By: Ashley Glasser, MS, OTR/L
Spectrum Pediatrics is unique in our approach to providing therapy services for our families. Backed by evidence, and seen in the progress our clients make, we have found that weaving therapy strategies into a child’s everyday routines has the biggest impact. Our therapists prefer to meet families at their home, daycare, playground, restaurant, or shopping center. Carryover of skills is more effective when those skills can be incorporated into a child’s daily schedule and become a natural part of the family’s routine.
Every child comes to us with a unique profile. In occupational therapy we call this the person’s Occupational Profile. This is the framework from which we start services. Beginning with the family’s and the child’s goals lays the foundation on which our therapy “house” can be built. From there we build a picture: what is the child’s schedule, what does the family unit look like, what are the hardest times of day, what are the child’s interests and favorite activities, what extracurriculars do they enjoy doing, what do their friends, peers, and teachers say about them, and most importantly – what are their strengths.
When a therapist can sit at a child’s kitchen table, while their siblings and dog are running around, they can more effectively problem solve with the parent on how to calm the environment and structure the mealtime. When a therapist can coach a parent through a climbing routine on their backyard play set or offer massage techniques during a diaper change, we can better help meet that child’s sensory needs. When a therapist can model asking for a toy and a candy bar at a store, or practicing safety walking from the parking lot, that child can better understand how to use their body and voice out in the community.
We believe a parent knows their child best and is already implementing strategies that work for their family unit. We want to provide services that build on that knowledge and those strengths. And we are looking forward to doing just that with you!
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