On a Wednesday all children will be encouraged to take part in various play based activities with their keyworker at group time. These will focus on – Listening and Attention, Understanding, Speech and Language and Social Communication. In addition our communication champions will also support more individualised group work. These will be short focused sessions, tailored around individual children’s needs. The communication champions will work with small groups of 2 to 4 children in the quiet room. This allows for the children’s needs to be met and a quiet space to promote interactions and joint attention. These will take place on a Tuesday and Thursday. Each month we will have a different focus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listening and Attention Tips with Julie:

Activity Ideas:

Go games – Play a game where the child is waiting for you to say a certain word before they do something. E.g. Waiting for “go” before they roll a ball of knock down a tower, make it harder by sometimes saying the wrong word. Let the children take a turn of using the ‘go’ word.

Musical Statues – The children have to listen for the music stopping, try having the music loud and then really quiet so they have to listen really hard for when to stay still.

Read a story – Try using different voices or have a wow word which pops up a lot in the book. Tell the children that this is the wow word and every time they hear it they need to put their hands on their head or touch their ears.

Speaking Tips with Julie:

Activity Ideas:

Why not try taking time to watch how your child interacts with you and others during play- Do they ask questions, point, chat.

Copy what your child says or add language to gestures to show you understand them.

Build language through using simple sentences e.g. car……. That’s a big car……That’s a big red car.

Encourage conversation by playing together or reading stories – make comments and ask questions.

Tip- If your child pronounces a word the wrong way e.g. “Look at the dod” you say ….Yes it’s a DOG.

Social Communication Tips with Lisa:

Activity Ideas:

Paper Cup Telephone- Using two paper cups connected by a length of string, have two children stand apart and pull the string tight. They can then take turns talking and listening.

Tea Party -Either with family or friends have a tea party. Encourage your child to ask the others if they want some tea or biscuits etc. Encourage eye contact and turn taking in conversation.

Play a game like snakes and ladders or tic tac toe. Focus on turn taking. Ask your child if they know who’s turn it is next. If they are struggling with turn taking start with only two people and keep the game simple.

Read a book – take turns looking at each page and talk about what you think is happening in the story. Talk about what you think might happen on the next page.

Understanding Tips with Julie:

Activity Ideas:

Obstacle course-Set up a small obstacle course and give the children various instructions to complete it e.g. Crawl under the tunnel, stand in front of the hoop, go over the bench etc.

Kim’s Game -Get a tray with various objects on it and take turns at hiding an object see if the children can figure out what’s missing. Make it harder by hiding 2 objects.

Building Set a screen up between you and the child using Lego blocks build a tower giving the instructions to the child as you do e.g. Red brick first, then yellow: etc). Once you’re finished see if they match up. To make it harder make your tower more detailed.

Read a story -when you are finished ask some who, what, where, when, why questions.