FAQ
On the right are some common FAQs.
What makes it different is that the parent is working and the child is
having fun. Over time, the parent or the therapist will have fun
too, but you are challenging the child to do really six things at
once, so the highest level the child can, he or she may not be capable
of all six initially, but eventually we want to get them there.
You are challenging the
child by following their interest and their lead, so it is like play,
if they are interested in dollies or if they are interested in a
truck, or if they are interested in aimlessly wandering around the
room, you are taking the lead from them, and then you are using
their interest to get their focus and attention, to get them engaged,
and to get two-way communication going - opening and closing circles
of back-and-forth interaction where they are taking initiative.
You are trying to get as many of these in a row as possible. Then
you are trying to also engage the child in what we call shared social
problem solving, where the child is taking you to the door, showing
you where the toy is, taking you to the refrigerator, etc. Then
you are trying to help the child, if they can, speak, use ideas,
and tell you what they want, what they want to do, or speak for
the dolly and you speak for the other dolly. Then you are trying
to help the child connect ideas together, like your dolly might
say, "Gee, why should we build a house?" or "Why should we feed
the baby?" and hopefully you will get an answer, if your child is
at that level.
Now not all children will be at all the levels.
While you are doing this, you are also profiling and tuning in to
your child's nervous system. Some children are over reactive to
touch and sound so your voice is extra soothing. Some children are
under reactive and need extra energy in your voice to get their
attention, so you energize up. For the child who is aimlessly avoiding
and walks away from you every time you come near them, you are getting
"playfully obstructive" - you may get in front of them and play
a cat-and-mouse game so they have to scoot around you, or build
a little fence around them with your hands and then they have to
duck under the fence or say "open" to get away from the fence.