The Vital Role of Parent Involvement in Speech Therapy

Monday, January 8th, 2024

In our previous blog, we discussed the merits of home health for early-age speech therapy. I've always emphasized the crucial role parents and caregivers play in driving therapy and progress. However, it wasn't until my experience in home health that I witnessed firsthand the pivotal role they hold in improving their child's communication skills. While therapy sessions are crucial, it's the collaborative efforts between therapists and families that often lead to significant progress.

I frequently hear concerns like, ‘"I might be a distraction,” or “They work better for you than for me.’"Yes, some sessions might feel challenging with parents or caregivers present, but this provides a unique opportunity for coaching and training. Welcoming parents into speech therapy sessions is pivotal, as they are truly instrumental in ensuring their child's success in therapy.

The Importance of Parent Involvement: 

Speech therapy extends beyond the clinic or sessions with a therapist—it's a continuous process that requires ongoing practice within a child's daily surroundings. I genuinely wish I could be there 24/7 for my clients, but realistically, I have limited weekly sessions, maybe just a couple of hours if fortunate. This is where parents and caregivers step in as the primary influencers in their child's life, making their active involvement in therapy incredibly impactful.

Research consistently emphasizes the positive link between parental engagement and a child's advancement in speech therapy. Children thrive when they receive consistent support and reinforcement from those closest to them.

Through active participation in their child's therapy journey, parents and caregivers not only aid progress in speech and language but also instill confidence, resilience, and effective communication skills that extend far beyond the therapy session.

Tips for Parents and Caregivers to Support Their Child's Progress: 

I understand that working with your child at home isn't always easy. Children often respond and engage differently with someone other than their parents. However, I've compiled some tips below to help you positively impact your child’s progress."

1. Be Consistent: Encourage consistent practice of speech and language exercises or techniques recommended by the therapist. Integrating these practices into daily routines, such as during playtime, mealtime, or car rides can make a significant difference. 

2. Provide Opportunities for Communication: Create an environment that encourages communication. Engage in conversations, talk about your day, ask about your child’s day and what they did,  read books together, provide opportunities for your child to ask questions, and ask open-ended questions to stimulate language development.  

3. Be Patient and Positive: Progress in speech therapy takes time. Celebrate small victories and maintain a positive attitude. Patience and encouragement go a long way in building a child's confidence. Instead of “quizzing” them, try providing them with support and prompting to build independence.

4. Observe and Implement Strategies: Take note of your therapist's suggestions during sessions and incorporate them into everyday interactions. Consistency between therapy and home environments is key to enhancing progress. For instance, if your child practiced labeling verbs like 'jump,' 'run,' 'cut,' or 'sit' during therapy while seated and looking at a book, you might notice that your child doesn’t engage the same way at home. That's perfectly fine! Instead, try acting out the actions yourself. Start jumping and ask your child, “What am I doing?” Alternatively, you could capture pictures of familiar people performing different actions. Show these to your child and ask, “What is Aunt Kim doing?”

6. Actively Participate in Therapy: Take notes, ask questions, and seek clarification on strategies to implement at home. If you don’t understand something, ASK!! No question is every too silly.

7. Be Your Child’s Biggest Advocate:  Talk with your therapist weekly about your child's progress, any challenges faced at home, or new developments at school. Your insights are invaluable and can help elicit new therapy approaches to improve progress. 

Conclusion:

In speech therapy, parents and caregivers are an integral part of the team. Their dedication and involvement significantly contribute to their child’s progress. Embracing this collaborative approach allows us to create an environment where children thrive, feeling successful as they develop crucial communication skills for everyday life. Our partnership with parents and caregivers is crucial. If you are a parent or caregiver reading this, remember to ask questions, maintain consistency, create opportunities in your child's environment for communication and learning, exercise patience, advocate for your child, and actively participate in sessions to make the most substantial impact!