“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!”
Once families have found Occupational Therapy, they often feel like they’ve found a home. Connect the Dots is a place where parents report that they finally feel understood and that their kids look forward to working on skills that will help them throughout their lifespan. Once you’ve found OT, you’ve found a support system and a team that really values your child and aims to address his or her unique needs.
“Oh the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored! There are games to be won!”
What happens when it’s time to stop going to OT? Sometimes your child has made significant progress and you’re ready to move forward. Other times, you still have concerns about your child’s ability to succeed at home, school, or in the community. No matter the reason, leaving OT can evoke a strong emotional reaction. The questions about what the future holds for your child could seem vast and unexplored. Leaving a support system, a friendly environment, and a resource for building daily living skills can be hard for the child and sometimes harder for the caregivers. This post is for you.
“And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.”
One: Take a deep breath and take some time to prepare your family for the transition. “All Alone! Whether you like it or not, alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot… And when you’re along, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants… On and on you will hike and I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.”
Two: Create a social story and/or discuss the transition with the whole family. Encourage everyone to talk about how to make it a successful transition. Make a plan together that gives everyone hope and guidance for the future. That could include: regular check-ins with teachers, play dates with like-minded parents, journaling, or check-lists to keep track of your child’s continued ‘sensory diet’ or ‘home exercise program.’
Three: Make a binder full of the tools that work for your child and family. For example: Wilbarger brushing protocol, Whole Body Listening Larry poster, behavior charts, and other therapeutic activities provided by your OT. When your therapy tools are in one place, it will be easy to access them as you need them.
Four: Reach out to your community. You can also come back to visit OT if you notice regression or need an updated exercise program. Visit our website, Facebook, and Pinterest pages to get ideas for activities, find resources, and to stay connected.
Five: Read a story with your child that encourages you on your journey forward. “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss is an excellent option. If you haven’t read this book, it would be a delightful book to read with your child and reflect on accepting that the future holds ‘ups and downs’ and that we all have great potential. As Dr. Seuss writes “Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to great places! You’re off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose… Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.”
To enjoy the full version, click the link below and listen to “Oh the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20mMbEB0OhA
Any other suggestions for ways to successfully transition out of OT? Please share them with us!