One of my goals for 2016 is to make as many therapy resources as possible. I’m trying to spend more time rummaging through the recycling box and less time browsing on Amazon. I want to keep my clients interested, so I need a variety of materials. However, I don’t want to send the message to parents that the way to keep things interesting is by buying more and more toys. I hope to do some of the crafts as part of the therapy sessions, but this one I made myself, at home.

Toilet roll Octopuses

There are lots of “tutorials” online for this project, it’s really simple. I choose it because I’d collected LOTS of toilet rolls and because one of my clients is interested in facial expressions and another, sea creatures.

Here are my finished octopuses!

I enjoyed getting out my paints and making these. I put a paperclip on each one and we caught them with a magnetic fishing rod. The kids loved them. I’m not sure how sturdy they are, but they all currently still have 8 legs attached, so fingers crossed.

I kept two principles in mind when deciding what I needed to buy or borrow to start my therapy business:

• Wait and see what I need and then buy it – with internet shopping lots of things are available on next day delivery.
• Buy things that can be stored easily and used for multiple purposes – as I’d need to store everything at home and then carry it to therapy sessions.

Assessment materials

I bought two standardised assessments, my most expensive purchase. I’m happy with the two I chose and how many times I’ve used them. The publishers have displays at industry conferences or events and offer discounts, so if you’re planning on going to an event and need to buy assessments check and see if the timing works out.

I also use informal measures like Language For Thinking and sequencing pictures from Black Sheep Press. Some observation schedules are available for free online, like the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers – so I use these.

Toys and books

My colleagues in the NHS asked what I’d like as a leaving gift, so my toy collection started with a tea set, a train set and Mr Potato Head! I bought toy animals, food and a fishing game. My parents still have toys from when my sisters and I were little so I “borrowed” soft toys and books from them. (Check the content of books, I love There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake but in my original copy, the character gets a smack: I skip this page.)

I’ve found some great bargains at charity shops and bought things to motivate particular clients. Homemade toys often go down well too, I still have the sparkly tube I made back in 2008 and still get strange looks carrying it to work on the bus!

Technology

I use my iPad in therapy. I record and watch back videos in Parent Child Interaction therapy, with a small set of speakers to boost the audio. I also use it to play games such as my favourites from Toca Boca. When I made a snakes and ladders style game to work on speech sounds, I realised I didn’t have dice, so I downloaded a free app (I think it’s for poker!)

We already had a colour printer and scanner at home, and I use both regularly. I bought a laminator and I use it for making visual timetables and other resources. I’ve written before about Lessonpix – the online product I use to make my visuals (and bingo games!) Finally, I use Cliniko to manage my appointments, write my case notes and send invoices. I’ll write more about how I use it in the next post.

Other bits and pieces

I bought two folding child sized tables and four chairs which I used for every session in my original therapy rooms and currently don’t use at all.

And my secret weapon? A box of tissues. I’ve finally realised that if I bring the tissues, I’m much less likely to get sneezed on!

This blog post is part of a series, read the previous posts here.

Last week was Speech Pathology Australia Week & talk on twitter turned to favourite toys for therapy. I love toys that can be used to work on several different targets. Meet Dog, he’s one of my favourites because he’s so versatile, and the children love him! Wikipedia tells me that Pound Puppies were sold in the 1980s, I think I was given mine for Chanukah when I was 8 or 9 years old. Who knew he’d be starring in therapy sessions more than 20 years later!

I’ve recently been dressing up Dog to work on the verb: wearing. Here’s what a therapy session might look like.

When I teach a new word, I begin by modelling it a lot in different contexts. The child and I take turns choosing items for Dog to wear, and I comment: “wow, Dog is wearing glasses. I’m wearing glasses and Dog is wearing glasses.”

Accessorising ourselves

Then we start putting on funny accessories ourselves and I keep modelling the target word: “You’re wearing goggles, you’re ready for a swim.” “I’m wearing a monkey hat, it’s warm!” Children learn by doing; in this activity they’re wearing different things, while I model the word. It’s also fun to take photos of the child wearing different accessories, and talk about what they’re wearing in each photo.

Dressing paper dolls

Next we try a paper based activity, like this doll game. We dress the dolls (while I keep modelling the target word) and then I’ll try to cue the child in to using the word himself. I’ll say something like: “My doll is wearing a yellow dress and boots, your doll is…?”

There’s an app for that

I found this free iPad app, which is good to end on. The child selects clothes and shoes for the doll – it’s another fun opportunity for more modelling and perhaps the child will be ready to use the word himself.

Tip: children want to keep trying different clothes on the doll. So when it’s time to talk about what she is wearing, I take a photo of the outfit and switch to the photo app. Then the child can’t change the clothes anymore and can focus on describing what she’s wearing!

Practise at home

I give the parents the paper dolls to take home, encourage them to practise the other activities as well, and remind them to talk about what they’re wearing throughout the day.

If your child is struggling to learn new words and you’d like an assessment or advice, get in touch.