Recap of Tips for Doing Therapy at Home During COVID
I want to thank everyone who joined us Tuesday night on Zoom to talk about dealing with the challenges of home therapy during quarantine. It was great to meet some new friends and answer your questions. I really look forward to our next opportunity to talk. So here is a quick recap of tips and topics from the other night for those who weren’t able join us.
Moving online has come with a steep learning curve for many of us, therapist and clients alike. So here are some things to keep in mind to help ease the process.
Consult with your therapist by phone or email before your first online session to go over what materials are needed, space requirements, lighting, clothing to see movement, camera or computer positioning, time needed for a session.
Do a road test and become familiar with the platform your therapist will be using before you have an antsy child and therapist waiting for you to figure out how to log on!
Talk about your mutual goals for the online therapy sessions. Are we looking for progress or is this a simple maintenance program? Be kind to each other and keep your expectations realistic!
Some children will sit down and work without supervision. Others will need your physical presence in the room to help them stay focused and not wander away.
If you are working within a school IEP plan document your time, services and concerns for future evaluations. A journal may be helpful for documenting changes, lack of change or to compare the development of behaviors over time.
Have credit cards/ insurance info for payment ready, keep a running list of questions or concerns to refer back to during your session.
View your therapist as a resource for questions, concerns, additional reading or online materials
Pro Tip: Try to use a space or materials in a new way. Try fine motor work in the bathtub with colored water and an eyedropper, beans into bottles, practice writing in flour or sandbox. Work outside at the picnic table. A bed/tent with a pile of blankets, pillows and stuffies can double as a ball pit. Yardwork or household chores can become big or fine motor work. Turn the guest room into a big motor playroom until Grandma can come visit again. Think outside of the box! See my previous blog for more information on space suggestions.
A therapy schedule is as individual as each child but consistency is always going to be your best friend. Staying close to your usual office schedule will make the transition back to office visits easier but may not be possible. If you have a home program and activities you want to incorporate into your regular routine, again, consistency is your best ally.
Here are some tips:
Don’t try to replicate an office visit. Break the work into smaller chunks sprinkled throughout the day or week. See my blog # for schedule tips and the state changes of neurological overload that indicate it’s time to stop, take a break and resume your activities later.
Keep all your necessary materials organized in a bin or box for easy access. Have your child decorate and help assemble the everything to help foster a sense of ownership. The same for any visuals, charts or schedules.
Be aware of everyone’s time. Have your space and child ready to work when the session is scheduled to start
Address all distractions before a session like snacks, siblings or bathroom runs to keep excuses for wandering away to a minimum. Have a “ going to work” routine to help get everyone ready to start.
Pro Tip:Include siblings in home program work, they can help each other, turn it into a game. This can help foster an appreciation for the other in a new light or make a challenged child feel more on par with a sibling.
As with so much in life attitude can make all the difference. No one will deny that therapy can be frustrating, there are reasons you are doing this work, but it can also be a lot like playing when done in a different space with new materials under different guidance. Know that we see you trying so hard to do your best in difficult times. Every therapist I know is looking forward to seeing their kiddos walk back into the office but until that day comes please know we are still resources to help support your family. And we miss your smiles!
