In our busy lives, we sometimes miss opportunities for communication. For example, we know our child likes to drink milk at 11 am so we pour it into a glass just before 11. Try not to anticipate all your child’s needs. Instead, try to create opportunities for your child to communicate and interact with you.

Offer little by little…..

Instead of giving your child a full cup of milk/ water/ juice, give a small amount and wait for them to ask for more.
Instead of giving all the apple/ banana/ crisps/ raisins/ chocolate buttons/ fruit stars at once offer them little by little.
Blow the bubbles, then pop/ catch the bubbles. Wait for your child to indicate they want more.

Offer a choice, then wait…..

At snack time, “do you want milk or water?” Point to each drink as you say the word.
At free playtime offer choice of activities, “do you want playdough or sand?”

Pause during a familiar activity & then wait…

When you are taking part in a familiar routine that can be repeated, you can pause and wait for your child to ask to continue. For example: a tickle game, a favourite action song, swinging on a park swing

Choose an activity a child cannot do without your help, then wait….

Choose an activity that he cannot do without you –, wind up cars/ animals, musical toys/ a toy in a container they cannot open.

Place a favourite toy out of reach, then wait….

Put a ball/ food up on a shelf where the child can see it, but cannot reach it. Wait for the child to communicate by pointing, leading you to it etc. Say the name of the toy as you pass it to the child.

There are many ways for your child to communicate. Communication does not have to involve using words.

Fleeting eye contact
Smiling
Reaching
Pointing
Gesture
Using symbols/ pictures
Using objects of reference
Using a sound/ vocalisation/ using symbolic noises (baa, brmm-brmm)
Using a word

Try not to rush in, instead pause, wait, and you may find out that your child is attempting to communicate. If we respond to these communicative attempts, we will reinforce the idea that communication is useful!

By Sarah Winstanley