May 2008

Program turns children into little champs

Life coaching for little ones is one way the Little Champs program, run by the Alfred Hospital’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), could be summed up.

CAMHS runs a number of group programs for its young clients.

Little Champs coaches five to seven-year-olds in language and social skills.

The children involved have various problems, such as autism, intellectual disabilities, developmental problems and emotional difficulties.

CAMHS development assessment program coordinator Roger Pelletier said the group concentrated on helping children with social, language or group play difficulties.

‘Little Champs is for the kinder/prep age group and for those having difficulty in placement, such as those repeating their kinder or prep year,’ Mr Pelletier said.

The weekly program, which has a parent support group, gives children the chance to practise being in different group situations and seeing how they respond to language-directed activities.

‘The emphasis is on language, getting them used to having to concentrate on tasks and engage in unstructured social play with other children,’ Mr Pelletier said.

Some children have difficulties with tasks others take for granted.

While some children have recognised intellectual disabilities, other Little Champs are struggling with developmental delays.

‘Although only young, children can experience social difficulties and anxiety,’ Mr Pelletier said.

‘Children tend to know if they are not developing on the same level as other children and find it hard to deal with the fact they are not meeting expectations if they have a language disorder or social problem.

‘Developmental problems can possibly develop into mental health issues.

‘It can be difficult for these children to take part in school or kindergarten and this is a little bit more support for them.

The Little Champs group is run with a speech therapist and education consultant and the parent group is run by a psychologist.

Little Champs runs for three of the four school terms.