The purpose
Write for your future self
After a therapy appointment, families may need to remember an exercise, a useful phrase, a document to find, or a question to revisit. A short parent note keeps those details from disappearing into email, paper, or memory.
Parent notes should be factual, respectful, and easy to scan. They do not need clinical terminology. They are not a substitute for the therapist's official records.
The five-part note
A repeatable structure for every session
1. Date, provider, and focusExample: “August 24 · Speech-language pathology · Asking for clarification during two-step directions.”
2. What happenedOne or two factual points about activities, discussion, or a strategy demonstrated.
3. Home stepThe exercise, routine, or environmental change the provider suggested. Record the instruction accurately.
4. Family observation or barrierAnything relevant since the previous visit: context, a helpful setup, a difficulty, or a meaningful example.
5. Question and next dateWhat should be clarified next time, plus the next appointment or review date.
Example
A brief note is often enough
August 24 · OT · Morning dressing routine
Practised using the picture sequence beside the dresser. The first two steps worked with one reminder. At home, try it before school on Tuesday and Thursday. Ask next visit whether the last two pictures should be separated.
Practised using the picture sequence beside the dresser. The first two steps worked with one reminder. At home, try it before school on Tuesday and Thursday. Ask next visit whether the last two pictures should be separated.
Keep it safe and useful
What not to put in a casual shared note
- A diagnosis or conclusion the provider did not make
- Clinical scores you are not qualified to interpret
- Passwords, health-card numbers, or unnecessary identifying information
- Judgemental labels when a concrete description would be clearer
- Instructions that differ from the provider's plan without asking first
Frequently asked questions
Parent note questions
What is the difference between parent session notes and clinical progress notes?
Parent notes preserve practical information and family observations. Clinical progress notes are official provider records that may follow professional, legal, billing, or regulatory requirements.
How long should a parent therapy note be?
A few short points are usually enough: focus, home step, observation, question, and next date. The goal is a useful reminder, not complete documentation.