Thank you so much for posting this! I have been doing teletherapy for almost 3 months now and I feel like the first month and a half I was coming up with so many good ideas. Then the disappointment came with some sessions where I was really struggling to come up with anything new or exciting to get my youngsters to respond. Its relieving to see others occasionally having the same emotions that I have experienced within those sessions. This is new to all of us and when its just you, it can be hard to think about all the others out there working their way through the same situation. Some Therapy Ideas I've used that kids seemed to enjoy: 1. Using some sort of animal puppet toy (I have a puppy one) and having them dig through sensory boxes for different items to label or modeling helping the puppet pick out some snack items out of a few visual options (to target choice making and food labels) 2. Hiding animals in various objects I found around the house and placed on my table (using the smaller animals you get in bundles/buckets) and prompting the kids to either tell me where I should look next between 2 visual options or having them call out to the animal to come out.
I completely understand how you feel and even once you get the hang of teletherapy, it's always a challenge to think of new ways to keep these little ones engaged while targeting your goals. Thank you for those great tips! I will have to try them and see how they respond. I love learning from other clinicians. Keeps me on my toes, keeps me growing as a clinician and always teaches me some new and exciting way to connect and get my little clients excited to want to play and communicate. I have a new video coming up this weekend so stay tuned and hope it can add to your many ideas. Keep up the amazing and sometimes challenging work!
Thank you for your kind words! I had to speak from the heart. May you find joy and strength to keep on providing the best services you can with what you have.
I am a speech therapist from Hong Kong. Thank you very much for sharing your experience on teletherapy. Same as you, I've never thought I would deliver my speech therapy session through a screen. I am really experienced at doing face-to-face sessions with my perverbal students. It's really hard for me to do a session with a pre-verbal kid. Try to look positive, we will gain more experience after COVID 19, and nothing can stop us from helping the students we love.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I almost cried with you because I really miss touching, HOH, direct physical prompting etc. I have cried so much and have anxiety about my therapy plans being engaging enough. You are truly amazing and thoughtful.
Thank you for your kind words! Doing teletherapy was never in my mind, however, we have been thrown into this situation so I had to start showing up from a place of curiosity and service. Our clients need us to be strong and keep on showing up and figure out what is it they love and enjoy so we can create strong and meaningful connections even through a screen. But I get you, I feel we are most effective in person but when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Breath into your anxiety and fear, and before a session, connect with your breathe and heart to help guide you to the next right thing you should do for yourself and your clients. Each session won't be amazing but celebrate the small wins and break up a session into 2 if you have to. Wishing you love and healing! We can do hard things!
Ana!! It's wonderful to see that you after all these years. Thank you for sharing your video, I felt so deeply what you were saying and teared up a number of times. I'm doing all their favorite things and they're not responding?!? Thank you for your tips. Some of my kiddos get sad that they can't play with the fun toy I have, so I ask families to find things in our environment we both may have in common to play with or items we can turn into play. One thing I love using are empty paper towel rolls/ or empty toilet paper rolls and empty boxes and paper bags, we've played with kids for days on it... along with routine based language scripts. There's always so much to learn and grow as an SLP- wish we could have SLP team forum of support and idea sharing, would love to chat more... wishing you all the best!
Oneida!!! Wow, so wonderful to reconnect! Thank you for taking the time to reach out and say hello! I understand the struggles with teletherapy. It's not normal for kids to love sitting and interacting with us through a screen but this is what we have so we are all trying our best. I love that you are using home supplies such as boxes and towel rolls which make great open ended toys. Are you still in the schools? What ages/grades? I hope some of these videos give you some ideas. I plan on posting some pumpkin themed videos soon. Keep smiling and shining your beautiful light! Best of luck with therapy:)
OMG I teared up with you on this. Just finished a disaster session with a 2 year old client . I even lent the family my office cube chair this time so he wouldn't run. This little one seems to be ruling his house hold and just wouldnt even sit today. I tried his favorite songs that go along with the puzzle pieces Vehicles and ocean animals, but he was not to be engaged today. Tried for 1/2 hour and tried to coach parents so it wouldn't seem like a complete waste of time.I am finding parent coaching very challenging. I am so sad. I used to be so good at this!I am following you! Thanks for your support!
Sounds like you had a challenging session. There will be days like that no matter what you do so be kind with yourself and know that everyone is trying to get used to this new way of interacting. I don't think we should try to make a 2 year old sit for longer than 5-10 minutes if they are not excited to participate. I think you did well by coaching the parents but if everyone tries to make the kid engage with you via screen, it will definitely end in more disaster sessions. Every child is different so set your expectations low. My suggestion is to maybe figure out what gets child motivated at home and ask parent to bring that item out only during your calls (or at least until after the session is over) and when the child listens and sits then he/she gets that item. Maybe a yummy healthy snack or toy they love. Instead of using the chair, I would have child sit in parents lap. Maybe some fun squeezes and bouncing child on their lap with a special song to get some rhythm and sensory input. If child is not too heavy, a good game to play and sing is "Zoom Zoom Zoom we are going to the MOON" song and parent lifts child on take off. Then shortly after you do your instruction and if child can attend for 2-5 minutes then it's progress and you give extra positive feedback when they do participate. For now your goal may be just to have child attend to structured task for X number of minutes or turns. You can also ask parent to place the computer in location where you can see them on the floor playing with whatever child likes and you just take notes, observe and guide them with ideas throughout their play. If you push too much coaching on family too fast they may become overwhelmed. Go slow, problem solve to see what works, don't give the behavior too much attention or it will increase, provide written feedback (simple points) so parents can remember what you suggested, and give them ideas of things to try at home. Don't loose hope. Don't know this kid but may be an off day. I have had 15 minute sessions because kid was not engaged and parent had to go keep them safe. Good luck and keep me posted!
Ana Ayala thank you so much for your excellent suggestions! I used to have 18-20 sessions a week and due to the virus I’m down to 6, 5 are EI. I will watch all your videos again. You are so very sweet and supportive! Thank you! Warmly, Katy Croshier
I’m cheering for you Katy! Focus on the 6 that you have by providing the best care you can and continue to check in with the other families if you feel it’s appropriate. You can even suggest a quick hello session so there is no pressure and child & family continues that relationship with you. Build from there and just express that you are available to problem solve it give ideas. You can share my videos with them if you feel it’s appropriate so they can use some of my suggestions at home. Wishing you smoother sessions!
So so glad I stumbled upon your videos! I am a CFY starting out with teletherapy and I have found it to be challenging. I am going to try out some of your tips during my sessions tomorrow! Thank you thank you, you have definitely eased my anxiety.
Thank you! I remember being in your shoes and so nervous as a CFY. I am glad you feel more prepared and that my video helped ease your nerves. It takes practice and slowly you will gain more confidence. Teletherapy is new to most of us but parents are grateful that we can continue to provide support for their children. Take each session a day at a time, make it fun, follow the child’s lead and consult with parents ideas of what’s working and what’s not. I am sure you will be great! Keep me posted on your journey:) Best of luck Julia!
Hola! Gracias por ver mi video y ojalá que te de mas ánimo y ideas para seguir adelante durante este difícil proceso. We can do hard things! Saludos!!!
Thank you for the complement! This pandemic has shown me that we can all adapt, learn, grow and keep showing up strong! I wish you all the best in you first teletherapy session!!!
Oh thank you so much for your kind words! It really means lots to me! I love working with children and it brings me great joy to watch them grow, develop and have an impact on their world. Keep smiling your beautiful smile!
Ana, thank you for your sincerity! I'm finishing my last 12-week placement for graduate school at a bilingual pediatric therapy center this semester and was moved by your words. In my experience with teletherapy so far, there definitely was a bumpy transition for everyone involved. Anyway, I hope you continue to shine and bring out the best in all your clients. :)
Hola! Huge thanks for your kind feedback! I remember being in your shoes (almost 15 years ago) and wanting extra supports so I could better serve my clients. I hope my content gives you some ideas that you can implement in your sessions. Please reach out if you ever have any questions. We can all use some guidance along the way. Good luck with everything! We need more bilingual therapists out there! Please share with other graduate students:)
Hi Andreya! I agree, it's extra hard with some clients. We need to get creative, stay positive, and also not force anything. Best wishes in therapy! Have a wonderful day and thanks for watching!
Thank you! These times are not easy but we can continue to grow, learn and show up strong for our children so we can spark some joy, laughter and create stronger connections. ❤️
You are welcomed! We will become even better clinicians and humans after this. Adapt, change grow and keep on serving and focusing on what we can control. Best wishes! Thank you !
Sparks Communication Thank you for the reply 💛. I am a male preschool SLP. I was so depressed with this whole online thing. That day morning I wanted some motivation and I was frozen-minded before starting video session. I watched your video. Extremely inspirational . I was so charged up. Stimulated with ideas. Whole session went amazing. Rhymes, actions, puppet time and more. Parents were super excited too. Thank you sooo much 💛😊
How wonderful to have more make SLPs in our field ! Sounds like you had a very engaging & productive session. Another thing that helps is to get parents involved and also coach them through a daily play activity or routine so they can learn how to incorporate more strategies. This way, you empower them to be their child’s best therapist.
I know, it gets me every time! It's so fun to watch the little ones get a bit startled so they enjoy this activity lots. It's a great toy to have to get them to start requesting and using words like "more/monkey/u-u-a-a/again."
Hi Ana, An amazing video. Thank you for sharing this. Am a parent to 2 year old, and struggling to engage my kid whilst in between my Job and Parent responsibilities. I am looking for tele-therapy for kid, just wondering if you would be able to help and guide me. Many Thanks.
Hi Luvy! Thank you for your feedback! Is your child struggling to communicate? If so you can first reach out to your local regional center (that is if you live in the US) and request an evaluation . Early intervention is important so you can start there or reach out to a local private practice that offer speech therapy. In my other videos you can find some simple yet effective techniques you can try at home to stimulate language and increase engagement. Hope this helps.
Thank you! I’m glad you found value in it! I just uploaded a new video (part 3) on how to use simple game of peekaboo to increase s communication. Best wishes!
