As a mother to a child on the autism spectrum I really do understand the importance of communication. Little man is high up on the autism spectrum with a diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome. He is very verbal and has been from a very early age. Although this is considered a good thing it is often confused that due to my child’s excellent vocabulary he must be an excellent communicator! This is in fact very wrong. He is a child who actually undergoes speech and language therapy receiving a considerable amount of hours while at school as his statement of sen specifies.
I CAN, the children’s communication charity is therefore a charity very close to this mums heart. They understand the importance of communication and have been a strong means of support to many parents and they’re children all over the country.
Before Christmas I shared with you my review of the fabulous resource ‘Chatting With Children’ produced by I CAN and as a parent I was truly impressed with what it had to offer! You can read the review here.
Now I CAN have given me the opportunity in offering my readers the chance to win one of there great box sets. The Early Talkers box set
is a wonderful gift or activity set ideal for parents and practitioners supporting babies, toddlers and young children in learning to talk. This box set includes activity packs for all ages between birth and five years.
Produced by I CAN, the children’s communication charity, these beautifully illustrated activity cards provide information on easy-to-do, fun activities that support the areas needed to become skilled communicators. Organised into five sections, each Early Talker pack focuses clearly on attention and listening, interaction, as well as skills for understanding and using words and sentences.
This box set includes 3 wonderful resources in one pack…
Babbling Babies contains 30 delightfully illustrated activity cards for parents and practitioners to have fun with baby whilst helping to build strong foundations for developing baby’ communication skills. Comes with top tips and planning guide. (Birth – 18 months)
Toddler Talk is a set of 30 inspiring and fun activity cards giving parents and practitioners ideas to play and develop toddler’s communication skills. Comes with top tips and planning guide. (18 months – 3 years)
And lastly, as seen in our review…
Chatting with Children is the third in the series of Early Talkers and provides parents and practitioners with 30 fun and interactive activity cards to help develop young children’s communication skills. Comes with top tips and planning guide. (3 – 5 years)
Above sample card from chatting with children
So… To win this great prize of an Early Talkers Box Set do the following…
Compulsory action: Please leave a comment that provides a tip on the subject of engaging children under 5 in communication.
To gain extra entries you can do any of the following. Each completed action will equal one entry. Note an additional comment must be left for each action taken. Remember to leave an email address or twitter ID so that I can find you if your lucky enough to win.
Tweet: “I want to win an early talkers box set with @Clairelouise82 & @ICANcharity” adding the URL of this post to the end of you’re tweet.
Follow @ICANcharity on twitter
Follow @Clairelouise82 on twitter
Like ICAN on Facebook
Pin this competition on Pinterest
Subscribe to this blog via feedburner (located in the sidebar)
Follow my sister blog Mummy of many talents
The competition will close on the 8th February 2013 at midnight.
One last Thing: I CAN are looking for local Families in the Bath area to register for the Bath Fun Run. It would be great if you could show your support by sharing this with anyone that maybe interested in supporting the event.
T&C: The competition is open to those in the UK only. All entries will be checked and those that have not met the entry criteria will not be entered into the final draw. One winner will be drawn randomly soon after the competition closing date. Winner will be notified via the email or twitter ID they provided. Winners have a total of 72 hrs to responses or I have the right to redraw another winner. Winners name may be published on this site. The prize will be sent directly from ICAN. Your delivery details will therefore need to be shared with ICAN Only.
Lots of eye contact and repeitition
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tweeted
Singing a song!
Used varied vocabulary (not ‘baby’ vocabulary) never undersestimating what children can learn through rich language experiences.
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follow you on twitter too as @olivia280177
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I use flash cards as a starting point with my 3 year old, her imagination takes her to all manner of places and we have a good giggle and I teach her new words too. @olivia280177
following mummy of many talents through email
following through google reader as Sam R
following ICan on facebook as Samantha Ripley
following @Clairelouise82 on twitter as @lillyfer85
following @ICANcharity on twitter @lillyfer85
tweeted @lillyfer85
talk your way through tasks
With my boys, I talk to them constantly. About where we’re going, what we’re doing, what’s for tea. I answer all of their questions regardless of how silly they seem to me and I offer an explanation for each answer. We count step on the staircase, talk about the colours of things we see around us and so much more. I suppose we just – talk a lot!
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i have tweeted
@zeniebeenie
talk to them using normal words, not baby speak and name everything – look theres a blue ball – look theres a fluffy dog – and listen when they speak
following you on twitter @kerrybabyharvey x
following @icancharity @kerrybabyharvey
tweeted @kerrybabyharvey https://twitter.com/kerrybabyharvey/status/299486548712357889 xx
talk about everything! what you are doing, how you are doing it, what it does ect.🙂
I always find getting down on your knees and talking to them face level so that you are not intinmidating them by towering over them. Also use lots of questions to engage them.
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Getting down on their level (sitting on the floor if necessary) and joining in their play is a great way to build communication. Daisy and I often have conversations where I will ask her questions on behalf of her toys, for example I’ll say ‘Daisy, rabbit is hungry, what could he have to eat?’ or ‘Daisy, this dog is going to the shop, what will he buy today?’ Daisy will answer me because I’m on her level and I just keep responding to whatever she says so that she talks back to me. Sometimes I think I’ve talked to her so much that I’ve created a monster! Who was it that said you spend the first 12 months of their lives trying to get them to talk and the next 5 years wishing they’d shut up🙂 I know what they mean!
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reading to them a lot also talking to them and involving them🙂 x
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Never go about your every day life silently … Incorporate every aspect of everyday life into speech … Whether it be going to the bathroom or preparing a meal. Express in words everything you do & try to make it fun .. Never drone like repetition!
Following on twitter @ericahughes
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Make the most of opportunities to talk e.g. while walking along, on the bus, in the car.
Praise and patience im hoping this helps as this is what i use
Listening to them, and asking open-ended questions, even before they can talk, is vital.
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From the very start you can do simple things that help your child engage in conversation and learn about the world around them. Your child has made a huge difference in your life (it’s certainly not what it was before). Embrace this and make the experience one of mutual appreciation and it will help to develop a close bond and good communication between you and your bundle of love.
Firstly, I highly recommend a pram that enables your child to see you when you are out and about. Let them see you communicate with others and to see you communicate with them.
Chat aimlessly with your child and let them know what you are doing (and why). They will make the connection between what you are doing, what it is called and what it is for. They will also learn routines this way, identifying what happens next.
Talk to them and in particular ‘sing’ to them – using rhyme and tunes is something they will enjoy, recognise instantly, find a connection with and are more likely to learn what the message is behind the rhyme/tune.
Reading is definitely one of the main things i engage with my daughter. She’s only 16 months but is now looking at the pics and when i say the word she’s doing her best to copy the word. “Gog” is “dog” so far, but she’s coming along nicely. Love reading (glad the library is within walking distance) and can’t wait until she’s old enough to start reading, but she enjoys books and will (out of a tub full of toys) bring a book first of all now. Even if it means removing everything else out of the tub so she can reach her favourite. Good luck to everyone 🙂 😀 x
I think reading books together is one of the most important things
Always talk to your child it can be about anything from talking while you are changing their nappy to when you are doing your weekly shop.Although they don’t reply they are taking everything in.
Talk to them about things they like and don’t answer questions for them give them time to answer you.
Get the child to repeat what you have said to them so if they are easily distracted they keep on track. Lots of encouragement and praise and make activities fun
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They need to hear the adults around them talking – my in laws barely speak to each other and it’s reflected in my husband & his siblings more limited verbal skills – I am incredibly chatty and try to talk with my husband a lot in front of our son so he learns more.
Follow on Google reader – Sam Fernley/Happyhomebird
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Ahh, well this is a subject close to my heart as my 3yo son is non verbal and under assessment for ASD. He does now make animal noises which is great and as a result ( I think) of following his interests (mainly animals), sitting down with him, trying to engage and repeat, repeat with the words.
Read to them and ask questions/ talk about the book
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I guess my tip would be to keep talking!
We read a lot of books and repeat the same things over and over, and Georgie now understands a lot of words – she can point things out when asked, and tries to say the words herself.
had followed @icancharity – @etspeaksfrom
had followed u @etspeaksfrom
always speaks to them on the same height
and last one, also following your sister blog
thanks for the give away🙂
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I also have a child with asd, he is very delayed in speech so I am having to constantly try all the usual techniques with him but a good one for children with delayed speech is just to simplify your language with them and talk at a more basic level to enable them to pick it up easier, like 2 word sentences or using key words. The main thing that has helped my son in communication is actually signing, I would say. which i know some people say is not always ideal for children with autism but for mine it has been brilliant!! it made him realise that he can communicate and make himself understood, which he never could before as he has so few speech sounds due to various other issues he has. so it has just been fantastic, i think the visual aspect of signing helps him too. Only problem is now we are finding out in the wider world like going to nursery, not everyone understands that much of signing! so will be starting pecs sessions with him soon too, hopefully that will be easier for anyone and everyone to understand. So my other tip, for children who do have more significant delays is definitely dont shy away from using these alternative communication methods – they all support speech and doesnt stop them talking, it reinforces speech. but you do get a lot of silly remarks about “oh, he should be learning to use words instead” from people that dont fully understand about it, but its worth it if it helps, which it can do massivley!
done all your other entry methods too so just going to comment them all now. hope i get a good chance!!! i am quite interested in the topic of communication as my son has so many difficulties, also my younger one is at the age of just learning to speak so would like to support him more with that too
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Talk to them often and about subjects they like!