Some years ago, I was about to deliver a Neurodivergence workshop to my local parent/professional Autism support group. I was just being introduced to the group by the organiser when I was shocked to hear him say… “Andrew only talks about one thing… communication.” I had never thought about it before, but he was right.
Communicating is not one of the most important skills a child can develop, it is the most! Indeed, I remember holding my newborn baby daughter in my hands whilst she was screaming the place down, and my elderly neighbour smiled and said… listen to her, this is the only way she knows how to communicate.
Right from birth, humans learn to use communication to:
- Express their needs for food.
- Make choices.
- Develop relationships.
- Engage with their environment.
However, not every child will find communication comes naturally, whether that be verbal or non-verbal. A parent or carer’s key role is to support and encourage independence and confidence. Effective communication is crucial to this.
Implementing Individual Communication Needs
There is no magic bullet, every child will have their own individual and varied communication needs. Some, for example, may struggle with verbal speech, others might prefer natural gestures, facial expressions, or any number of non-verbal methods. Not to mention technology such as AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). To this end, observing and integrating individual strengths and potentially areas for development, are key to effective support.
Key areas of consideration must include:
- Verbal communication, including clarity of speech, and intonation, vocabulary choices, formation of cohesive sentences, and social and emotional language.
- Non-verbal communication, including physical gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, body language, actions to communicate feelings and needs, and AAC.
- Social and emotional communication: developing strategies to express emotions, discomfort, or needs, and integrating words, gestures, or AAC.
By identifying strengths, and areas for development, together you can develop strategies that support growth and confidence in a range of communication strategies.
Communication development in the home setting
In many cases, the home environment can be the perfect setting to develop communication. Following are some practical strategies that encourage communication at home:
- Use open dialogue: Make every effort to encourage conversations throughout the day. This can be in conversation or just passing comments. Use open-ended questions and give your child time to process and respond. Celebrate every attempt as well as successes.
- Visual aids: Use pictures, symbols, and communication charts, including visual timetables, visual instructions, and AAC. These can be hugely successful in helping children to understand, making choices, and expressing themselves and making themselves understood when vocabulary is difficult. Visual cues can so often make expectations clear and reduce anxiety.
- Consistency: Try to avoid shocks or surprises by keeping communication methods consistent. Repetition can often help children to understand and feel confident in expressing themselves.
- Routines: Predictable routines can often create organic opportunities for communication. For example, times of the day such as mealtimes, play, or bedtime can all be used as scaffolding communication practice opportunities.
- Modelling: Demonstrate clear communication, and allow processing opportunities by speaking slowly, using gestures, and demonstrating how to ask for things. Children can learn a lot of communication skills by watching and imitating.
- Allow opportunities to practice: Encourage low-pressure opportunities to communicate throughout the day. Whether it is asking for a snack, choosing an activity, or saying hello, practice builds confidence.
Strategies, Interventions Tools, and Resources for Communication
Sometimes, specific interventions can give children a voice and make communication easier:
- Sign language; Makaton/BSL (British Sign Language)/ASL (American Sign Language)/Cued Speech: Even a small amount of basic signs can help children express needs like “hungry,” “toilet,” or “cold.”
- Physical resources: Communication boards, recordable devices, apps, or other AAC can provide a range of alternative communication methods.
- Special interests (SPINS): Using your child’s favourite toys, activities, or games as a reference point can often facilitate communication.
- Alternative locations: Some children communicate better in alternative or unusual environments. Observe where your child appears to feel at ease and comfortable and encourage/facilitate communication there. Even if it the cupboard under the stairs!
Giving Your Child the Confidence and Skills to Communicate with Others
Communication is not just about expressing their own needs—it is also about helping children to interact socially and even formally with others:
- Family and friends: Share with those around your child how they communicate and enable them to understand individual communication methods. Explain any gestures, signs, or tools your child uses, and encourage the utilisation of these strategies.
- Advocacy: As a parent/carer, you are your child’s best advocate. As such it is crucial that you support your child by advocating for their communication needs in school and other settings such as after school clubs, and social settings. Being your child’s voice can greatly support them to feel understood and included.
By fostering positive communication experiences, you can help your child form meaningful connections and gain confidence in expressing themselves to others.
Helping any child communicate in their individual chosen mode/s is key to creating understanding, confidence, and connections. With consistent strategies and interventions, effective tools, and a supportive and willing network, parents and carers can enable and facilitate children to express their needs, share their thoughts, and express themselves meaningfully to those around them. Every communication action be that a physical gesture, a spoken word, or a sign, shows progress, and recognising and sharing those steps will be an essential element in encouraging lifelong communication skills.
Good communication is about helping your child feel seen, heard, and understood.
This article has been written by Andrew Whitehouse
A little bit about Andrew Whitehouse – SEND Expert
Andrew is a specialist in neurological diversity and behaviour and provides interventions for professionals, parents and young people with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and related conditions. Andrew has a number of roles including training, strategies and therapies for education professionals in schools and colleges, observing learners in the learning environment and providing practical solutions to help them achieve their potential, both social and emotional and academic.
As well as running networking day courses across the UK for SEN, Andrew provides short courses for Bishop Grosseteste University and holds a number of UK and overseas contracts. Andrew delivered a TEDx Talk “From Disability to Superpowers” and has an extensive conference profile. Andrew is also a Forensic SEND Consultant and acts as an expert witness in SEND related court cases.
Andrew recently delivered the prestigious Bamford Lecture at the British Academy of Audiologists National Conference and has a prolific conference profile.
