A Caregiver-Led Bibliotherapy Intervention to Improve Resilience in Children: Four Case Studies

Purpose: Children with speech and language disorders may experience social and emotional challenges related to their difficulties with communication. This case study preliminarily investigates the effectiveness of a caregiver-led bibliotherapy intervention, a particularly novel approach aimed at building resilience in children with speech disorders, as a value-added component to speech therapy. Method: Four children aged 5–8 years old who were enrolled in therapy for a speech sound disorder piloted a 4-week intervention led by their caregivers. Each child–caregiver dyad received a bibliotherapy kit, including four books and the materials to complete four follow-up activities at home. The child and caregiver participants completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires to explore changes in the child's communication attitudes and resilience across the intervention. Results: Each of the four child participants' resilience improved following the intervention based on self-report. Discrepancies were found between the child's and the caregivers' perceptions of the child's resilience. Qualitative data gathered from the child–caregiver dyad provide examples of how the intervention positively impacted their child's behavior. Conclusions: This study provides initial evidence that a caregiver-led bibliotherapy intervention can improve resilience in children with speech sound disorders. Further research is needed for more generalizable findings.