Working with Kids

A lot of the clients in the clinic are children working on artic and language disorders, so you'll quickly become comfortable working with children. Whether or not you're familiar with working with kids, below are some things that may help you with creating productive sessions with your little ones.

Bring Back-up ideas

Sometime an activity just doesn't work how you expected it to or a client just doesn't want to play a certain game. Bringing extra activities gives you options if you don't like the way a certain activity is going or gives you the option to add something else if your client finishes sooner than you expected. This don't need

Get to know your client

Does your client like superheroes? The kitchen set? Work the likes of your client into your session to keep them engaged and ready to work. Your client may think they're just playing house with a baby doll but really they're working on things like requesting without even knowing it!

Visual schedules

It can be helpful for young clients to know what to expect in the session and how many more activities they have left. Schedules can also be used as a motivator if desirable activity is placed toward the end of the session so the client has something to work toward.

Work in breaks

Fifty minutes can be a long time to expect a child to focus, even if you're varying the activities and goals. Sometimes taking 2 minutes to let your client sit there and play with cars or color can be the most important thing for your session - it gives the client a mental break so they don't get overwhelmed and shut down

Make it functional

So you're working on initial /p/ - how many times do you think your client is going to need to say "platypus" in their daily life? What about "play" and "potty"? We want what we're working on to be meaningful and helpful for the client so it is easier for them generalize what we work on into their daily lives.

Use Books

Books are one of the best therapy tools out there! You can work on pretty much any language or artic goal with the right book. You can work on recognizing a target sound and using auditory bombardment, describing illustrations, predicting what may happen next, sequencing what happened - the possibilities are pretty much endless! And using books in your sessions will make your clients more comfortable with them and may even foster a love for books, which will help you client improve literacy-based skills that will help them in school and life.

don't be afraid to be silly

Kids don't want to come to speech because they want to work on their /r/ sound. They come because they want to have fun and play games with us! Don't be afraid to get on the floor, make funny faces, and just be silly with your client. The more fun your client is having in their session, the more willing they are going to be to work with you when you have to do something that isn't as fun.

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