It has always been my objective to have parents involved in their child’s therapy process. Sometimes I feel like I get almost twice the progress when parents watch, learn and implement my strategies for their child’s speech and language goals. It is important to work with the child and explain to the parents as you go along, what words, pauses, and methods you are using to encourage their child’s language. Explain how you are getting their child to practice certain sounds or language concepts.
At times, I pull back and have the parent work with the child in the same manner that I have modeled so when I am gone and they are playing, the parent is confident in the methods to elicit speech and language.
Occasionally, it doesn’t work to have a parent sit in on the sessions. For whatever reason, the child is less cooperative, wants to sit in mommy’s lap instead of play with me or is distracted. In that case, I ask the parent to leave the room (usually they sit around the corner so they can hear what we are doing) and they see the benefit as their child is settling in and responding. I use the last few minutes of the session to invite the parent back and show what we were doing.
I know including parents is difficult in a school setting with groups of children when you have to be concerned about confidentiality.
Let me know how you therapists deal with that in a school setting. Leave a comment below.
