Growing Your “Therapeutic Touch” in Daily Activities as a Parent or Caregiver

For children receiving speech and occupational therapy, integrating strategies and/or targets into everyday activities can significantly enhance progress. Repetition across different environments reinforcement, as well as, promotes carryover and maintenance. Whoa, okay - that was a lot I agree. I know what you’re thinking… 

Okay, so how am I supposed to use our regular routines and activities and “make it like therapy?”

You probably sit in on your child’s therapy sessions and watch their therapist who makes it look so easy to weave therapy goals into an activity. How do they do it? The answer won’t surprise you - it’s practice, of course and you can do it too. 

Resource: The Child Interest and Activity Plan

The Child Interest and Activity Plan is a great resource to help you gain a better understanding of strategies to implement throughout your day so you can work on therapy related goals too. Available through the FIPP Center, this tool is designed to be used in conjunction with your therapist, but we encourage you to check it out on your own.  You’ll learn about strategies to: 

• Invite - create positive interactions
• Engage - increase interactions together
• Teach - help them learn effectively

There is a printable form that you can use to keep track of strategies and activities to see what works best for you and your child. Pick a strategy and an activity and try it out for a few days to see how your child responds. At first, you’ll have to focus on employing the strategies, but bit by bit you’ll notice it comes naturally to you as well.  Want more support? Make sure to discuss at your next session with your child’s individual therapist(s) for ideas and strategies. We are here to guide and support you every step of the way! You can access this resource and find more information [here]  

Start Looking at Daily Routines & Activities Differently

Hopefully now you’ve got some wheels turning on how you can engage and encourage interactions that support your child’s ongoing development.  Check out the list below for common daily activities to consider.  Morning Routines: Starting the Day Right Mornings can be hectic, but they are also a great time to engage. Think about the ways you can invite, engage, and teach while:

• • Brushing teeth
  • Getting dressed
  • Eating Breakfast

Playtime: Learning Through Fun Play is a natural way for children to learn and develop new skills. You’ll notice their attention span improves significantly when they find something that interests them! Some ideas:

• • Building Blocks
  • Sensory Play
  • Imaginary Play

  Mealtime: Opportunities for Communication Mealtime is a perfect opportunity to work on communication and social skills.

• • Setting the Table
  • Using Utensils
  • Describing Food
  • Requesting Items

  Outdoor Activities: Exploring and Learning Outdoor activities provide a wealth of opportunities for interaction and exploration. Consider how you can use the following:

• • Nature Walks
  • Playground Time
  • Obstacle Courses

 

Long story short - integrating therapy into daily activities doesn’t have to be super complicated. 

By learning strategies and practicing using them in daily activities you’ll grow even more confident in your role facilitating communication, engagement, and growth. 

Want some more specific activities to keep you busy this summer? Check out these previous blog posts for ideas!

Summer Activities Tips & Tricks to Increase Speech and Language Skills During Summer Break