School-based OT: What do parents want to know? (Part 2)

Welcome to Part 2 of the blog post discussing what parents want to know about school based OT! As discussed in the prior post, research shows that parents of children at school receiving occupational therapy want to know the following two things (Benson et al., 2015):

Question 1: What is being done with my child during OT intervention?

Question 2: What can I, as a parent or caregiver, do at home to support my child?

This blog post answers Question 2 from parents:

How can I support my child’s school OT program at home?

The biggest thing to remember here is that the school environment and home environment are VERY different from each other. While you want to support your child’s goals at home, you do NOT want to try to replicate the school environment or routines. Why not? The answer is: natural context. By natural context, we need to remember that as humans, we function in the ways we need to based on our context of environment. At school, there are certain rules, schedules, and expectations for students and staff. At home, there are family rules, family routines, and family expectations for parent and child activities. Physically speaking, a home environment is very different from a school environment. Think about the difference between a child’s bedroom or home living room vs. a classroom. School can be demanding for children and the academic expectations and work that they put into the day can be tiring. At home, kids need to be kids, play, keep up with their family expectations, and rest.

That being said, there are home routines that can be utilized to maximize your child’s experiences and performance that will support their school-related goals! Two favorites come to mind:

• Mealtime Routines

• Sleep Preparation Routines

Mealtime Routines:

All kids and families need to eat. Use your mealtime routines to get your kids involved in helping or participating in tasks that reinforce what they are learning or what they are doing at school. During mealtime preparation, simple tasks such as gathering items (utensils, dishes, cups, etc.), setting the table, rolling silverware into napkins, wiping down tables, etc. can be great ways for kids to work on motor skills, categorization, counting, sorting, and problem solving. Kids can also help to prepare meals- give them simple tasks such as shredding lettuce, chopping fruits or veggies (based on safety level of child and tools, of course!), or choosing and retrieving foods in cabinets or the refrigerator. The daily routines give them repetitive practice, which accelerates and embeds learning, making motor skills and behavioral expectations become habits in the long run. Mealtime routines give families time to socialize and catch up on the day, or plan forward. They give kids and parents time to emotionally connect, which is necessary for strong attachment and bonds between parents and children. They also set the tone for healthy eating habits, which is important for growing children as well as adults of all ages.

So, turn off the devices and the television and put on some favorite music. Give your kids simple tasks to prepare them for mealtimes. Let them use their hands and explore utensils for feeding. Encourage independence with eating and drinking. Sit together, share food and drink, and socialize - even if it’s only for 15 minutes a day. This time will quickly become a time to look forward to for all in the family. Watch your children’s skills bloom as they use their skills and learning from school in this natural routine in your home!

Sleep Preparation Routines:

Sleep routines have been found to have a positive impact on children’s academic performance in school, and sleep routines set the foundation for a child’s ability to self-soothe and reap the benefits of restorative sleep. Restorative sleep benefits children’s growth and development in a myriad of ways.

Some ideas for how to prepare your child for sleep:

• Remove them from screens (TV, Ipads, computers, phones, etc.) 1-2 hours before bedtime. Spend this time engaging in sleep preparation activities.

• Take a short walk outside

• Dim the lights in the home or turn off lights in certain areas

• Listen to light, calm music

• Give your child a warm bath - the decrease in body temperature after a warm bath facilitates relaxation in the nervous system

• Read a story together

• Use deep pressure to the body to induce relaxation - blankets, bean bag chairs, a pile of pillows to snuggle in - the options are endless!

In summary, to answer the original question from Part 1 - How can I support my child’s school OT program at home? A child’s school OT program is greatly supported by empowering that child to have strong motor skills and self-regulation skills. Mealtime and sleep routines at home provide so many opportunities for parents and caregivers to let their child engage in natural activities every day that develop the core skills necessary for that child’s participation in similar activities across the school day.

Depending on the specific needs of your child, you may want to try establishing regular routines for meals and sleep preparation, but ask your child’s OT about specifics related to physical needs, cognitive needs, and sensory needs to help make your home routines successful.

Reference:

Benson, J., Elkin, K., Wechsler, J., & Byrd, L. (2015). Parent perception of school-based occupational therapy services. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, and Early Intervention, 8, 126-135. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2015.1040944