Mental health is a major part of overall health, and this makes it important for you to take the best care of yourself. As a parent, you're also responsible for your child's mental health, and one of how you can take proper care of it is by taking them to occupational therapy if they need it. That said, your child may not be too happy about these sessions. This can make it hard for both of you, so it's good to know how you can handle it. Here are some tips!
1. Talk to Them About What to Expect
To begin with, talk to your child about what they can expect during the session. You can learn more about the details of the sessions with research from the internet and also by talking to the professional you're taking your child to see. You can take an extra step and let your child know about the physical details of the place where the sessions will take place. The more they know about the process, the less apprehensive about it they're likely to be.
You can even let them know about the length of each session as well as the number of sessions they need to attend. If they're old enough, discuss some conditions that may necessitate therapy so that they have an idea of the people they're likely to meet during sessions. For instance, tell them that Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC) is a rare condition that affects one out of every 3,000 births. This could take away the mystery and make the process less foreign and therefore more doable for your child.
2. Practice Patience
Next, you should be patient with your child so that you don't cause them unnecessary anxiety. Try to put yourself in their shoes, and you may understand how foreign the whole event is for them. Remember that progress may be very gradual, and the best thing that you can do for your child is to support them through it. This may entail spending more time with them if you can, something that can help you save money on child care to some extent. This could be a tidy sum since, on average, households that have two incomes and children spend at least 10% of their household income on child care.
3. Offer Them Choices
To give your child a sense of more control in the whole matter, offer them choices and go along with what they choose. For instance, you can ask them what they'd like to do after the session. If they choose to go swimming, they could end up keeping their physical health in great shape, alongside their mental health. Note that around 36% of teens and children between the ages of seven and 17 swim at least six times each year. This is in comparison to just 15% of adults, and you can join them in the swimming session, so you get a chance to bond with them.
4. Motivate and Reward Them
Finally, make sure that your child knows they're doing a great job by motivating them and giving them rewards. One way to do this is by helping your child understand the process and guiding them during their exploration of the process. You can also set up a reward chart and document progress so that your child has a physical idea of what they're working towards. This is a sure way to keep them engaged and confident in the fact that they're doing something right.
These are four ways in which you can try and get your child excited about occupational therapy. The less resistance they put up against it, the more likely they are to benefit from it. As a result, you'll have better odds of helping them take the best care of their mental health, and they'll be forever grateful for this.
