Comments on: The Bagless SLP – Part 3: Imperfection & Moving Forward

By: Lin

Lin — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 16:20:22 +0000

I’m continuing to try and think of ways to get books to kids. On the one hand, the evidence indicates that using what the families already have/use is best for carryover. On the other hand, the evidence also indicates that it’s good to expose the kids to books, so I find it challenging when families have zero books.

In my grad school Hanen-type group (not actually Hanen but very similar), we created little books for the kids that they got to take home each week. I’ve thought about making some of my own. That way I know that the kid has at least one book – and it’s one that I approve! The problem is, I don’t really just want to make a paper book, or even a laminated paper one, because I feel like it won’t last long. But self-pubbing a board book might be hard. Hmm. We shall see!

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:58:34 +0000

A good way to transition to this would be to go into sessions with just a few toys to engage the kids with you. After they go through your 2-3 toys, then play with theirs.

By: Teresa

Teresa — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 01:38:03 +0000

Thanks for this series! I’ve read it twice – once to get me started and then when Indiana referenced it in their quarterly First Steps newsletter. I wonder if you would be willing to share some of the handouts you have developed for families? I searched your TPT store, but didn’t find any. Thanks!

By: Judy Hancock

Judy Hancock — Fri, 20 May 2016 15:17:43 +0000

Your posting is very timely for me. I’m an Occupational Therapist working in EI and challenged myself to go bagless late last year. It was so very liberating! No stuff to carry, no stuff to clean, no extra weight wearing the car out, cleaner car, no stuff to worry about attrition, no worries around Christmas that my car would be broken into for stealing the toys, kiddos that were pleased to share their toys, parents that were validated that the toys they had purchased were developmentally beneficial, kiddos and parents benefited by how the toys could be used differently than they had been doing, and more. Challenges were homes that all toys were in monster bins so it would take time to get enough parts together to make the toy useful, families that for what ever reason only buys stuffed animals as toys, all their toys have flashing lights and sounds, and many more. One of my parents begrudgingly went to get some toys out for play from the closet since most of play time was spent with the TV. It was the first time I’d seen that parent get off the couch. 🙂 We must have chatted for 10 minutes before she realized I was serious about not bringing in anything. I made the transition by using the valid excuse at the time that lots of my kiddos were getting sick November and December and I didn’t want to take any chances of accidentally sharing illnesses and all my parents were good with that. I enjoyed not having stuff but it made visits much more challenging for me. But then I found myself enjoying the increase in creativity I had to use to make a visit be productive. I have since slowly grown a little lazy and am now back at using the Bag because it is easier to work with a specific toy to get the skill that you are trying to promote. But I have to agree that my families were more engaged when using their stuff and not mine. So thank you for this timely series to get me back to being bagless. I have warned my OT FW II interns that we will be going bagless soon – starting their midterm. 🙂

By: Dee

Dee — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 04:40:05 +0000

I love this series as well. I have recently made the transition form Public Schools to early intervention (I’m in a clinic but will also be going into homes soon). I have already scheduled one seminar on play therapy but I would like to know if you have been to any that interests you or which ones you were looking at. Also, do you have a template in your tPt for the forms you leave with the parents?
Again, I have loved reading this series! Thank you for your informative and thoughtful information.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 21:23:37 +0000

I absolutely loved a presentation by Cari Ebert through Cross Country Education – The Power of Play. She is my favorite speaker ever because she gives real life examples and so many ideas throughout the presentation.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Tue, 19 May 2015 05:29:12 +0000

I love this! I’m a developmental specialist but work a lot on language with kids 0-3. We aren’t supposed to bring anything at all into homes now which was a huge switch because I too had the well organized trunk full of toys! Thank you for being honest about it being harder to do bagless therapy especially in homes without many toys. For years I would limit myself to 3 toys brought into a session rather than a big bag. I found that resulted in better attention from kids and less digging since kids could see all of their options up front but you’re right about the carryover. Right now I guess I’m ‘toy-lite’. I try to do the first session or few bagless to set the expectation that it is about family routines and participation not ‘therapy time’ but after that I’ll sometimes bring in a few things or leave a toy for a week or two for families to use.

By: SublimeSpeech

SublimeSpeech — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 18:14:05 +0000

I agree… if older and more artic/phono I tend to still bring in some activities like phono interactive books, apraxia app, etc. but attempt to bring things that I can leave or give a copy to the parents to use. My big focus with these clients is to find activities that can be taught and left or routines to imbed these techniques in. Otherwise, one hour per week will still leave little lasting impact. I find that the majority of my families can be taught to use simple cards or interactive books. Or I find children’s books with their sound and leave for the week. It all depends on the family/child though of course!

By: Donna Staruck

Donna Staruck — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 18:09:25 +0000

I have been making the same transition of going bagless. I find it much easier to do with very young kiddo’s or kiddo’s whose primary goals are in language. I am still feeling the need of my bag for my little ones who are closer to three and who primarily need help with ariticulation, phonology, apraxia etc.. Ideas?

By: Andrea Levy

Andrea Levy — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 16:12:48 +0000

I have found books, in great condition, as low as 15 cents (yes really) in Salvation Army and Goodwill stores so I would happily give or “lend” these to families. I am compensated fairly for my work, and love to give (without insulting any family, that can be delicate). Thanks for this series. I think it is important for professionals to also find ways to save (money, resources, waste, etc) and use natural environments as much as possible.