“Caregiver coaching” can sound like homework, or like being evaluated as a parent. It is neither. Here is what it actually means at Growing Through Play, and what a parent can expect.
The short answer
Caregiver coaching is real-time guidance for you, the parent or caregiver, woven into every in-home DIR/Floortime® and pediatric OT session. It is not an extra service. It is built into every session.
The reason is simple. Your child spends one hour with a therapist. You spend the rest of the week together. The therapy hour is just the beginning.
What it looks like inside a session
You are in the room, on the floor with us, not watching from a chair. As we play, I will point out what your child is communicating, what is helping them stay engaged, and how you might respond in the moment. Sometimes I hand the play back to you and coach quietly from the side. You practise while it is happening, with support right there.
Together, we explore how you can:
- Follow your child’s lead
- Notice and respond to communication
- Create more opportunities for back-and-forth interaction
- Support regulation through co-regulation
- Use your child’s interests to build engagement
- Turn everyday routines into opportunities for connection
- Feel more confident when challenging moments arise
What it is not
You will never be expected to become your child’s therapist. You do not need to memorize a list of techniques. The goal is not for you to recreate a therapy session at home. The goal is to help you feel confident connecting with your child in real life.
Reflective video coaching: no judgment, no grading, just noticing
Between sessions, you can share a short video of an everyday interaction with your child. Together, we look at what your child was communicating, what you did that helped, and one small thing you might try next time.
The goal is not to judge your parenting. The goal is to help you notice the little moments of connection that are already happening, and build from there. Most parents are surprised by how much is already going right.
Why this is one of the biggest things about Growing Through Play
I created Growing Through Play because I wanted families to have a place where they could slow down, feel understood, and learn how to connect with their child in meaningful ways. Coaching is how that leaves the session and comes home with you.
You leave therapy with a better understanding of your child, not just a list of activities to practice.
Read more on the Caregiver Coaching page, or see how it fits into each service.
Not sure where to start?
You don’t need to know exactly what your child needs before you reach out. Tell me a little about your child, what’s bringing you here, and what you’re hoping to understand or change. We’ll start there.
Let’s talk about your child · Growing Through Play provides in-home pediatric occupational therapy, DIR/Floortime®, and caregiver coaching for families in Wallingford and surrounding central Connecticut communities.