__________________ Total Communication at Home
Total Communication is used to support understanding and use of spoken language.
Why should you use Total Communication at home?
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To support the processing of spoken language.
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To provide a prompt or cue for your child.
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To encourage your child to be independent by building on their own skills.
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To build confidence in understanding spoken words.
For lots of children, Total Communication is an important part of successful communication and interactions.
When can you use Total Communication at home?
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Daily Routines – getting dressed; having a bath/shower; snack time ; dinner.
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Play Time – playing on the swing; bubbles; messy play.
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Learning Time – reinforcing lessons or activities done at school.
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Special Times – choosing; birthday; opening a card from a friend or family member.
How can you support your child at home?
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Use photographs and symbols as cues.
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Use songs to represent activities.
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Use objects as cues.
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Find out signs for key words.
The Golden Rules to follow
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Positioning – Make sure your child can see, hear or feel the cue. Try and be at eye level with your child so they can see your face when you interact with them and introduce the cue.
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Consistency – Agree as a family what you are going to call each activity and what cue you are going to use. Try and use the same cues over and over to create consistency. This will build on your child’s understanding of what is happening.
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Availability – Have cues available for all the family to use.
– Keep symbols on a key ring or velcroed to the wall.
– Put objects in a box or next to where the activity normally takes place.
– Write the lyrics to your song and put it on your fridge.
– Create a video library of you doing each key word sign.
