This is the end of a productive child-led therapy session! There are many benefits to using a child-led therapy approach where we focus on engagement, not compliance. Repeat after me: observe, wait, and listen! This will help you engage your child in preferred activities, build intrinsic motivation, and work on improving language and social skills.
Here are some tips on how you can follow your child’s lead at home:
Join in on your child’s play and have fun! That sounds so simple, but it truly is that easy. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to play. The goal should be to have fun and continue to build the connection between you and your child. I want you to let your child dictate the toys you will use, the way you will play, and for how long. Resist the urge to correct your child’s play and take over.
Respond with interest. When your child interacts with you, respond with excitement and enthusiasm.
Make comments and narrate your child’s play schema. I want you to describe how your child is playing, what toys your child is using, and what you are doing during play. For example, you may say, “You have the green car! It is going so fast. I think I am going to drive the red car. Beep beep! Here I come!”
Try your best not to ask too many questions! This is the hardest habit for many parents to break. Typically, parents are eager to keep the conversation going, so they ask many questions during play. For example, you may be asking, what should go next? What do you have? Which color block do you want? Instead, I want you to make comments and describe what you see your child doing while they play.
Be flexible and let yourself be silly! A big part of following your child’s lead is playing with toys in silly ways, thinking outside of the box, and enjoying the interaction. It is wonderful to be silly and not direct your child. You are targeting language skills that you don’t realize, which benefits your child’s growth.
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