Setting Up for Success in Teletherapy

The following are tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of your child's speech and language teletherapy sessions!

1. Find a Workspace for Your Child: Set up a space for your child to focus, preferably with a table and chair in a quiet area. Minimize distractions by turning off the TV, removing pets from the area, and keeping siblings occupied in another space.
2. Have Toys Handy: Keep a few toys at the workspace, in a covered bin if possible! These toys may be used to target specific goals during your session or can be used as reinforcement.
3. Help Your Child Get Excited for Speech: Have your child prepare something exciting to share during therapy! She could make up a song or dance, write a story, find a funny joke to tell, dress up in a costume or find a place to hide and scare their therapist!
4. Count Down To Speech: Make sure to give your child ample warning for their therapy session so he knows what’s to come and isn’t caught off guard. In the morning, remind him it’s his speech day. Give him warnings an hour, half hour, 15, 10 and 5 minutes before speech. This will help him be mentally prepared.
5. Use a Visual Schedule: Visual schedules provide concrete, visual information that helps your child organize her world. They tell your child what to expect, which will reduce uncertainty and behavior problems. Your therapist can help you create and use visual schedules!

-Olivia Hecker, M.S., CCC-SLP