Why Speech Therapy Uses Play
Many parents may wonder why their children participate in play therapy during their online speech therapy sessions. Just like in in-person therapy, children benefit greatly from services that use play. Play provides a wonderful opportunity for children to feel motivated and have a positive experience while learning the skills they need. Play also gives licensed speech therapists a powerful means of practicing these skills with kids.
What Is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a means in which many evidence-based practices are used to effectively teach children the speech and language skills they need. Children’s speech therapy needs to be engaging and fun for kids to learn. It should also be a positive experience. Play therapy does both of these things. When kids are having fun, they are more motivated and that motivation strongly supports success in therapy.
How Online Speech Therapy for Kids Uses Play Therapy
When children participate in virtual speech therapy, they also play games and bring their own toys to the sessions. By playing games, kids stay engaged but it also give them opportunity to learn skills in context. For example, when kids play a game in therapy, that game may include many different skills they need to make progress.
For example, when children play an app with characters in a house, they get to talk about what the character is doing, where its going and why. They get to describe events and use their communication skills to request, comment and share what they see.
Rewards and Effective Speech Therapy Programs
Games and toys provide plenty of opportunities for kids to learn the skills they need in a way that they understand and in a way they remember. Sometimes therapists use games and toys as rewards. When a child does well participating or participates for the full time to complete an activity, they might play a game as a reward.
There are also many evidence-based programs that focus on play in speech therapy for kids. These programs include evidence to treat many different speech and language needs. Play therapy is an especially powerful tool for helping younger kids who may not otherwise be motivated to participate in therapy.
Play in Speech Therapy Services Explained
Some parents may wonder why their child is playing in when they go for therapy. However, because play is a powerful tool, there are always two levels to therapy. There is the level that kids see, which is playing games and having fun. Then there is the level that speech therapists see, which is providing vital treatment to kids through play.
If you look and listen to what you pediatric speech language pathologist says during play, you’ll find that everything is focused on your child’s skills. You can learn what these skills are by checking their treatment plan and the goals they have. Goals outline what your child works on in speech. Every time your child plays in therapy, they also learn and make progress in their goals.
What Does Play Therapy Look Like?
In play therapy, many different games, toys and apps help to give context to the skills your child learns. For example, if your child plays with a doll house, they will have the chance to practice a wide variety of words, phrases and sentences with their therapist. These words and phrases may include verbs, adjectives, pronouns, prepositions and more.
For early learners, play therapy might focus mainly on joint attention and turn-taking. Joint attention is when your child is aware of their therapist and aware that their therapist is attending to the same object they are. It may also mean they are aware of and attending their speech therapist. Turn-taking means that your child takes turns with others in play or other activities, an important skill for social communication.
Is Play Only Used In Children’s Speech Therapy?
Children participate in play in many places, especially at home. You can use play at home with your child to help support their skills. By using language strategies or giving strong speech models, you given them the chance to hear how speech and language are made.
Importantly, play at home only supplements speech therapy services for kids, so your child should also be seeing a licensed professional. However, by practicing strategies with your child during playtime, you support their development and learn more about how their therapist may help them.
What Words Do I Use in Play?
Enrich your child’s playtime experience by talking about what you do in play and what they do in play. Importantly, focus on talking about what’s happening rather than asking questions. Questions you ask should only account for 10% of playtime.
Learn more about core words and practice using them during playtime with your child. Core words include common words that children use to make many different sentences. These words include verbs, pronouns, prepositions and adjectives.
By using these words in phrases and sentences, such as ‘you go,’ ‘go up,’ ‘we walk,’ ‘down slide,’ and ‘I get food,’ you help your child’s language skills. Think about the play activities and which of core words you may best use.
Why Speech Therapists Use Play
In this post, we talked about why play is used in children’s speech therapy services. Play provides a powerful opportunity for children to learn new skills. Evidence-based programs exist around play and parents use play at home to support their child’s communication.
By using play, pediatric speech language pathologists provide both rewarding and effective treatment. Speak to your licensed language therapist today to learn more about how to help your child’s communication in play today.
