A typical day might start with reviewing the goals and plans for each child you'll work with that day. Sessions are hands-on and interactive, requiring you to be both creative and adaptable.

Sessions are hands-on and interactive. During your sessions, you might engage in a variety of activities designed to develop the child's communication and social skills. For example, you may use role-playing games to teach turn-taking and empathy or employ picture exchange communication systems (PECS) for non-verbal children to express their needs and emotions. Other interventions might include behavior modeling to encourage positive social interactions or sensory activities to help children manage their responses to sensory stimulation.

You'll need a lot of creativity and adaptability. If a child is particularly interested in animals, for example, you might incorporate animal figures into your session to capture their interest and facilitate engagement. Adapting your strategies to align with each child's interests and motivators is essential for fostering a productive learning environment.

Documentation and data analysis are key parts of your role, as they help track progress and inform future therapy sessions. During and after each session, you'll record the child's responses to various activities, noting any progress or areas needing adjustment. This might involve charting the frequency of specific behaviors before and after introducing a new intervention or recording the child's ability to maintain attention during tasks. This data is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of therapy strategies and for planning future sessions.