What Really Made a Difference in Our Son's Therapy

One of the biggest things I learned is that we know our children best.

Therapists often develop plans based on assessments, goals and professional experience. Those plans are important, but sometimes they can feel a little generic at the beginning because every child is different.

As parents, we can help refine those plans. During therapy sessions, I would observe carefully and try to understand what the therapist was trying to achieve. Then I would think about how that goal could work better for my son.

Sometimes, a small suggestion from us made the activity more suitable for him.

Every child responds differently. Some children may try a new activity straight away. My son often became anxious when something new was introduced.

So instead of forcing the activity, we tried small changes.

For example, if the therapist introduced a new task, I would sometimes tell my son, "Only three times," or "Let's just do three."

Giving him a number helped him understand that the activity had an end. It did not always work, but many times it helped him feel more flexible and willing to try.

Small adjustments like this made some sessions more productive. They also gave me ideas for what I could try later at home or outside therapy.

This was one of the simplest strategies that helped us.

When my son felt anxious about trying something new, giving him a clear number made it less overwhelming.

"Three turns." "Three jumps." "Three tries." "Only three."

It gave him a small boundary and helped him feel prepared. He knew we were not asking him to do something forever.

It did not magically solve everything, but it helped him try many new things that he might have refused otherwise.

Another thing I personally learned is that the earlier we introduced different foods, places, activities and experiences, the easier it often was for him to slowly become comfortable with them.

When he was younger, it was sometimes easier to gently expose him to new things.

As he got older, introducing new things became harder. He became more aware, more anxious, and more resistant to unfamiliar experiences.

That is just our experience, and every child is different. But if I could go back, I would gently introduce more activities, textures, places and routines while he was still little.

Not by forcing. Not by overwhelming him. But by slowly and safely letting him experience more of the world at his pace.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was that my son often needed time before he could try something new.

If we pushed too quickly, he became anxious.

If we gave him time to observe, walk around, understand the environment and feel safe, he often did much better.

This lesson became very clear during swimming.

One thing I have always tried to focus on is how far my son has come.

Yes, he still has difficulties. Some things are still hard for him. Some days are challenging. But when I look back at where he started and where he is now, I can see how much he has fought, learned, adapted and grown.

That positive focus helped me as a parent.

It did not mean ignoring the challenges. It did not mean pretending everything was easy. It simply meant reminding myself that progress was happening, even when it was slow.

Sometimes, when we are in the middle of therapy, appointments, goals and worries, it is easy to only see what our child cannot do yet.

But our children are trying so hard. Every small step matters.

For us, focusing on progress gave us hope. It helped us stay patient. It helped us celebrate small wins instead of only worrying about the next goal.

And most importantly, it helped us see our son with pride, not just concern.

When my son was a toddler, I used to take him to the pool. He was comfortable with it then.

But during COVID, we had a break from swimming. After that break, he became scared to get inside the pool.

I enrolled him in a swimming class for kids with special needs so he could learn swimming and water safety. But when we arrived, he was scared to go into the water.

The instructor told me to hold him and get inside, saying that all kids try. I followed that advice. Looking back, I should have known better.

He became very upset. He cried through the whole session. After that, he hated the instructor and cried whenever the instructor came close to him.

So instead of continuing that way, I took him to the pool myself. For the next few days, we just walked around the pool area. No pressure. No forcing. Just being there.

Slowly, he walked closer. Then he stepped inside. By the next week, he was in the water with me.

A few weeks later, he was already treading water by himself and enjoying the pool.

He did not need to be forced. He needed time.

Sometimes our children are not refusing because they cannot do something. Sometimes they are saying, "I am not ready yet."