I’m not a big fan of homework for kids. Actually, I’m a big anti-fan of homework for kids. School is long enough. When kids finally come home it’s time to play sports, read, draw, talk with friends and just chill on the couch.
Homework after a therapy session, however, is a completely different matter. In some ways, this is the most important part of the whole project.
Why is giving and doing homework between sessions so different from homework from school? Here’s my list.
- School lasts 7 hours or so a day. Therapy is 1 hour a week (or so). That’s not enough time to learn, practice and do. Thus, practice and do homework.
- The goal of school, in many ways, is to learn to do school well. However, the goal of therapy is to learn to do LIFE well. So, bringing therapy home is key.
- Changing habits is hard. It takes a lot of practice to do one’s life differently. Therapy homework is a way to structure this practice.
- Therapy is expensive. Homework is a way to get the most out of each session so you can use the least sessions possible!
What makes for good therapy homework? Good therapy homework is decided on as a team with both therapist and client(s) deciding what the assignment will be. Good homework feels do-able so that it’s a way to succeed.
And, perhaps most of all, good therapy homework, all-in-all makes time instead of taking time. It makes time by fostering healthier, happier ways of doing this project called life. Because, it’s not just our kids who deserve a break at the end of the day!
Dr. Abigail Hirsch 