Building Language Skills with Schedules for Special Needs Children - Part 1
What does a teacher or speech therapist mean by language skills? She is simply referring to communication. For most children it develops naturally. However, for many children with special needs, learning to communicate is a long process of demonstration and practice.
Basic Words Professionals call these concept words. You will recognize some of them as prepositions; others are adjectives: in, out, on, off, hot, cold, wet, dry, hungry, tired, are a few examples. They are the words that are the bottom line in what someone is communicating.
Jack is at the mall with Mom. He gets cranky and uncooperative. Jack is hungry. Mom probably knows that he is hungry, but maybe it isn't mealtime. Maybe she doesn't know why he is upset. She would prefer that Jack say I'm hungry, Mom. At first if he can at least say hungry Mom will understand.
Vocabulary Shelby is taking swimming lessons. It is important that she learns lots of words: kick, jump, hold your breath, relax, wait, etc.
Wants and Needs It is suppertime. Alex has a babysitter. They are eating hot dogs. Alex wants catsup on his hot dog. The goal is for Alex to say Catsup, please! instead of the babysitter trying to figure out what he wants or instead of her having to show him both the catsup and the mustard.
Social Language This category encompasses using words to greet other people or to express socially expected ideas: Hi! How are you?- Happy birthday! - I love you, Mom.
Questions and AnswersChildren ask many questions during the course of a day. Parents give many answers until, of course, they just can't answer the same question for the fifteenth time. Questions and answers are one way that people learn information, the thoughts of others, what will happen next, and about the world in general. Many children with special needs must be taught the question-answer exchange. In short, Jason must be taught to ask Do you want to play ball with me? instead of simply tossing the ball at another child.
You may be thinking This sounds great, but my child is not talking. How do we get to the place you are talking about?
Read how to get started:
Building Language Skills with Schedules for Children with Special Needs Part 2
Note: All children in this article are fictitious and represent general characteristics of the disability.
© 2006 Lynn Moore No portion of this article may be copied or distributed without the written consent of the author.
