What Is the Cycles Approach? 

The Cycles Approach is a speech therapy option that was developed by Barbara Hodson. It follows a cyclical pattern, targeting each phonological process for a short amount of time. This approach is meant to reflect the gradual process of phonological development in children. 

What makes the Cycles Approach so unique is that it allows therapists to individualise therapy for each child. This approach is also very time-efficient, as therapists can work on multiple phonological processes at once. 

Benefits of the Cycles Approach for Speech Therapy 

The Cycles Approach is different from other speech therapy methods in that it targets phonological processes for a short amount of time. The goal is to eliminate phonological processes from the child’s speech. This approach is meant for children who have multiple phonological processes. 

The main benefit of the Cycles Approach is that it is highly effective in reducing or eliminating phonological processes from a child’s speech. In addition, this approach is systematic and organised, which makes it easier for both the child and the therapist to understand and follow. 

Key Elements of the Cycles Approach 

The Cycles Approach is an effective speech therapy option for kids that has three key elements: 

1. It’s adaptable to many types of speech sound disorders, making it a versatile tool that can be tailored to each child’s specific needs.
2. The approach is based on the natural cycles of speech development, which helps children feel more confident and motivated as they make progress.
3. The Cycles Approach is designed to be a collaborative effort between parents and therapists, fostering a partnership that helps the child reach his or her full potential.

How to Structure a Cycles Approach Speech Therapy Session With Kids 

When you’re ready to start using the cycles approach with your kids, there are a few things to keep in mind in terms of structure. 

Each session should be divided into three parts: assessment, intervention, and review. 

The assessment phase is where a speech pathologist will take a look at what skills your child has and identify any areas that need work. 

The intervention phase is when we actually start working on those areas. This is where the cycles approach will be utilised. 

And finally, in the review phase, the therapist go over what was accomplished in previous sessions and set goals for the next ones. 

Case Study: The Results of Using the Cycles Approach With a Child 

In a study by Kiewra, et al. (1991), the Cycles Approach was used with a four-year-old boy with a hearing loss and severe phonological disorders. The child had been in speech therapy for two years and had made little progress. 

After using the Cycles Approach for six months, the child showed drastic improvements. He was able to produce more sound combinations and his speech was intelligible to strangers 75% of the time. 

This study shows that the Cycles Approach can be extremely effective for children with severe phonological disorders. It is an approach that is definitely worth considering if you are looking for ways to help your child make progress in speech therapy. 

Conclusion 

If you’re a parent of a child who is receiving or needs speech therapy, it’s important to be familiar with the Cycles Approach. This method has been shown to be an effective way to help kids with their speech and language development. 

If you’re looking for a speech therapy method that is tailored to your child’s needs, the Cycles Approach is a great option. 

The post Harnessing the Cycles Approach: An Effective Speech Therapy Option for Kids first appeared on Spring Forward Family Centre.

What is Master Builders? How can my child benefit from it? What type of activities does it involve?

We know as a parent you want to gain as much knowledge and understanding for programs that have been recommended for your child, or you have found and are interested in. This is why we have shared our most frequently asked questions below.

What is Master Builders?

Master builders is a group intervention that is based on the principles of Lego® Therapy by Daniel LeGeoff. Master Builders uses play-based tasks (i.e. building Lego) to target a variety of speech, language, and communication skills.

Who is Master Builders for?

Master Builders is for a wide range of children and young people. The nature of the program means it is highly adaptable and can be changed to suit the individual strengths, needs and interest of each group. Many children will benefit from engaging in a Master Builders program, but particularly those that have goals to:

• have opportunities for positive interactions,
• develop their understanding of instructions,
• develop their ability to give instructions,
• learn new concepts,
• develop their understanding of prepositions
• take turns with a peer,
• develop problem solving skills,
• develop negotiation and more complex social skills,
• engage in a shred activity in a group
• ask for help

How old does my child have to be?

There is no distinct age range for Master Builders. The group will be tailored to reflect the ages and needs of each group.

Can Master Builders be done online?

The program involves working on a shared project in small groups, which is very difficult to replicate online. There has also been little to no research done to determine if online sessions are beneficial. Here are Spring Forward, we don’t provide online Master Builders sessions.

Do you have courses for parents? / Should I do this at home?

There are currently no courses for parents running at this time. However, parents can be given at home strategies (tailored to their child’s needs) to be done between sessions to complement the learning and development experienced within the program.

What if my child doesn’t like Lego?

The group can be adapted to reflect the interests of your child. If your child does not like Lego, we can change the focus point i.e. to making a YouTube video, or a jewellery making club etc. The first session usually aims to gather ideas from all group members about what they would like to do.

Have more questions? Want to enquire about Master Builders for your child? Contact us!

Speech Pathologist, Hannah is our facilitator of Master Builders at Spring Forward. Interested to learn more about Hannah?

Here are some of Hannah‘s top picks for at home use:

LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box Playset

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LEGO DUPLO Classic Deluxe Brick Box Set

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MHNSF Pty Ltd T/A Spring Forward Family Centre is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

The post Master Builders Top FAQs Answered first appeared on Spring Forward Family Centre.