Rationale: Children need to learn to communicate nonverbally in order to tell others what they want, feel, or desire. It is important for you to provide opportunities for your child to communicate to you by doing less for them automatically in anticipation of their needs and desires.
For example, you can:
- Offer choices for choosing a snack, desired toy, or activity, even if you know what she wants.
- Keep toys, food, and drinks within sight, but out of reach, to give your child opportunities to request what he desires.
- Offer a choice of something you know your child does not want, giving her an opportunity to refuse.
Read more:
Using Communication Temptations
I can do less so my child does more during:
- Toy or object play
- Mealtime
- Social Play
- Bathing, dressing, bedtime
- Book activities
- Chores
Back to Module 3 Step 2: Wait a little
The content of these pages are adapted from: An early start for your child with Autism: Using everyday activities to help kids connect, communicate and learn. Rogers, S.J., Dawson, G., Vismara, L.A. (2012). New York: Guilford Press.