Play Mates: Building Social Skills Together
At Eat Speak Play, we understand the importance of socialisation and peer interaction in achieving therapy goals. That’s why we’ve developed our Play Mates program – a unique opportunity for children to participate in joint therapy sessions with peers who are also accessing services in our clinic.
Play Mates sessions focus on building skills in a collaborative and supportive environment, helping children to practise socialisation, communication, and the generalisation of therapy goals alongside their peers.
How the Program Works
Registering Interest:
Families can discuss joining Play Mates with their therapist, or the therapist may recommend it as part of a therapy plan.
Therapist will discuss opportunity with the team and review other registered parties, to find a suitable match for your child.
Collaborative Session Planning:
Our therapists will work together to design a session that supports the needs of each participating child, tailoring activities to promote social interaction and the generalisation of therapy goals.
Therapist Participation:
Both therapists will actively participate in the session, supporting each child with targeted strategies to ensure progress in a peer setting.
Flexible Session Options:
Play Mates sessions can be a one-off opportunity or scheduled on a regular basis, depending on the needs and preferences of the children and their families.
This program is a great opportunity for children to participate in building their social and participation skills before transitioning to one of our larger group programs.
Peer Socialisation: Practising social skills in a natural, peer-interactive setting.
Goal Generalisation: Reinforcing therapy goals by applying them in social contexts.
Shared Motivation: Encouraging engagement through joint activities with a peer.
Why Choose Play Mates?
Enhanced Communication: Building conversation and interaction skills in a safe, supportive environment.
Collaborative Support: Access to two therapists during the session, providing tailored guidance to each child.
Costing Information
Play Mates sessions are billed at the same rate as a standard therapy session. This is because each therapist participates actively to support their client’s unique needs. The joint structure ensures that both children receive personalised attention while working collaboratively towards their therapy goals.
In some instances, children may be able to transition a joint session with one therapist. In this case, the face to face session hour cost would be split between each child.
If you’d like to know more about the Play Mates program or discuss whether it’s the right fit for your child, please reach out to your therapist or contact us directly. We’re here to help your child thrive through social connection and collaborative learning!
