Helping Kids Enjoy Therapy: Making It Fun and Real
Therapy isn’t always easy for kids, especially if they’re not really into it.
If your child is resistant, don’t worry – there are lots of ways to make it feel more natural and fun.
It’s all about making therapy something they can relate to, enjoy, and be part of.
Make Therapy About What They Love
The best way to get your child involved is to make therapy about things they actually care about. Like, if they’re into sports, say AFL, try using the game to work on communication skills.
Have them ask for a pass or talk about the game with teammates.
It’s fun, and they don’t even realise they’re working on their skills.
How to Use Interests to Help With Therapy
If they’re into art, you can use that, too.
Help them practice fine motor skills by holding a paintbrush or sculpting.
It’s a great way to sneak therapy into something they love.
So, instead of dreading it, they’ll look forward to it because it’s just part of their everyday activities.
We see our role alongside the role of a parent, an educator, someone like that, who is actively engaged in people’s lives for the period of time they choose and think that we're the right person for them.
We're actively engaged in their lives. - Daniel
Focus on What Matters to Them
Don’t stress about making everything perfect.
If your child’s speech doesn’t fit the usual “ideal,” that’s okay.
It’s more important to help them express themselves in ways that actually work for them.
So, if they struggle with tone, focus on getting their message across.
Let them say things like, “I feel upset” instead of shutting down. It’s about real communication, not perfection.
Helping Your Child Express Themselves Clearly
It’s also great to help them practice speaking up in situations that matter to them.
If they’re at a café and they get the wrong order, teach them how to correct it politely.
These are real-life moments that can make a huge difference for your child.
Therapy Shouldn’t Feel Like Work
If therapy feels like homework, they’re not going to want to do it. So, turn it into something fun!
For example, if they need to work on certain sounds, use things like cooking.
While you’re making food, talk about things like fish, fries, and fruit. It’s natural, and they won’t even realise they’re practicing speech.
Turning Everyday Activities Into Therapy
Play is also a huge win here. If your child loves playing with toys or playing games, use that to work on speech.
It’s a chill way to get them practicing without making it feel like “work.”
You can even read stories together or sing songs with words they need to work on.
Just keep it fun and relaxed.
Repetition Without the Boring Drills
Now, repetition is key, but it’s gotta be meaningful.
So, instead of repeating words over and over, create real situations where they need to use those words.
For example, if they want a snack, they should ask for it using the target words.
If they’re playing a game, they can use those words to negotiate the rules.
Why Repetition Should Be Fun
It’s not about drilling them with the same phrases all the time.
It’s about making it part of everyday life.
Conversations, even silly ones, help reinforce what they’re learning.
If Therapy Didn’t Go Well Before
If your child has had a bad experience with therapy, you might be a little worried about trying again. But don’t stress.
You can ease them back in slowly.
Maybe start with something they’re passionate about – like drawing or painting – and weave therapy into that.
This way, it doesn’t feel like therapy; it just feels like something fun.
Changing Up the Therapy Environment
Also, change the scenery. If past therapy sessions felt too clinical or rigid, try something new.
Maybe a session in the park, a café, or even at home.
It helps shake things up and makes therapy feel less intimidating.
Let Them Have a Say
Kids like to feel like they have control, especially if they’ve been resistant before.
Let them have a say in what they do during therapy.
It could be as simple as picking an activity or suggesting what they want to work on.
When they feel like they have a say, they’re more likely to feel invested in it.
Therapy Isn’t About Fixing Them
The point of therapy isn’t to change who your child is – it’s to help them feel more confident in their world.
It’s about giving them the tools to communicate, play, and navigate life in a way that makes sense to them.
If they’re a little different, that’s totally fine.
Therapy should be about building them up, not making them “fit” into a box.
Build Goals That Matter
It’s important for people to create goals that truly matter to them, not just the ones that are required.
Starting by thinking about what they truly want to achieve in their daily life helps guide the process.
Breaking down these bigger goals into smaller, manageable steps makes them achievable.
This helps people feel empowered and focused on what’s meaningful to them. - Zac
Keep Things Chill and Flexible
Every kid moves at their own pace, and that’s perfectly okay.
Some days will be better than others, and that’s normal.
Just be patient and keep things flexible.
If one approach isn’t working, try something new.
The goal is to make therapy something that helps your child grow in a way that feels right for them.
Being Patient With the Process
Therapy doesn’t have to be all stiff and boring.
With a little creativity and understanding, you can turn it into something fun and meaningful that your child actually looks forward to.
And at the end of the day, it’s all about giving them the confidence and skills to be themselves.