The ostensible goal of teletherapy is to enable the client to improve communication. But as the research shows, the better a child communicates, the more confident and even smarter the child will become. This is because communication is the center of so much of a child’s world and becomes a catalyst to much beyond communication itself.
Teletherapy Improving Communication Has Many Benefits
The benefits of improving a child’s skill and confidence through online therapy are countless. For example, children who develop their verbal communication will find it easier to deal with the written word.
And better communication as a result of practical teletherapy sessions will ease the child’s ability to make and retain friendships, a critical building block for a child’s confidence. The ability to share feelings and empathize is a direct result of communication as well.
And excellent communication skills will enhance the child’s ability to be persuasive, or even be successful at something so fundamental as asking for assistance or directions from another. And looking into the future, the adult that blossoms from that child will perform better in presentations, negotiations, and interviews.
Making Kids Smarter and More Confident Goes Beyond Teletherapy
Despite the many benefits afforded by the remote therapy session, clinicians and parents who wish to expedite or expound upon those benefits would be well served to try some of the following suggestions that have been very helpful in improving communication skills.
1. Exposure to Music
2. Read to children too young to read to themselves and then, when they are old enough, encourage them to read as well
3. Select games and toy that enhance speech and language development
4. Enjoy one-on-one interactions with your kids. This could take any of a variety of forms such as talking, listening, or just letting them talk. Attempt to spice up the interaction by encouraging expressive language wherever possible. Encourage your child to share feelings or share your childhood memories. Sometimes turn the dinner table into a lively stage of communication with your child playing the starring role!
5. Control their time on the computer to “force” them to interact and communicate.
6. Praise their efforts, not their results. Impress upon them that there is nothing wrong with failure but that it is merely an essential part of the learning process.
7. Encourage and provide for their socialization to that they will fill those social activities with peer to peer communication. This is how a child learns to express, empathize, negotiate, and communicate with respect among other important life skills.
8. When your child asks questions, don’t always be quick to answer them but rather guide him/her to the answer which will encourage the child to be more expressive.
9. Help your child to develop decision-making skills. The process of tackling a problem or making a decision as to how to move forward on something will enhance the honing of communication skills as well. Don’t be as focused on the actual decision but rather on the process. This can be an invaluable learning opportunity on multiple levels.
Your Role Is Significant
Every child is unique each with his/her challenges and skills. And they learn at different rates. But one thing is sure. Aside from those critical teletherapy sessions, finding creative ways to encourage your child to communicate will be invaluable on many levels and do much to make your child smarter and more confident.
