Metrotelepractice In Metropolitan Detroit

Play is crucial for children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. Through play, children learn important life skills such as problem-solving, creativity, social interaction, and self-regulation. Play allows children to explore their environment, experiment with different ideas, and express themselves in ways that are natural and meaningful to them.

Play can take many forms, including physical play, imaginative play, sensory play, and social play. Children learn best through play that is meaningful and engaging to them, so it is important for parents, caregivers, and educators to provide a variety of play opportunities that are tailored to a child’s individual needs and interests.

What is play?

Play includes fun activities enjoyed independently or with others. Play has no rules, and people make up their own games. Play can be inside or outside. It uses things around us, like balls and sticks. Playing helps us learn how to get along with others and think about new things.

Types of play:

• Social Play is when kids play together. For example, playing soccer.
• Symbolic Play is when you pretend. You can do this from 18 months to 5 years old.
• Practice Play is doing the same thing repeatedly to learn how to do it better. For example, you might practice throwing a ball.
• Sensorimotor Play is used by infants. This means that they use their senses and move around. An example of this is shaking a rattle.
• Constructive Play is when kids make something. For example, building with legos or painting with their fingers.    

Play helps a child…

• Build Imagination and Creativity
• Foster Cognitive Growth
• Improve Literacy
• Improve Emotional Well-Being
• Encourage Greater Independence

Play is not just a fun activity for children but a vital part of their development. Therefore, it is essential to support and encourage play in children and create a safe and stimulating environment for them to explore and learn.

MetroEHS emphasizes that ABA therapy is not a lifelong commitment but a structured program aimed at equipping children with essential skills. From the outset, each child receives an individualized treatment plan tailored to their unique needs and developmental goals at MetroEHS Pediatric Therapy.

Dawn Sterling, Regional Director of Behavioral Health at MetroEHS, explains, “We like to think of working ourselves out of a job… it’s not necessarily a lifelong thing that you have to experience, especially for those that are in ABA therapy.” This perspective underscores the organization’s commitment to empowering children to achieve independence.

Individualized Planning and Early Intervention

The process of graduating from ABA therapy is highly individualized. Ashley Lewis, Clinical Director at MetroEHS, notes that planning for graduation begins early in the therapy process. “We like to start talking about graduation early… so that we know what goals that we want to go for and how we want to target each and every one of those goals,” she says. This proactive approach ensures that therapy is goal-oriented and progress is continuously monitored.

Early intervention is a cornerstone of MetroEHS’s philosophy. By engaging children in therapy at a young age, the likelihood of achieving developmental milestones and preparing for school increases significantly.

Life After ABA Therapy

Graduation from ABA therapy marks the beginning of a new chapter. Post-graduation, children may continue to receive support through other services offered by MetroEHS, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and participation in social or playgroups. These services aim to reinforce the skills acquired during ABA therapy and ensure their application across various environments .

The goal is to prepare children for success in school and beyond, fostering independence and confidence in their abilities.

Learn More About MetroEHS Services

MetroEHS Pediatric Therapy offers a comprehensive range of services designed to support children with developmental challenges. For more information about their programs and how they can assist your family, visit metroehs.com or call 248-970-8402

Embarking on the journey through ABA therapy with MetroEHS means partnering with a team dedicated to revealing the “super” in every child.

Our therapists and educators have a passion for extending their clinical abilities to those who are in need of Special Education, Child Education or Pediatric Therapy in Metropolitan Detroit.

• ABA Programs
• Speech-Language Therapy Services
• Occupational Therapy Services
• Feeding Therapy Services
• Preschool, Day Care, & Private School Therapy Services
• One-Stop Shop For: ABA, Speech-Language & OT Services
• Homeschool Services
• Accent Reduction