Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

Just wondering if this is the norm. DS started therapy mid July and I have bought several things his Spec. Inst. suggested along the way. Today she came over with a lakeshore catalog and a list of about $300+ in toys she thinks would be helpful for their sessions. I have no problem going out and buying things but just wondering if this is the norm. His OT and ST has not asked me to buy anything.

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

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Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

OMG..no way...As a matter of fact she seems to buy something new for Noah at least once a week that she thinks he will like ( from the Dollar store usually)...like a set of rubber bugs or drop in the water animal capsules, play doh, sticker books, trucks etc.

Some of it she gives him ( bugs, trucks), the rest she keeps as part of her "bag of tricks".

She even brings me Dunkin Donuts coffee

Our's uses a mixture of her own toys that she rotates and also the toys we already have ...

I'm sorry I think thats odd.

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

NO way! I am the one who sometimes ask what I need to buy. But most of his therapists bring stuff with them.

For OT/PT, you are better off having sessions at a special ed gym.... that would be cheaper.

Stuff is expensive. I just got a catalog from Beyond play and there have playmates, etc.. for $400.

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

No way - she suggested we get a tiny table and chair for him and since we were planning on doing it anyway - we went out and got it!

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

No. My DS has speech and PT, and neither of the therapists have asked me to buy anything for THEIR sessions0. The PT has suggested things to work on at home (he has therapy at daycare) and suggested we work with playground balls, so I bought some, but that's something I would have gotten anyway. She usually suggests activities with things I would already have around the house - pillows, balls, a stepstool, etc. The speech therapist has suggested I buy a few things, but they are for feeding and things I would use with him at home myself.

And as an aside, I think Lakeshore has some great stuff, but they are pretty expensive for a lot of things.

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

Maybe once or twice things have been suggested but never to the point where they bring a catalog and list. Honestly, that's obnoxious and even more so that you're expecting #2. In this economy, I find it insensitive that she has no concept that just MAYBE you can't afford all that stuff. The very concept of home instruction is that they make do with what you have in your home or bring their own learning tools.

Having said that, I DO agree with the idea of the baby doll, to acclimate your ds to the idea of a baby and how to feed/change the baby since #2 is on the way. I plan to get one for my ds if/when I'm blessed with #2

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

I have asked parents to purchase items that I feel they need, and I teach them how to play with them. I don't have them go on huge shopping sprees. I ask for a few items with specific goals in mind. This has to be done because I don't want to take the items with me if I buy them since they are things I want them to have when I'm not there. Sometimes kids don't have age appropriate toys because they don't play with them but they can't learn unless they are taught. My concern is what she is trying to teach. In preschool he will be playing with boys. How many are in the kitchen and pushing babies in a stroller? Go to a preschool and note what boys are doing before buying him toys that aren't addressing necessary play skills that are specific to his peers.

Message edited 9/2/2009 4:19:17 PM.

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

never...she usually brings us a gift.

i am trying to break up with her...he's already "graduated" now we just make up fake goals to have her still come around and play with him. she was heartbroken when i said we are done. she begged to stay on till 3...he's her favorite and my house is clean. so they sit together and play go fish.

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

She hasn't - but I wish she would as he is getting bored with her toys. I am def. going to be suggesting I buy some new things for their sessions.

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

No, she brings her own toys. I can see her asking you to maybe pick up a few key items, but $300+ seems a little crazy.

ETA: Just saw your list. You can pick up a lot of those things at Target for 1/2 the price. Parents brand makes most of those toys.

Message edited 9/2/2009 4:23:30 PM.

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

We had OT and feeding therapy through our health insurance for a while. There was nothing that we were required to buy but we wanted to make sure that he had some things that he could use on a day to day basis at home to help his progress. I would have no problem with a therapist suggesting something of that nature.

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

Nope..they bring everything!

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

I just wanted to add, as an EI supervisor - that we tell therapists to use the toys that the child already has - anything they bring should really be for reinforcers. To take toys in and then take them out doesn't mean the child will have access to the skills if it doesn't stay home - that is why parents are asked to buy specific things.

for example, I am supervising a preschool case where the child has very few toys - mostly Sesame Street, and he doesn't even watch the show. VERY hard to get any language to happen if he can't even label the characters. He doesn't have simple boy things like trucks, cars, etc (he can't even label them and this is a child who CAN speak). I suggested to mom that I would be providing her a list of things he must have - not just for our sessions, but to expose him to new things and have something to teach with. Sure therapists can bring those things, but when they leave, then the child won't be able to practice the skills he learns during the session....

I'm not asking them for expensive things (Although in this particular case I'm sure they can afford it) but I think it is something that would benefit the child greatly to have. Before I had a child and other expenses I bought everything and let the kids keep a lot of the stuff. If I could, I would. Right now I am in no position to do that - hopefully one day that will change!!!!

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

I just think its ridiculous to have someone ask you to spend money on TOYS. IMO a good therapist should be able to work with ANYTHING. Mine takes Noah for walks, to play outside, in his room , the bathroom etc.

I can understand saying ok, get things like flash cards that type of thing, but that is stuff she/he should have already anyway..

We have gotten some things that she has as back up's here ( finger paints, play doh , that type of thing) but I would be more then annoyed at the idea to purchase specific toys.

I think "most" kids have enough toys to work with ? I cannot think of anything a child "must" have that will follow through on a task or learning set?

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

Posted by lipglossjunky73

I just wanted to add, as an EI supervisor - that we tell therapists to use the toys that the child already has - anything they bring should really be for reinforcers. To take toys in and then take them out doesn't mean the child will have access to the skills if it doesn't stay home - that is why parents are asked to buy specific things.

for example, I am supervising a preschool case where the child has very few toys - mostly Sesame Street, and he doesn't even watch the show. VERY hard to get any language to happen if he can't even label the characters. He doesn't have simple boy things like trucks, cars, etc (he can't even label them and this is a child who CAN speak). I suggested to mom that I would be providing her a list of things he must have - not just for our sessions, but to expose him to new things and have something to teach with. Sure therapists can bring those things, but when they leave, then the child won't be able to practice the skills he learns during the session....

I'm not asking them for expensive things (Although in this particular case I'm sure they can afford it) but I think it is something that would benefit the child greatly to have. Before I had a child and other expenses I bought everything and let the kids keep a lot of the stuff. If I could, I would. Right now I am in no position to do that - hopefully one day that will change!!!!

Message edited 9/2/2009 8:10:52 PM.

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

Our therapist has suggested we buy certain things like a big yoga ball for her to sit on and bounce. She did ask me to buy some speech tools like an echo horn or a few things from a catalog and it was about $40. I didn't mind but I would not be buying toys from an expensive catalog like that. I would hope that they would use the toys I have at home.

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

My therapists always have their own toys and items for my DD but they have suggested items that might be good for her. Certain kinds of flash cards, doctors kit, certain blocks ect. None of it was mandatory for me to buy but her needs are very specific and sometimes she would need a specific type of toy and I would want to have it in my house anyway so I can play with it after the sessions were over. In fact I have purchased a number of toys my therapists have because my DD liked them so much.

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

Posted by jellybean1420

Posted by lipglossjunky73

I just wanted to add, as an EI supervisor - that we tell therapists to use the toys that the child already has - anything they bring should really be for reinforcers. To take toys in and then take them out doesn't mean the child will have access to the skills if it doesn't stay home - that is why parents are asked to buy specific things.

for example, I am supervising a preschool case where the child has very few toys - mostly Sesame Street, and he doesn't even watch the show. VERY hard to get any language to happen if he can't even label the characters. He doesn't have simple boy things like trucks, cars, etc (he can't even label them and this is a child who CAN speak). I suggested to mom that I would be providing her a list of things he must have - not just for our sessions, but to expose him to new things and have something to teach with. Sure therapists can bring those things, but when they leave, then the child won't be able to practice the skills he learns during the session....

I'm not asking them for expensive things (Although in this particular case I'm sure they can afford it) but I think it is something that would benefit the child greatly to have. Before I had a child and other expenses I bought everything and let the kids keep a lot of the stuff. If I could, I would. Right now I am in no position to do that - hopefully one day that will change!!!!

I honestly have no problem buying toys that may be helpful during therapy sessions but he honestly has so much for her to work with including stuff I have bought. She did buy a Fisher Price Barn with animals from Once Upon a Child that she left here with him and I thought that was extremely thoughtful.

DS has a ton of toys....books, puzzles of all kinds, building blocks, lego's, cars, trucks, beads, musical instruments, toy garage, Mr. Potato Head, crayons, paints, play-doh, train table and Little People toys just to name a few.

I think these are things that are more of a suggestion of things she thinks he should have. I could always add them to his Christmas list of ideas to give to family and friends but at that point he will only have a month of therapy left.


ETA: The other thing is she is very persistant about this doll that can be given a bath and keeps talking about DS giving the doll a bath. I hope she doesnt think he is going to get in the bath tub or something. I have no problem feeding the doll, holding the doll, etc. but I dont think it's necessary for him to give the doll a bath in the tub

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

Posted by lipglossjunky73

I just wanted to add, as an EI supervisor - that we tell therapists to use the toys that the child already has - anything they bring should really be for reinforcers. To take toys in and then take them out doesn't mean the child will have access to the skills if it doesn't stay home - that is why parents are asked to buy specific things.

for example, I am supervising a preschool case where the child has very few toys - mostly Sesame Street, and he doesn't even watch the show. VERY hard to get any language to happen if he can't even label the characters. He doesn't have simple boy things like trucks, cars, etc (he can't even label them and this is a child who CAN speak). I suggested to mom that I would be providing her a list of things he must have - not just for our sessions, but to expose him to new things and have something to teach with. Sure therapists can bring those things, but when they leave, then the child won't be able to practice the skills he learns during the session....

I'm not asking them for expensive things (Although in this particular case I'm sure they can afford it) but I think it is something that would benefit the child greatly to have. Before I had a child and other expenses I bought everything and let the kids keep a lot of the stuff. If I could, I would. Right now I am in no position to do that - hopefully one day that will change!!!!

Re: Do your EI therapists ask you to buy things for therapy sessions?

We have 7 different therapist... 5 ABA, 1 speech and 1 OT.

NONE of our therapists have given us a list of toys to get.... but we have asked and at our monthly team meeting they gave us a list and told us why they thought those would be useful.

we will again ask around christmas what they feel DS should get and we hope they give us a list of ideas... this way we arent buying things that arent going to be helpful or he stims with...

making suggestions one thing but giving you a list and telling you this is what you need is another and i would get a new therapist.

ALL of his therapists bring toys and some even leave bags here so we can work on things with him...