Benefits of Play Therapy to Your Children

Therapy or Playing?

When I watch a therapy session, it looks like the therapist and my child are just playing. What are they doing? Are they working on anything? What am I paying for?
ABA Therapy
When we work on speech sounds with a child, you may see us playing games such as Candyland, Connect Four, Memory, Chutes and Ladders or Kerplunk. Prior to the child taking their turn with the game, they earn that turn by practicing their speech sound a specific number of times. Playing these games also allows us to work on winning and losing, turn taking, following the rules and increasing attention.
Sound familiar? It may look like your child is playing in therapy because we ARE playing! Children learn so many fundamental aspects of life just by playing. Did you know there is even a research-based approach to therapy called “Play Based Therapy?” What could we possibly be working on while playing with a farm and farm animals? We could be working on understanding spatial concepts (let’s put the rooster on top of the barn), qualitative concepts (the animal with brown spots is hungry), quantitative concepts (let’s put three animals by the food). After a child understands these concepts, we can move to using these concepts in their speech by playing hide and seek with the animals and ask the child “Where was the cow hiding?” These play scenarios also allow us to work on conversational turn taking, non-verbal communication, problem solving, vocabulary and joint attention just to name a few.
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When we work on speech sounds with a child, you may see us playing games such as Candyland, Connect Four, Memory, Chutes and Ladders or Kerplunk. Prior to the child taking their turn with the game, they earn that turn by practicing their speech sound a specific number of times. Playing these games also allows us to work on winning and losing, turn taking, following the rules and increasing attention.

Our therapists at Mobile Therapy Centers may look like they are “just playing”, but there is much more that goes into our play based therapy than what meets the eye. After each session, our therapists write up “session notes” so parents know what we worked on during that session, how the child did on those goals and what parents can do at home to help continue to facilitate that growth.

To learn more about Speech Therapy Services, please don’t hesitate to contact Mobile Therapy Centers to speak with one of our therapists. We provide FREE screenings/consultations, so why not take advantage of the opportunity to have your child seen by a professional and then answer any questions you may have?

Mobile Therapy Centers is a Multidisciplinary Clinic specializing in ABA Therapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Behavioral Therapy, Feeding Therapy, Pediatric Physical Therapy and Counseling. We see children at our clinics, at your home or at your child’s school/daycare making it convenient for you and your family.

Therapy or Playing?

MTC provides free screenings/consultations. We also provide Telehealth services. MTC accepts most commercial insurance. Contact us to learn more.
SCHEDULE ABA SERVICES AT MOBILE THERAPY CENTERS OF AMERICA

If you have any questions regarding ABA Therapy, please call us at 800-977-9072 to schedule a FREE consultation/screening.

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Elaina Pagliarulo AACOTA/L, AAT Handler

Elaina is a part of our MTC Occupational Therapy Department and received an education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, McHenry County College, and Husson University. She has a strong passion for working with both animals and children. Elaina has always wanted to incorporate both of these passions into her career and is incredibly excited to bring Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) to Mobile Therapy Centers!

MTC's Therapy Dog: Rocky

Rocky is an Australian Mountain Doodle who loves to learn, play, and meet new people. Rocky joined our MTC team when he was just 8 weeks old and has been training to support the clients of MTC from day one. His kind and loving nature makes him the perfect match for Animal-Assisted Therapy, and Rocky can not wait to meet all his new friends through the MTC AAT program!