How long will my child need to attend therapy?

This is very dependent on your child’s particular profile. Our therapist will be regularly reviewing your child’s progress, and feedback and discussion with yourself as a parent is an important part of ongoing therapy. Many children move from individual sessions to group sessions before concluding therapy.

How often will my child need to attend therapy?

For most families, it is recommended to attend one one-hour session each week, to maintain the intensity of the therapy and support. Attending less frequently can result in smaller or slower gains for your child. However we understand that each child’s needs and family situation vary, and your therapist will discuss their recommendations with you at your child’s assessment.

What improvements can I expect to see?

This is very dependent on the individual profile of your child. We will work with you as a family towards common goals for your child, discussed initially at your child’s assessment, and continually updated during sessions. Research demonstrates that intensive programs lead to better outcomes. With this in mind, the therapists coach the parents in sessions to provide them with the skills to implement this approach at home.

How can I be sure that this approach is right for my child?

We advise you to review information on all different approaches before making a decision, as taking on a therapeutic approach is an investment of both time and finances. If you are unsure, please feel free to contact us on 02 9418 9995 or by email on info@kidsworldtherapy.com.au; we will get a therapist in touch with you to discuss whether this approach is the right one for your family.

Will you help my child with handwriting issues?

We will look at the underlying profile of your child which can lead to challenges in skills. If handwriting is a concern for your child, we will look at the underlying reasons and address these first, as well as providing information for you to continue work with at home.

Can you help my child with sensory issues?

Yes. All of our treatment rooms are set up as sensory rooms, and our therapists are trained in understanding and treating each child’s individual profile.

Can you help my child with feeding issues?

Yes. Our therapists are trained in understanding and treating feeding issues and can help with many areas, from limited diets/picky eating to improving the mechanics of your child’s feeding skills such as chewing and swallowing.

Can you help my child with sleeping issues?

Yes. Our therapists are trained in understanding and treating sleeping issues.

Can you help my child with toileting issues?

Yes. Our therapists are trained in understanding and assisting families with toileting issues.

Can I request a specific therapist?

Yes, however you may need to wait longer for sessions, as this will of course limit our ability to match to your availability. Please also consider that many of our therapists only work certain days of the week or have most of their session times filled by existing clients.

Do I need to attend these sessions with my child?

We require that at least one parent or carer attend each session. This is because a large part of the therapy service provided involves coaching the parents or carers, as well as discussion and feedback. The exception is in peer group sessions – these focus on therapist-supported peer interaction, and do not involve the parent during the main body of the session.

What can I expect at my child’s therapy session?

This is very variable based on your child’s needs, overall and at any given session. Any session may include such activities as: equipment play, play with symbolic toys, sensory play, or many other activities. Your therapist will work with you during these sessions, through discussion and co-operation, to create the right level of challenge for your child, and to meet your child’s needs, often in multiple ways with one activity.

Will this therapy require work or time outside of my child’s sessions?

What do I need to do? Generally, we will only see your child for one hour per week. A large part of our therapy approach is parent coaching; teaching you the skills to continue this approach at home and in the community, so that your child can receive this fantastic input consistently throughout all areas of their life. We recommend that our families take blocks of twenty minutes to play using the Floortime approach. This consistency of care, at home and through the week, is what can help you to see the results that this program is capable of creating for your family.

If I can’t make my session, is there a cancellation fee?

If you can’t make your appointment time, we will attempt to reschedule you for another appointment that week. If we are unable to do so, and we have not been given 24 hours’ notice, we will need to charge a cancellation fee. If you or your child are unwell, we understand that you cannot plan around illness, but appreciate as much notice as possible.

Are all sessions held in the therapy offices?

Will my therapist visit my home or my child’s school/preschool/daycare? All of our regular sessions are held in our therapy offices. However, on request, your therapist can look into doing a visit to your child’s school/preschool/daycare, or to your home, to observe and to make recommendations.

What happens in a peer group session?

When your child is ready for peer group sessions, your therapist will begin looking for a suitable peer partner/group and time. We match our peer groups very carefully, and will not offer a peer group until we are confident that this will be a good match and provide the right level of challenge for each child. We then need to find a time that works for both families as well as the therapist. Once the peer group is ready to proceed, this will begin with a trial session, and if the children prove to be a good match, the peer group will continue. In the peer session, parents are generally not included, except for a brief period at the end of the session (the last 5-10 minutes) when your therapist will discuss the session with you. Your child will come into the therapy room with their peer/peers, and the therapist will facilitate (rather than lead) a play session between these children. This is a great way to help your child develop the social skills which will support them throughout their life, in a controlled and supportive environment.

What happens in a school holiday program session?

These work similarly to an extended peer group session, with a larger group of children and for two hours per day for a week. During this time, play between the children is facilitated by a number of therapists, who will support the children through this more complex situation. The School Holiday Program also includes snack time, outdoors play (weather dependant,) and can include water play or crafts.

Can my child attend the School Holiday Program in the holidays without attending regular sessions throughout the term?

The School Holiday Program is open to current clients and past clients who have had a recent review session. If you would like your child to be eligible to attend Kids World's School Holiday Program it would be necessary for one of our therapists to assess your child over a few sessions to determine which group would be most appropriate.

My child is being seen by another professional – will the Kids World therapist be able to communicate with other professionals to ensure consistent care for my child?

Yes. Our staff will be more than happy to communicate with other professionals at your request, regarding your child’s care. We feel that co-ordinating care, and allowing for flexibility and the ability to integrate other approaches, can be of great benefit to your family.

What are your office hours?

We are able to offer sessions during business hours, 9 am – 5 pm on Monday to Friday. Please be aware that the 3 pm and 4 pm sessions are in high demand and have a waiting list; many schools are willing to allow your child to leave a little early or come in a little late one day of the week to attend a therapy session.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy focusses intervention around teaching the child and their families the everyday skills that they need to function and be successful at all the stages of their life. Does my child need OT? Occupational Therapy aims to help with any challenges your child may be having, as compared to similar-age children. Indicators that your child could benefit from OT include: Infant/Toddler

• trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• easily startled
• irritable when dressing him/her; seems to be uncomfortable in clothes
• does not notice pain or is slow to respond when hurt
• poor muscle tone
• slow to roll over, creep, sit or stand
• cannot calm self by sucking on a pacifier, looking at toys, or listening to parent’s voice.
• resists being held, dislikes cuddles, tense when held
• dislikes baths
• extremely active and constantly moving body/limbs or running endlessly

Why DIR Floortime?

‘ The Floortime Approach (DIR) is a highly effective treatment approach that focuses on the interactive process with the child. There is an emphasis on the interaction between the child and the parent/caregiver, with the goal being directed toward developing attention and regulation, mutual engagement, purposeful interaction with gestures and problem solving, elaboration of ideas and building bridges between ideas. The Floortime (DIR) approach is appropriate for children who have difficulties in all or some of these areas of development; it is also wonderful as a philosophy of interaction with all children. This approach recognizes that a child’s functional emotional capacities and individual difference influence development through the medium of the child-caregiver relationship. The child brings his individual differences into the interaction patterns in order to negotiate and hopefully master each of the core functional developmental capacities. In summary the DIR approach seeks to understand the infant or young child’s ability to organize experiences and deal with his or her real world – in other words, to function.’ DIR/Floortime® is an approach which may appear different to other approaches – this model focuses on each child’s individual profile, and combines a multitude of options for therapeutic treatment through a fluid, play-based approach, which is tailored to your child. This approach was initially developed by Stanley Greenspan, M.D., working with a multidisciplinary team of experts. D.I.R.® stands for Developmental, Individual-difference, Relationship-based. D = Developmental. A child’s functional emotional developmental profile, encompassing not just linear milestones, but rather how the developmental areas work together with the environment to shape your child’s development. I = Individual Differences. Children have unique physiological, neurological, psychological, communication, motor and sensory processing differences, also called the individual profile. R = Relationship Based. Relationships between the parent or caregiver and the child are the central organising principle in promoting development. For further information on these exciting approaches, and to review upcoming DIR/Floortime® news, please visit: http://www.stanleygreenspan.com/

How Do I Get Started?

The first thing to do is to contact us, by phone on 02 9418 9995, or by email on info@kidsworldtherapy.com.au. Our office staff will make up an information pack to send by mail or email, including information about our practice and the DIR/Floortime® approach, as well as some questionnaires about your child. Once you have completed and returned your questionnaires, we will then match you to a therapist, and put your timetables together in order to book an assessment and then regular appointments if needed. You do not need a referral from anyone in order to make an appointment with us. However, you may wish to see your GP or Paediatrician if you are considering a Care Plan (which will entitle you to claim partial rebates from a Medicare office after your sessions.) For further information, please look at our page on funding options.

Fees and Funding

For up-to-date fees for any service offered by Kids World, including assessments, individual sessions, group sessions, school visits, and parent information sessions/workshops, please contact our main office on 02 9418 9995. We are able to provide services to NDIS Plan Managed and NDIS Self Managed participants. To see if you are eligible for NDIS funding please visit the NDIS website. No referral is necessary to access the services provided by Kids World Therapy when using private health insurance, or self-funding. (You should contact your private health insurance provider to check what rebates they offer.) You may wish to see your GP or Paediatrician if you are considering a Care Plan such as the Enhanced Primary Health Care Plan or the Better Access to Mental Health Initiative (Mental Health Care Plan). You will need a Paediatrician to write you a letter for the Helping Children with Autism Package. Helpful links for funding information: NDIS Medicare Medicare Enhanced Primary Health Care Plan Helping Children with Autism Program Better Access to Mental Health Care Plan

Where are your clinics located?

We have three clinic locations and your child's appointment may be scheduled at any one of the following locations:

• Suite 103, Level 1, 79-83 Longueville Road, Lane Cove
  (Birdwood Lane side of Longueville Road
• LG Suite 3, 102-104 Longueville Road, Lane Cove
  (Pottery Lane side of Longueville Road)
• 469 Mowbray Road, Lane Cove