on social skills and are language-building activities! Plus, you are spending quality time with your child. There are so many things your therapist can give you homework. Therapy should never be limited to just the time your child spends with their therapist. Here is an example to think about… There are 168 hours in a week. If your child is in speech therapy and is learning to use a tablet to communicate. If the only time they practice communicating using an AAC device is 2 hours a week with the therapist, do you think your child will be successful in learning the device? They will not. Be involved and together you and your child will grow.
Trust Your Child’s Therapist
Therapists do evaluations to get an idea of what your child can do and from that, they set goals. The therapist wants to know what your goals are for your child and will ask questions. It is ok if you do not know the answer. When in doubt just answer “no”, to the question. It is not helpful for your child to answer “yes, they can” when they really cannot. The therapist can give you ideas for goals. You are part of a team. Let the therapist help you and in turn, help the therapist. Trust your child’s therapist. Their goal is to help your child. Sometimes kids cry during therapy. Therapy is hard work and kids do not know how to express themselves. Ask questions when you have them. Let the therapist educate you about what they are working on.
Take Therapy Out Into The Community!
One of our favorite things to do is to go on community outings! We go to restaurants, grocery shopping, the library, Target, and even the DMV. The world needs to experience our children and our children need to experience the world. Plus, you have a therapist to help! At the grocery store, our speech therapist, Maittee helps the boys request things, we have gone on scavenger hunts looking for items on a list, Victoria and Maya, our OTs help the boys scan and bag groceries, meanwhile our physical therapist, Tiffany is teaching them how to use a cart, while she is watching them move through their environment so she knows what they need to work on with their exercises. Not to mention the social-emotional gains they make. Don’t worry about judgment from others, we have received such loving treatment when we go out into the community.
Conclusion
For a lot of people, the experience of their child needing therapy can be overwhelming, BUT you did it. You sought out solutions for your child to improve their life and that is awesome! Take the time to get to know your child’s therapist, learn from them, and work with them to ensure your child reaches their full potential. I promise you, it is worth it.
Love & Co. Therapeutic Interventions
referrals@loveandcompanytherapies.com
☎ 1 (941) 557-3881
☎ 1 (941) 264-8641
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