Reaching Those Difficult-To-Reach Kids

I’ve definitely had at least a handful of these kids in my professional career. The ones that seem to be difficult to reach. Difficult to engage, difficult to motivate, difficult to keep their attention. I’m not saying the kids are difficult, they simply do not respond in the same way to therapy. Some of these kids have emotional issues, behavioral issues, or other things that make therapy challenging.

So what to do in these situations? Here are some things that I’ve learned:

First, find out what motivates them. It will be different for every child…because every child is unique. You might have to do some trial and error to find things that truly motivate them and that’s ok.

Try movement: For some of the kids I’ve worked with, the act of moving can greatly improve attention and overall motivation. Throwing a ball back and forth, hopping on one foot, standing on different shapes, etc.

Talk to the teacher: find out what time of day is best for the student. Some of my kids do better in the morning vs. the afternoon, so the time of day you see them might impact your therapy.

Bring new-to-them items: This goes along with motivation. Items that are intriguing to them will work in your favor.

Visual schedules and reinforcers help too: If the kids know what they have to do and for how long, it can help the student attend better.

Talk to parents: find out what motivates them at home! Sometimes pictures of pets or preferred items can be worked into your therapy, which will help make it more meaningful for them.

There is no magic potion! I’ve had to go back to the drawing board on several occasions when the above tips didn’t work. It can be frustrating, for you AND the student, but the payoff when it does work is worth it!