Child Led Play Based Therapy

2 Jan

It looks like my child’s therapist is just playing with my child…..

It may look like your child’s speech-language pathologist is just ‘playing’ with your child, however what we are doing is not only evidenced based but it’s engaging! Did you know that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain, unless it’s done in play which in case it only takes 10 to 20 repetitions? (Dr. Karyn Purvis, et al.)

So what is play based therapy you’re wondering?

Well, play based therapy allows us to target speech and language skills targeted within the context of play. It helps speech therapists to engage your child with purposeful play. Everything we are doing, we are doing with a purpose to develop speech and language skills! It also provides us with opportunities to build on the child’s interests as they explore the environment. Do you think your child would prefer to play with something they don’t like or allow us to follow their lead and let them play with a toy that sparks their interest? Lastly, it allows speech therapists to meet the child where they are at, by matching the child’s abilities.

Let’s recap on the benefits of child led, play based speech therapy.