Learning for life

Use what you already know

It is important to consider the child’s age and level of understanding alongside their level of language and communication development.

• Use consistent language
• Find out how they communicate yes or no
• Consider how many key words a child may understand in a sentence
• Use body language, facial expressions and so on...
• Talk, talk, talk all the time
• Respond to the child’s early communication – crying, laughing and so on
• Remember the importance of play in the development of communication
• Make it a fun experience for both you and the child
• Consider attention span
• Play games to develop attention span
• Work on developing eye contact
• Encourage taking turns
• Involve other children where possible, especially siblings
• Create opportunities for communication
• Children are children whatever the differences

How to make choices

Some children may not yet understand how to make a choice or what a choice is. Always accept their first answer and give them that choice, even it a child has only fleetingly looked at it. It is important that they learn the consequence of their choice. If you offer a child the choice of two different drinks and they indicate one when you know that the other is their favourite don’t give them their favourite, give them the one they chose.

Choice making can progress to choosing from an increasing number of objects or pictures or eventually a symbol system. When a child is ready to move on from objects, you can start to introduce choosing from labels, pictures cut out of magazines or photos. Once a child becomes accustomed to choosing, try making one of the options ‘something else’ so they can learn that they can choose something you haven’t chosen for them. A speech and language therapist is the best person to offer further guidance.