When I explain to others what I do (whether I’m talking to coworkers, the parents of my clients/students, or individuals who are studying to become speech and language professionals), one of my favorite things to share is this: If you walk past my therapy room and it looks like all I’m doing is playing and having fun with my client(s), you can bet I’m doing it right. Likewise, if it looks and feels like my clients are “getting everything they want” as they have fun during my sessions, it is likely because there is lots of communication happening. More often than not, my sessions are enjoyable and fruitful as I provide child-led therapy.
What is child-led therapy and why does it matter?
Child-led speech therapy is my favorite way to provide support to my clients. It simply means that I follow my clients’ leads in order to determine what happens during the therapy sessions. It doesn’t mean that I don’t have a “plan” but it means that my plan is flexible! For instance, perhaps for a session I was prepared to talk about actions using picture cards, but my client enters the room and discovers bubbles. He or she may say “bubbles” or simply reach for the bubbles. At this point, I could continue to use the action cards or I can pivot and cover the myriad of actions and language that naturally occur while blowing bubbles (as a matter of fact, check out this blog on bubbles if you’d like to know more about why bubbles are outstanding for promoting language and communication). Following my client’s lead will likely lead to a greater outcome than my initial plan. Below are some reasons why I find child-led therapy to be so effective.
Child-led therapy results in increased engagement, fun, and motivation. When therapy activities align with children’s interests, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated to participate actively in the sessions. In turn, this can lead to better learning outcomes.
It leads to the generalization of skills. Because “real life” skills are being taught (as compared to say, flashcards), skills learned in child-led therapy are more likely to “stick” and to generalize to different settings and contexts.
It’s natural for everyone involved! Child-led therapy encourages communication using natural interaction patterns, such as turn-taking and topic maintenance. This can help children develop more fluent and effective communication skills overall.
It promotes respect for individuality. Child-led therapy respects children’s individuality and communication styles. It acknowledges that each child is unique and may have different strengths, challenges, and preferences when it comes to communication.
It results in positive therapeutic relationships. Child-led therapy helps build a positive therapeutic relationship between the child and the therapist. When children feel heard, understood, and respected, they are more likely to trust the therapist and actively participate in therapy.
It builds self-esteem! Allowing children to take the lead in therapy can boost their confidence and self-esteem. When they feel empowered to express themselves and make choices, they are more likely to develop a positive self-image.
It can result in increased parent involvement. When child-led therapy involves parents or caregivers in the therapy process, it allows them to learn strategies for supporting their child's communication development in everyday life.
It fosters creativity. Child-led therapy encourages creativity and exploration. Therapeutic activities can be tailored to the child's interests, allowing them to express themselves in creative ways.
It promotes therapist flexibility. This type of therapy encourages therapists to adapt their interventions and therapy based on children’s interests, strengths, and needs.
Finally, it’s less stressful for the therapist! If the plan is to allow one’s clients to do what they’re interested in, then the job of the SLP is to simply follow their lead. This cuts down on time and energy spent on involved lesson plans that may or may not have worked out anyway.
In summary
Overall, child-led speech therapy can be highly effective in promoting communication skills and confidence in children, while also fostering a positive and supportive therapeutic environment. It promotes creativity and can readily transfer skills from speech sessions into the “real world” with parents and caregivers. If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to give it a try!!
At Latch on to Language, I specialize in working with moms, moms-to-be, and babies for lactation concerns. I also specialize in working with children from toddler-age to teenage and most frequently service those with deficits in articulation/phonology and language. I offer in-home services to clients in Cecil County, MD, and nearby towns/cities in MD, PA, and DE. Additional travel fees apply to locations beyond this area. Virtual sessions are also effective and can be provided to address many lactation, speech, and language concerns.
If you're struggling or you’d simply like more information, please reach out to see if Latch on to Language may be a good fit! I look forward to working with you! 🌟
Comments