02/23/2024
So many children we see have goals relating to executive functioning skills which include setting goals and making a plan to accomplish them, staying focused on a task with distraction present, and self-regulation. How do you work on these skills other than to actually PLAN and execute a meaningful goal? This can be challenging with children in a school or clinic setting as an OT because it can be hard to motivate a child and truly follow their lead.
When I began exploring nature and play based therapy it was because I was losing faith in my profession. I remember learning not to force clients into meaningless activity based therapy in hospitals because OT is supposed to be about MEANINGFUL activity and clientâs functional goals⌠yet when I saw what OTs were doing with children, it was just that. They were doing games, school related tasks, and adult led activities that rarely focused on the childâs interests, goals or motivations. Thatâs not to say what they were doing wasnât important, but it didnât feel like occupational therapy to me. When I witnessed TimberNook nature play in action, I fully embraced the truth that required skills could be gained solely through play. Yes, even printing and other academic skills.
At Outdoor OT Elgin, I ask myself every single day if Iâm staying true to my profession. Am I allowing the child to lead the session and engage in a meaningful way? Do I know the childâs goals AND the familyâs goals? If not, I step back and start over. I am determined to help these families through true child lead play because that is the most important occupation of childhood.
For the past month, this child and I have worked on executive functioning skills by planning and building a mud kitchen addition. We designed the drive-thru, made a list of supplies, went to the store together to purchase them (with cash!), and built this! He has been incredibly creative, enthusiastic and increasingly independent. I canât wait to see what our next project is âşď¸
