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Goals with a Future
Setting goals helps in everyday life
- Bilateral, leg-predominantBoth legs affected
- Unilateral, leg-predominantOne leg affected
- Whole body affectedWhole body affected
- HemiparesisOne side of the body affected
- ParentsParents
In this Power-up you learn, together with your child, to set goals that really matter – not just medical values, but real everyday moments. Using the 6 F-words model (Function, Family, Fitness, Fun, Friends, Future), you find out what matters to your child and bring these goals into therapy. The example of Cindy (9 years old) shows you this very concretely. Includes a worksheet to fill in and take to the next therapy appointment.
This Power-up is for parents.
It is about goals for your child.Why are goals important?
With cerebral palsy, we often look only at the body.
For example: how well do the joints move?
How strong are the muscles?But these values say little about life.
They don’t say whether your child can play with friends.
They don’t say whether your child can eat by themselves.That’s why it’s important to set real goals.
Goals from your child’s everyday life.Medicine alone is not enough
Medication can help.
For example, it can relax the muscles.
That is important.But medication doesn’t teach your child how to take part.
Your child learns that in therapy.
And in real life.The 6 F-words
The 6 F-words help you find good goals.
They show all the important areas in your child’s life.The 6 F-words are:
- Function: what does your child like to do? For example: playing, getting dressed, helping out.
- Family: who is part of your child’s family?
- Fitness: movement and sport. For example: swimming, cycling.
- Fun: what makes your child happy?
- Friends: friends at school, in free time, in the neighbourhood.
- Future: what does your child wish for later on?
An example: Cindy
Cindy is 9 years old.
Cindy has cerebral palsy.
Cindy uses a wheelchair.Cindy found a goal for each F-word.
For example:
Cindy wants to feed her friend’s chickens.
To do that, Cindy wants to get stronger.
Then Cindy can walk further with her rollator.That’s how the goals connect to each other.
How to find your child’s goals
Step 1: talk with your child about the 6 F-words.
Step 2: write down your child’s wishes.
There’s a worksheet you can download for this.Step 3: take the worksheet to therapy.
Talk about it with the therapist.Step 4: after a while, check back.
Has the goal already been reached?
Goals can also change as your child gets older.The main points in brief
Your child’s goals are at the centre.
Medication and therapy help along the way.
But they are not the goal itself.
Use the 6 F-words to find good goals.
Talk about these goals with everyone who’s important.
