Helping your child to make choices:

Help with: choices, communication motivation, visuals

Giving choices is a basic motivator to encourage communication. From early talkers to children with complex communication challenges, presenting a choice gives the child control and encourages them to give you information to meet their needs: to communicate! If your child is beginning to use their first words, present a choice in either hand, name them and wait for your child to indicate their preference. Say the word clearly as you give them their choice. Gradually wait longer before you give them the chosen item and encourage them to use the word. Children with learning difficulties and ASD are presented with choices during their day at school. If using a visual schedule, add a choice symbol after 1 or 2 other activities. The child can choose something fun after they do a job but it is part of their schedule. Depending on your child's communication ability, a visual enables them to get their message across by pointing and narrows their focus to a number of their favourite things instead of the entire toy box! This post by @SLT SupportLW https://www.instagram.com/p/CAsrUgkg7nl/ demonstrates adding a choice to encourage a longer phrase during play. A longer explanation of using visuals for choices is available here :https://www.eani.org.uk/.../About%20Choice%20Making.pdf If you have questions or want some advice send me

a message!