We had an interesting presentation at our team meeting from the student psychologist on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Yes, a number of us thought of it a a little bit ‘hippy’ when reading some of the background, but some of it made a lot of sense… and it might be the sort of thing that might actually be useful for me. Like reminding yourself that thoughts are THOUGHTS and not always reality. I think that it comes from a psych point of view with research coming along helps me a little.

Anyway :)

xxx

Working with kids, you have to have sure-fire ways to keep them on track.

One of those ways is the simple, yeat very effective Pop-Up Pirate.

The idea is simple. Kid does something you want, you give verbal praise and then a plastic sword to them to stab into the barrel to see if they can make the pirate leap out and up into the air. Basic extrinsic rewards. Usually, I use it with articulation therapy. Kid attempst their target sound at their level e.g. /k/. They have a go, if they get it great! I give them a sword “well done, that was such a lovely /k/ sound”, then step it up a notch, e.g. two /k/ sounds. The kids love the pirate, so in group sessions we tend to have it as the final group activity where the kids come back into the circle and then we reinforce to them and their parents what they are to work on until the next session.

So, when Carmen tells me this afternoon that Big W has them on sale for $10, I decide that I must get a couple to wrap and put under the giving tree someplace. It’s a fun game even if you’re not doing therapy with it… and if they are doing some sort of reward system, then I’m sure it’s a welcome bonus! :) If you have kids under about 8, I’d certainly recommend it for an inexpensive gift. Or for a niece and nephew! :)