Were you just told that your child needs physical therapy? In order for your child to get the most out of their future physical therapy sessions, it is important to come prepared for the first one! Here are a few ways you can prepare for your child’s first physical therapy visit!
Prepare A List Of Questions
Before your child’s first physical therapy appointment, it is a good idea prepare a list of questions for your child’s therapist. Don’t be afraid to ask the therapist anything! Try to remember that nothing you ask is a silly question.
Some examples of questions include:
-Can I help/sit in on the sessions?
-What exercises should they be doing at home?
-When are they allowed to participate in physical activity?
Get Their Medical History
Your child’s therapist is going to want to know your child’s medical history so they can best help them. For this reason, it is a good idea to sit down and jot down anything you think your child’s physical therapist may need to know about (ex: major injuries, balance/coordination concerns, etc.).
Be Prepared To Take Some Notes
After your child’s first appointment is finished, the therapist will likely have a wealth of information for you. For this reason, it is a good idea to bring a notebook to jot down some notes or have your trusted smartphone handy to type pieces of information into it. More than likely, they will supply you with detailed instructions on what they need you do going forward; however, you just want to be sure you don’t miss or forget anything. For example, they may give you a list of exercises they want your child to do at home every day. You could scribble out some additional notes on how to perform each exercise.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center serves families of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs. We are a team of experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral sciences. As a team, we offer intensive hands-on therapy for children and adolescents, as well as informative and useful resources for families. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your family, visit us online or give us a call at (202) 561-1110 (Washington, D.C. office) or (301) 577-4333 (Lanham office). Want to get more information on how to help your child thrive? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest.