As we’re all so busy rushing our children around from one therapy to another, we need to remember that the most important thing we can do with our children is to get down on the floor and play with them. I was reminded of this when I interviewed Dr. Lucy Jane Miller on an episode of The Mother Cub Show, All About Autism.
Dr. Miller’s recommended approach to rehabilitative therapy is to utilize short-term intensive therapy when working with children, but the general model for many therapies is typically once a week for a longer duration. Many of our children’s brains are already working in hyper-drive, so we need to make sure that we give our children breaks from therapy along the way where they can just relax and let the brain absorb and recharge.
The once a week approach seems to be easier for most parents and clinics for scheduling purposes, but it may not have as much of the desired effect in the outcome of the child. Even more important than any scheduled therapies, however, is for the parents to actually get down on the floor and have lots of one-on-one play with their child. That is truly the best therapy overall.
“That’s how your child learns to be social,” Dr. Miller said. “They take the model they have from playing with you and apply it to other children. So make sure you have lots and lots of playtime.”
To hear the entire episode of The Mother Cub Show, featuring Dr. Kurt Woeller and Dr. Lucy Jane Miller, click here: perry022311
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