Changes You Can Make at Home to Help Support Your Child While in Therapy
Welcome! This post is a valuable resource to parents looking to make changes at home to best support their children while in therapy and beyond. Many of the recommendations that are discussed in this blog are overarching routines and practices that can be beneficial for all children, no matter the current difficulties that they are experiencing. Please keep in mind how valuable it is to have open communication with your child’s therapist, identifying any stressors that may be affecting your household, so that you may receive additional individualized, tailored advice. With that said, let’s get started!
Developing Consistent Bedtime Routines
I cannot stress this enough: developing a consistent, reliable bedtime routine is a tried-and-true way to increase the likelihood of a good night’s sleep. A good night’s sleep has been proven to reduce anxiety levels, elevate mood, and improve overall functioning and social skills in and out of the classroom. Do keep in mind that it takes a few days to see the benefits of a nighttime routine change; so please be patient while your child’s body and mind adjust to the change. What does an ideal bedtime routine look like? Here are a few recommendations based on current research:
1. Bedtime needs to be predictable with the same three or four routines in the same order, at the same time every night. Even on weekends!
e.g., A bedtime routine for a young child could consist of a snack, then a bath, brushing their teeth, and perhaps cuddling while reading a bedtime story or singing a nursery song.
e.g., For a teenager, it may be a snack, a shower, brushing their teeth, and reading a chapter out of their book.
2. It is important to turn off screens leading up to bedtime due to blue light. Blue light decreases the body’s natural production of melatonin.
3. A 30–45-minute nap before dinner may be beneficial for teens who require more sleep.
For more information on a good night’s sleep and how to attain it for your child, please read, “How to Improve Your Child or Adolescent’s Sleep”.
Encouraging Reading Time
Story books and activity books are great ways to encourage the work happening within therapy at home! Your child’s therapist will more than likely provide recommendations during your time together. You can find recommended books for children in our blog, “Ten Children's Books for Your Anxious Elementary Schooler That Promote Coping Skills.” I would also like to add that there are many books geared to parents as resources and support.
Routinely reading with your child will help to support your bond, provide topics of conversation, and utilize your child’s natural desire to use their imagination. Additionally, reading a book recommended to parents with your partner may further your bond, encourage communication on presenting concerns, and promote change, as a united front.
Practicing Effective Communication Skills
There is so much value in being heard! Please remember to:
Set aside time each day to actively listen to your child. Providing your full, undivided, very special attention.
Model emotional intelligence by identifying your feelings and why they are there. Encourage your child and assist them in doing the same.
Praise them as often as you can; identifying specifically what you like to promote continued behavior.
We hope that this combination of creating consistent bedtime routines, meaningful story time, and intentional communication will be helpful. We know that making these changes does take effort, commitment, and consistency on your part as a parent. These are the places where you, the parent or guardian, can help your child make progress between therapy sessions.
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Signs That Indicate That Your Child May Be Experiencing Anxiety
How Do I Know if Online Therapy (Telehealth) is Right for My Child?
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy for Children and Adolescents
How to Effectively Communicate with Your Child’s Mental Health Therapist
Children's Books for Your Anxious Elementary Schooler That Promote Coping Skills
What Every Child and Adolescent Therapist Wants Parents and Caregivers to Know
Search Our Other Blogs!
Interested in Counseling for Children & Teens?
If you’re a Marylander who knows that counseling is the direction you need to take, the therapists at LifeSpring Counseling Services are here to help. We offer online counseling services for mindfulness, depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief and loss. We also offer Brainspotting as a specialized service, and Brainspotting can be done online, too!
Here’s how you can get started! Online counseling for children and teens isn’t the only service offered at our Maryland office
The counselors and social workers at our Maryland office also offer counseling services for trauma, grief and loss, boundary setting, communication skills, and difficult life transitions. We also offer specialized counseling services including Brainspotting and spiritually-integrated counseling. Because we are located next to several local universities, we also work with college students and international students.
Written by: Caroline Masucci, LMSW
Caroline is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) at LifeSpring Counseling Services in Maryland, and she specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, and communication skills. She works closely with children, teens, and adults.
Photo Credit: Pavel Danilyuk, cottonbro, Leeloo Thefirst, & Ketut Subiyanto
Date of download: 10/31/2022
