Rule # 14: Play with ALL the kids.

The Power of Inclusion

We Special Instructors wear many hats, or should I say, many scrubs! But sometimes instead of practical scrubs, I want to wear something cute for a change, and my new shirt beckons, whispering promises of a “normal” day. Well, you know how that goes in Early Intervention. Refer to Rule #2 Special Instruction is messy. Be prepared. On this particular “normal” day, I walked into a home visit with visions of one-on-one therapy in mind. Little did I know, nine visiting cousins eating fried chicken for lunch would turn it into a glorious, chaotic group experience.

Suddenly, my carefully chosen outfit was under threat by tiny fingers clutching greasy chicken drumsticks. Panic welled as I envisioned permanent grease stains on my new shirt. I got over it, and got myself on the floor with all those grandchildren to play and sing “The Wheels on the Bus.” On that day, the baby we were there to see demonstrated the highest level of development ever. I believe her cousins were the reason.

But Why Inclusion?

It turns out, my initial panic about chicken fingers was entirely unfounded. That shirt lived on for a few years, including at least one Christmas-card-worthy family photo session. And there was a bigger lesson learned that day: including others can be a powerful tool in Early Intervention.

Because Families Play Together Naturally

Kimberly Scanlon, a speech-language pathologist and author of My Toddler Talks, shares her experiences including siblings in Early Intervention because as she says,
“in most cases the child you’re ‘treating’ is used to playing with his sibling(s) at home. When families make time to play, they usually ALL play together. If one child dominates the play, we can show parents how to effectively include a sibling into the session or play routine so that each child is equally participating” (My Toddler Talks, 2023).

Classroom peers play together naturally.

You are there to do intervention on one baby but all the babies want the same attention. I say give it to them! Spread the love!

Claire Heffron, Occupational Therapist and author at The Inspired Treehouse Blog, shares her opinion about classroom based inclusion,

“From a therapy standpoint, inclusion means “pushing into” classrooms to deliver services rather than pulling kids out for therapy sessions. One thing I’ve learned about inclusion during my years as a school based occupational therapist…it can be tricky.  Another thing I’ve learned?  It’s totally worth it.”

(The Inspired Treehouse, 2015).

I agree, Claire!

Play with ALL the children.

So, how do we leverage inclusion in our classroom sessions? Often, the answer is finding activities that naturally engage everyone. Here are some of my go-to strategies:

• Timing is key. Whenever possible, I arrive during free play, recess, or center time. Naturally, all the children gravitate towards the “new toy” – me!
• Blocks Center: We can take turns adding blocks to a magnificent tower, using communication.
• Singing & Moving: Action songs are a win-win. They get everyone (who chooses to participate) moving and singing, promoting language and gross motor skills in a social setting.
• Back and Forth: Rolling a ball or truck back and forth creates a turn-taking and social interaction.
• Play Kitchen: Many children can participate in “cooking” pretend food, encouraging imaginative play and language development.

“It takes confidence, sometimes a little assertiveness, and also a willingness to work with the classroom staff and kids to figure out how you can add to what’s happening in the classroom rather than becoming a distraction or disruption.”

(The Inspired Treehouse, 2015)

Including all the children in Early Intervention is worth it.

In case you are wondering how I saved my shirt, here is the trick. Each time a child sat in my lap holding a piece of fried chicken, with a gentle nudge of their elbows, I redirected the chicken-wielding hands toward their faces and away from touching me. I can do the same thing with sticky hands when needed.

The experience with the nine grandchildren, though it challenged my new shirt, taught me a valuable lesson. Just like gently guiding those little elbows saved my outfit, including siblings can help us guide them all towards a more enriching and interactive experience. Remember, when siblings are involved, the learning doesn’t just happen for one child – it becomes a beautiful, messy development for everyone involved.

References:

My Toddler Talks. (2023, September 22). Early intervention for toddlers: How to include siblings into the session. Kims Blog. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from https://www.mytoddlertalks.com/kims-blog/early-intervention-for-toddlers-how-to-include-siblings-into-the-session

The Inspired Treehouse. (2015). Inclusion: How to provide OT services in the classroom. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from https://theinspiredtreehouse.com/inclusion-how-to-provide-ot-services-in-the-classroom/