. Yes, I am writing about this movie! I can hardly believe it either. But, this movie can create some great opportunities for conversation with adolescents and young adults with social communication issues. I used it with a teen who was making inappropriate comments at school. I would show a scene and we would talk about what happened, if it was appropriate, why it was inappropriate and what the characters should have done instead. Then, I had the young man consider being in a similar situation and tell me what he would/should do. It is a fun way to address some of the more sensitive issues.
Be sure to watch the movie ahead of time and know which parts you want to show based on the individual need of your client.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Napolean Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite. Yes, I am writing about this movie! I can hardly believe it either. But, this movie can create some great opportunities for conversation with adolescents and young adults with social communication issues. I used it with a teen who was making inappropriate comments at school. I would show a scene and we would talk about what happened, if it was appropriate, why it was inappropriate and what the characters should have done instead. Then, I had the young man consider being in a similar situation and tell me what he would/should do. It is a fun way to address some of the more sensitive issues.
Be sure to watch the movie ahead of time and know which parts you want to show based on the individual need of your client.
. Yes, I am writing about this movie! I can hardly believe it either. But, this movie can create some great opportunities for conversation with adolescents and young adults with social communication issues. I used it with a teen who was making inappropriate comments at school. I would show a scene and we would talk about what happened, if it was appropriate, why it was inappropriate and what the characters should have done instead. Then, I had the young man consider being in a similar situation and tell me what he would/should do. It is a fun way to address some of the more sensitive issues.
Be sure to watch the movie ahead of time and know which parts you want to show based on the individual need of your client.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Building Rapport with Children
As I mentioned in a previous post, it is essential to build a good
rapport with your clients/patients! In this post I will discuss ways to
build a good rapport with children.
Genuinely care about them. Not just about their speech/language but about them as a child.
Know what they are talking about . . . watch the movies they like, read a few of the books they like, walk down the toy aisle at the store.
Give them choices. Even if the only choice you can give is "Do you want to play this game or that game?" give them a choice. It makes them feel like you care what they think.
Pay attention to them. I try to do most of my charting with children after we are done, so that I'm not looking away constantly. They do notice!
Remember what they told you in previous sessions and bring it up, they will realize you were really listening.
Follow through. Follow through when you tell them you will do something or that they can have something.
Genuinely care about them. Not just about their speech/language but about them as a child.
Know what they are talking about . . . watch the movies they like, read a few of the books they like, walk down the toy aisle at the store.
Give them choices. Even if the only choice you can give is "Do you want to play this game or that game?" give them a choice. It makes them feel like you care what they think.
Pay attention to them. I try to do most of my charting with children after we are done, so that I'm not looking away constantly. They do notice!
Remember what they told you in previous sessions and bring it up, they will realize you were really listening.
Follow through. Follow through when you tell them you will do something or that they can have something.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Just a few thoughts . . .
The office that I work for just relocated and here are a few things that I come away with.
1. I love that in our new office the games are located in an area where the children cannot see them! This cuts down on "I want to pick a game." issues.
2. I love that the new office has automatically locking doors. This is awesome for evenings when one of us is there alone. Much less worry about safety!
3. I cont. to wish that each therapist had a computer/tablet for charting. It would be awesome to be able to do my paperwork whenever I have downtime-rather than having to wait for an available computer. A tablet would be awesome because I could use it to chart during the session as well as use it for speech apps.
4. I really wish that each therapist could be assigned to a specific therapy room. That way we could keep supplies for our clients in the closet and not have to haul them in each time we see them AND more importantly it would be ideal for our clients with autism or similar disorders that are thrown off when anything changes.
5. I love that there is an observation room for parents. However, I wish that this was available in all therapy rooms, not just the testing room. I firmly believe that parents "buying into therapy" is essential. When they can watch what we are doing they can implement things from therapy at home thus increase progress across multiple settings.
6. I love that this company encourages the therapists to communicate with each other. The OTs and SLPs all share an office space allowing us to discuss needs of shared clients and bounce ideas off of each other.
1. I love that in our new office the games are located in an area where the children cannot see them! This cuts down on "I want to pick a game." issues.
2. I love that the new office has automatically locking doors. This is awesome for evenings when one of us is there alone. Much less worry about safety!
3. I cont. to wish that each therapist had a computer/tablet for charting. It would be awesome to be able to do my paperwork whenever I have downtime-rather than having to wait for an available computer. A tablet would be awesome because I could use it to chart during the session as well as use it for speech apps.
4. I really wish that each therapist could be assigned to a specific therapy room. That way we could keep supplies for our clients in the closet and not have to haul them in each time we see them AND more importantly it would be ideal for our clients with autism or similar disorders that are thrown off when anything changes.
5. I love that there is an observation room for parents. However, I wish that this was available in all therapy rooms, not just the testing room. I firmly believe that parents "buying into therapy" is essential. When they can watch what we are doing they can implement things from therapy at home thus increase progress across multiple settings.
6. I love that this company encourages the therapists to communicate with each other. The OTs and SLPs all share an office space allowing us to discuss needs of shared clients and bounce ideas off of each other.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Building Rapport with Elderly
It is important to establish a good rapport with all of your
patients/clients. In this post I will discuss ways to build a good
rapport with the elderly. It is important to help them feel that you
genuinely care about them.
The most important step to doing that is to GENUINELY CARE. I know that sounds simple but people (esp. adults) can tell when you are being genuine and when you are being fake.
Don't treat them like children. They have lived a long life and could likely teach you a thing or two.
Ask about their lives. Ask about pictures in the room, where they have lived, their family (of origin and that they raised), occupations, hobbies, etc.
When/if you hit a sensitive topic express genuine concern and quickly change the topic.
Look for common interests.
Tell them about you. Don't get carried away with this but let them know you are human. Let them connect with you as more than just a teacher/student relationship.
Greet them before you jump into therapy.
Be sure to focus exclusively on them while you are with them. Don't get distracted by other people, phone calls, turn off the TV, etc. This is their time! If you NEED to be available for a phone call explain that you may be interrupted but that you will make it as brief as possible.
Remember what you talked about during the last session and bring some of those things up again. For example, if they had an appointment coming up at your last appt. ask how it went.
Remember be real with them. I have learned a lot from the geriatric patients I have worked with and have truly enjoyed being with them. Be in the moment and you will be able to build some real relationships of trust and caring.
The most important step to doing that is to GENUINELY CARE. I know that sounds simple but people (esp. adults) can tell when you are being genuine and when you are being fake.
Don't treat them like children. They have lived a long life and could likely teach you a thing or two.
Ask about their lives. Ask about pictures in the room, where they have lived, their family (of origin and that they raised), occupations, hobbies, etc.
When/if you hit a sensitive topic express genuine concern and quickly change the topic.
Look for common interests.
Tell them about you. Don't get carried away with this but let them know you are human. Let them connect with you as more than just a teacher/student relationship.
Greet them before you jump into therapy.
Be sure to focus exclusively on them while you are with them. Don't get distracted by other people, phone calls, turn off the TV, etc. This is their time! If you NEED to be available for a phone call explain that you may be interrupted but that you will make it as brief as possible.
Remember what you talked about during the last session and bring some of those things up again. For example, if they had an appointment coming up at your last appt. ask how it went.
Remember be real with them. I have learned a lot from the geriatric patients I have worked with and have truly enjoyed being with them. Be in the moment and you will be able to build some real relationships of trust and caring.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Holiday ASL
It is always nice to be greeted with a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Mother's day" but it means even more when it comes from a child who has never been able to say it before! I love seeing the joy on a parent's face when their child uses a social phrase appropriately for the first time! Often, I have seen parents tear up when their child says or signs "I love you!" or another similar phrase. So, I have compiled a short list of links to holiday phrases in ASL. Often when a child has a language delay or disorder sign language can help them communicate before they are able to verbalize.
Merry Christmas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Happy Valentines day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Happy Thanksgiving: http://www.aslpro.com/phrases/
Happy New Year: http://www.signingsavvy.com/
Happy Mother's day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Happy Father's day: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=happy+fathers+day+asl&FORM=VIRE3#view=detail&mid=5DE6D9888E798E7E50DC5DE6D9888E798E7E50DC
Enjoy!
Merry Christmas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Happy Valentines day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Happy Thanksgiving: http://www.aslpro.com/phrases/
Happy New Year: http://www.signingsavvy.com/
Happy Mother's day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Happy Father's day: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=happy+fathers+day+asl&FORM=VIRE3#view=detail&mid=5DE6D9888E798E7E50DC5DE6D9888E798E7E50DC
Enjoy!
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Puzzle Links
Chunky puzzles:
Melissa & Doug Jumbo ABC Chunky Puzzle
Melissa & Doug Shapes - Chunky Puzzle
Hape First Shapes Puzzle
Melissa & Doug Mix-Match-Stack Chunky Puzzle-Occupations
Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Activity Puzzle
Sounds puzzles:
Melissa & Doug Vehicle Sound Puzzle
Melissa & Doug Farm Sound Puzzle
Melissa & Doug Shapes Sound Puzzle
Floor puzzles:
Melissa & Doug Going Places Floor Puzzle - 48 Piece
Melissa & Doug Search and Find Sunny Hill Farm 48 Piece Floor Puzzle
Alphabet Letters & Numbers Educational Foam Puzzle Floor Mat for Kids + 72 Interlocking Pieces, 6"x6" Squares Blocks, Covers 18 sq ft
These are just a few that I really like. As I said in my post about puzzles, there are tons of good ones out there and you can even sometimes find a good puzzle at the dollar store. Look around. Find what would interest your clients the most!
Melissa & Doug Jumbo ABC Chunky Puzzle
Melissa & Doug Shapes - Chunky Puzzle
Hape First Shapes Puzzle
Melissa & Doug Mix-Match-Stack Chunky Puzzle-Occupations
Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Activity Puzzle
Sounds puzzles:
Melissa & Doug Vehicle Sound Puzzle
Melissa & Doug Farm Sound Puzzle
Melissa & Doug Shapes Sound Puzzle
Floor puzzles:
Melissa & Doug Going Places Floor Puzzle - 48 Piece
Melissa & Doug Search and Find Sunny Hill Farm 48 Piece Floor Puzzle
Alphabet Letters & Numbers Educational Foam Puzzle Floor Mat for Kids + 72 Interlocking Pieces, 6"x6" Squares Blocks, Covers 18 sq ft
These are just a few that I really like. As I said in my post about puzzles, there are tons of good ones out there and you can even sometimes find a good puzzle at the dollar store. Look around. Find what would interest your clients the most!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Puzzles
I like to use simple puzzles in therapy. Melissa & Doug have some
really fun puzzles that are durable. But, you can even get simple
puzzles at the dollar store. One thing that I use puzzles for is as a
reward. The child earns pieces to the puzzle until they are able to
complete it at the end of the session. This is not only a good reward
but allows that to target fine motor control too.
I also like to use the puzzles to target vocabulary. I use chunky puzzles with basic concepts (shapes, colors, letters, numbers, etc). They name the concept as they put it in. If in earlier stages I model the word and give them the piece to put in. You can also do this with vocabulary like animals, transportation, etc.
I will add links to some that I like soon!
I also like to use the puzzles to target vocabulary. I use chunky puzzles with basic concepts (shapes, colors, letters, numbers, etc). They name the concept as they put it in. If in earlier stages I model the word and give them the piece to put in. You can also do this with vocabulary like animals, transportation, etc.
I will add links to some that I like soon!
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