Praise and reward
No one works without a reward. Whether it’s a smile, cuddle, praise, or treats, we all want recognition for our hard work. This is doubly important for a child who is having difficulty learning a new skill. These tasks can require tremendous effort, so make sure you give reinforcement for every activity attempted. We talk about descriptive praise a lot at TFK, This is when you provide praise beyond just “good girl/boy” and describe what you like that your child is doing, e.g. “great jumping,” “I like your drawing,” “That threading is wonderful.” etc.
Build it in
I call this being “Bob the Builder.” Every time you are playing with your child, help them in a way to meet their goals. For a younger child, place them in different positions and help them move from their back to sitting or up to stand or to reach for a toy. For older children, during play, help them finish what they started and learn to turn an everyday task into a game – can be talking games or memory games. Be creative and have fun with it! For example, getting dressed can turn into a dress-up game.
Involve everyone
Everyone in your child’s life should be involved in learning/practicing new skills. Show your family your goals, how you are working towards them, and how they can help. Daily tasks/goals on the fridge, sticker charts, or visual timetables are wonderful ways of involving everyone.
Strength/balance training
It is important for children to have a strong core. Find ways to build on core strength and balance in everyday life. Children can sit on hot water bottles/soft cushions or stand on small steps in a box to tell you about their day. Playing row-row-row your boat while sitting on a pilates ball or on your knee, practicing superman position (arms lifted above head while on their tummy) or doing tummy time with littler bubs while on the floor or on your lap and or while playing iPad/watching TV are all great ideas for practicing strength and balance.
