Discover nine ways to support literacy in autistic children

ByLondon Speech and Feeding April 28, 2023April 11, 2023

We are all aware that Autism is on a spectrum. By the very nature of this, it means that every child will present differently, so an individualised approach is required. We need to remember to use a child’s strengths to support their needs. By using a person-centred approach, you’ll see your child’s literacy develop and thrive.

I hear many parents concerns about literacy as well as communication. Will they be able to read, write and spell? How will they manage their literacy independently? The questions are endless, so let’s look at how you can support your child’s literacy skills and how together we can provide a scaffold to them becoming independent learners.

The one thing we know is that Autistic children are visual learners. They succeed by us sharing pictures and demonstrating how the narrative is shown.
Start reading to your child at an early age. You can never start too early. This creates a love for books and supports vital pre-literacy skills (such as increasing vocabulary, following narratives, awareness of sounds in words, and letter recognition and awareness). By supporting pre-literacy skills, you’re starting the process to create confident young readers.
There are many ways to use books. You can narrate the story using different voices and tones to increase interest. You can do this even if your child isn’t interested. They are still listening and learning vital skills. You may even ask and answer questions and voice the skills that they will need for internal monitoring.
Use their interests to select appropriate reading material. In addition, you can then create questions on the book and provide a scaffold to support your child with the answer.
Use technology to spark their interest in reading. Demonstrate how they can read online. This is often successful as it becomes an individual activity as opposed to needing social interaction.
Provide them with a choice of texts (e.g., would you like ‘Perfectly Norman or when things get too loud’) rather than an open-ended question such as ‘What book would you like to read?’
Write key pieces of information down on paper. Research suggests that Autistic learners understand written text better than speech.
You could have a ‘word of the day’ from chosen reading material that you explore together.
Reading aloud to your child can have many benefits which include understanding vocabulary to how the book is read, with appropriate intonation.

I highly recommend the boom decks as they are a great resource!

The ethos at London Speech and Feeding:

“If they can’t learn in the way we teach, then we teach the way they learn”

If you need speech, language or communication support or advice, I am always here to help.

Find a speech and language therapist for your child in London. Are you concerned about your child’s speech, feeding or communication skills and don’t know where to turn? Please contact me and we can discuss how I can help you or visit my services page.

Autism Therapy · Neurodiversity · Speech and Language Therapy · Top tips

Autism – Benefits of Early Assessment and Intervention
ByLondon Speech and Feeding January 26, 2024January 4, 2024
I think my child might be autistic – how can we help?
Image by macrovector on Freepik

Consulting a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist can help you in several ways: assessment, informal and formal observation, discussion and advice, onward referrals, direct intervention, parent coaching, educational support and much more, all geared towards supporting you the parents, and helping your child to flourish and thrive.

First up, we can help you with assessment and advice: with a wealth of expertise in observing childrens’ play and communication, as well as knowledge of the latest research we can see a child’s strengths and areas of struggle very quickly indeed.

Within a short space of time, we can identify the areas we need to focus on and start guiding you towards helping your child to connect, respond, react and feel better.

Early detection is key

If autism is detected in infancy, then therapy can take full advantage of the brain’s plasticity. It is hard to diagnose Autism before 18 months but there are early signs we know to look out for. Let’s have a brief look at the sorts of things we look at.

The earliest signs of Autism involve more of an absence of typical behaviours and not the presence of atypical ones.
- Often the earliest signs are that a baby is very quiet and undemanding. Some babies don’t respond to being cuddled or spoken to. Baby is being described as a ‘good baby, so quiet, no trouble at all’.
- Baby is very object focused: he/she may look for long periods of time at a red spot/twinkly item further away, at the corner of the room for example.
- Baby does not make eye contact: we can often see that a baby looks at your glasses for example instead of ‘connecting’ with your eyes.
- At around 4 months we should see a baby copying adults’ facial expressions and some body movements, gestures and then increasingly cooing sounds we make; babies who were later diagnosed with autism were not seen to be doing this.
- Baby does not respond with smiles by about 6 months.
- By about 9 months, baby does not share sounds in a back-and-forth fashion.
- By about 12 months baby does not respond/turn their heads when their name is called.
- By around 16 months we have no spoken words; perhaps we hear sounds that sound like ‘speech’ but we cannot make out what the sounds are.
- By about 24 months we see no meaningful two-word combinations that are self-generated by the toddler. We might see some copying of single words.
24 months plus:
- Our child is not interested in other children or people and seems unaware of others in the same room/play area.
- Our child prefers to play alone, and dislikes being touched, held or cuddled.
- He/she does not share an interest or draw attention to their own achievements e.g., ‘daddy look I got a dog’.
- We can see our child not being aware that others are talking to them.
- We see very little creative pretend play.
- In the nursery our child might be rough with other children, pushing, pinching or scratching, biting sometimes; or our child might simply not interact with others and be unable to sit in a circle when asked to.
What sort of speech and language difficulties might we see?

Our child might do any of the following:
- have no speech at all, but uses body movements to request things, takes adults by the hand
- repeat the same word or phrase over and over; sometimes straight away after we have said it or sometimes hours later
- repeat phrases and songs from adverts or videos, nursery rhymes or what dad says every day when he gets back from work etc.
- copy our way of intonation
- not understand questions – and respond by repeating the question just asked:
  
  adult: Do you want apple? child: do you want apple?
- not understand directions or only high frequency directions in daily life
- avoid eye contact or sometimes ‘stares’
- lack of pointing or other gestures
Common behaviours:
- Hand flapping
- Rocking back-and-forth
- Finger flicking or wriggling/moving
- Lining up items/toys
- Wheel spinning, spinning around self
- Flicking lights on and off, or other switches
- Running back-and-forth in the room, needing to touch each wall/door
- Loud screaming when excited
- Bashing ears when frustrated or excited
- Atypical postures or walking, tip toeing, can be falling over easily, uncoordinated
- Can be hyper sensitive to noises, smells, textures, foods, clothing, hair cutting, washing etc.
- Being rigid and inflexible, needing to stick to routines, unable to transition into new environments
- Food sensitivity, food avoidance, food phobias
I mentioned this to be a ‘brief’ look at the areas and it is: each topic is looked at very deeply and each area is multi-facetted therefore a diagnosis is rarely arrived at very quickly. We want to make sure we have covered all aspects and have got to know your child very well before coming to conclusions.

Early detection is key, because we want to start helping your child to make progress as quickly as is possible. If you feel /know that your child is delayed in their speech and language development and you would like a professional opinion then please do contact me, I look forward to supporting you. It is important to know at this point, that if your child only has one or two of the above aspects it may mean that your child is simply delayed for reasons other than Autism and if that is the case, we will be able to help you iron out a few areas of need so that your child can go on thriving.

If you need help with your child, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Find a speech and language therapist for your child in London. Are you concerned about your child’s speech, feeding or communication skills and don’t know where to turn? Please contact me and we can discuss how I can help you or visit my services page.

1
READ MORE Autism – Benefits of Early Assessment and Intervention
Lisp · Speech and Language Therapy · Top tips

From ‘Nailed it!’ in therapy to ‘Whoops!’ at home: Why generalising speech sounds is tricky
ByLondon Speech and Feeding July 23, 2025November 6, 2025
As a parent, you’ve likely experienced the triumphant feeling when your child, who’s been working so hard on his or her /S/ sound, produces it perfectly in a therapy session. He or she is rocking those ‘sun’ and ‘socks’ words, his or her lisp seemingly a distant memory. You leave feeling elated, confident that all that hard work is finally paying off.

Then you get home. And within minutes, you hear it: ‘Thooper!’ instead of ‘Super!’ Or maybe the clear /R/ in ‘rabbit’ from therapy reverts to a ‘wabbit’ when his or she is playing with his or her toys. It’s frustrating, confusing, and can feel like you’re back to square one.

So, what’s going on? Why is it so difficult for children to take those amazing skills learned in a focused therapy session and seamlessly apply them to their everyday conversations? You’re not alone in wondering this. It’s a common challenge in speech therapy and understanding the ‘why’ can help both parents and children navigate this crucial stage.

The brain’s habits: Old pathways are strong pathways

Think of your child’s brain as having established ‘pathways’ for how he or she produces certain sounds. If he or she has been lisping his or her /S/ sound for years, that neural pathway is deeply ingrained. It’s like a well-worn path through a field: easy to follow because it’s always been there.

In therapy, we’re essentially trying to forge a new path. We’re teaching him or her a new, more accurate way to make the sound. This new path is initially faint, like a barely visible trail. It takes conscious effort and repeated practice to strengthen it. Outside of the structured therapy environment, his or her brain often defaults to the old, comfortable, and well-established pathway, even if it’s not the most accurate.

The demands of daily conversation: A multitasking challenge

Therapy sessions are designed to be focused and controlled. We isolate sounds, practice them in specific words, and provide immediate feedback. There are minimal distractions, and your child’s full attention is on his or her speech production.

Now, consider daily conversation:
- Speed: We speak much faster in natural conversation than we do during structured practice. There is less time to think about individual sounds.
- Cognitive load: Children are simultaneously thinking about what they want to say, understanding what others are saying, processing social cues, and managing their emotions. Adding the conscious effort of producing a new speech sound correctly on top of all that is a huge cognitive demand.
- Variety of contexts: In therapy, we might practise ‘sun’ and ‘socks’. In real life, the /S/ sound appears in countless words, in different positions within words, and alongside a vast array of other sounds. Each new word and phonetic context present a fresh challenge.
- Lack of immediate feedback: In therapy, the speech therapist is right there to provide instant correction and reinforcement. In a playground, during a family dinner, or while playing with friends, that immediate, consistent feedback isn’t present.
The role of automaticity: Making it second nature

The ultimate goal of speech therapy isn’t just correct sound production; it’s automaticity. This means producing the sound correctly without having to consciously think about it. It’s like learning to ride a bike. Initially, every pedal stroke and steering adjustment is deliberate. Eventually, it becomes second nature.

Generalisation is the process of moving from conscious, controlled production to unconscious, automatic production. This takes time, consistent practice, and exposure to a wide variety of real-life speaking situations.

How can we help? Bridging the gap

So, what can parents do to help their children bridge this gap between therapy success and everyday speech?
1. Be patient and positive: This is a marathon, not a sprint. Celebrate the small victories and avoid getting discouraged by setbacks. Your positive reinforcement is crucial.
2. Practise little and often: Instead of long, infrequent practice sessions, aim for short, consistent bursts throughout the day. ‘Sprinkle’ in opportunities to practise their target sounds in natural conversations.
3. Create ‘sound awareness’ moments: Gently draw your child’s attention to his or her target sounds in everyday words. For example, if he or she is working on /R/, you might say, ‘Oh, you said ‘wabbit.’ Can you try to make your /RRR/ sound for ‘rabbit’?’
4. Model correct production: Continue to model the correct production of their target sounds in your own speech.
5. Collaborate with your speech therapist: Your therapist is your best resource! Ask them for specific strategies and activities you can do at home to support generalisation. They can also provide guidance on when and how to gently correct your child.
Tips and tricks

Below I have listed a few good tips and tricks that can help the transition from therapy room to daily life:

Empowering your child as the ‘sound detective’:
- ‘Secret sound listener’: Instead of you doing the correcting, make your child the detective. When you’re having a conversation, say ‘your /S/ sounds are sometimes a bit “slippery”’ (or whatever fun, non-judgmental term you like). Ask your child to quietly listen for your /S/ sounds. You can even purposely make a few ‘slippery’ ones (or correct yourself immediately after) and see if they notice. This shifts the focus from being corrected to actively listening and identifying the sound in a non-threatening way.
- ‘Sound scorecard’: For a short period (maybe 10–15 minutes during a specific activity, like dinner or a game), provide a small notepad and pencil. Explain that your child is going to listen for his or her /S/ sounds and gently mark a tally every time he or she uses it correctly. The goal isn’t perfection, but awareness. This gives your child agency and a visual representation of progress. You can even make it a game: ‘Let’s see how many /S/ sounds we can catch in five minutes!’
- /S/ sound song/rhyme creation: Work together to create silly songs or rhymes that are packed with /S/ sounds. The sillier, the better! You can sing them in the car, while doing chores, etc.
- /S/ sound superpower: Frame the new sound skill as a ‘superpower’. ‘You’re getting so good at using your /S/ superpower! It’s going to help you speak so clearly and confidently.’
- Highlighting successes: Always go out of your way to acknowledge and praise successful /S/ productions in natural conversation. ‘I really understood you clearly when you said ”s_top”.’ or ‘That /S/ sound was perfect when you told me about the “s_tory”!’
Important considerations:
- Keep it low-pressure: The goal is generalisation, not perfection. If your child is feeling pressured, he or she will likely revert to old patterns.
- Focus on awareness, not just correction: Help your child become aware of his or her own speech rather than relying on you for corrections.
- Short, frequent bursts: A few minutes of subtle focus multiple times a day is more effective than one long, forced session.
- Acknowledge feelings: If your child expresses frustration about ‘being corrected’, validate these feelings. ‘I understand it can feel like a lot of listening, but we’re just trying to help you use that super /S/ sound all the time!’
By incorporating these strategies, you can help your child naturally integrate the new /S/ sound into daily speech, fostering independence and confidence without it feeling like constant ‘testing’ or ‘correction’. Generalising new speech sounds is arguably the hardest part of speech therapy, but it’s also the most rewarding. With patience, consistent effort, and a collaborative approach between parents and therapists, children can successfully integrate their new, clearer speech sounds into every aspect of their daily lives.

Any comments or if you need help and support with your child’s speech please do not hesitate to get in touch with me: simply fill out the contact form here on the website. I endeavour to reply within 48 hours.

Sonja McGeachie

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Owner of The London Speech and Feeding Practice.

Find a speech and language therapist for your child in London. Are you concerned about your child’s speech, feeding or communication skills and don’t know where to turn? Please contact me and we can discuss how I can help you or visit my services page.

1
READ MORE From ‘Nailed it!’ in therapy to ‘Whoops!’ at home: Why generalising speech sounds is tricky
Speech and Language Therapy

Learn the benefits of Cycles Phonology Approach in Speech Therapy
ByLondon Speech and Feeding March 6, 2023February 10, 2023
Cycles Phonogogical approach

When your child attends Speech and Language Therapy, it can look like your child’s therapist is playing. Therapy needs to be fun, which means carrying out therapy through the medium of play. But remember every approach used has evidence behind it. We need to know that therapy will be successful, so an evidence-based approach is essential.

One of the approaches used for Speech Therapy (i.e., working on speech sound production) is the Cycles Phonology Approach. This approach focuses on the patterns and processes rather than each individual sound. For example, it may be working on final consonant deletion, so the omission of the final sound in words. As Speech and Language Therapists we understand that children can get frustrated and fatigued working on the same sound every day. This approach attempts to solve that. Hodson suggests, the approach is also useful for children with more speech sound errors, as therapists see progress in areas not targeted.

How does the Cycles Phonology Approach work?

Your Speech and Language Therapist will assess your child’s speech development and will then analyse the results. They will also look for which sounds they can produce with support (this is called stimulability). They will analyse patterns in the results and will formulate a plan.

The Cycles Phonology Approach intervention allows your child to work in blocks. This might mean they work for half a week for 30 minutes on (e.g., clusters). Then the next half they’ll work for 30 minutes on a different process (e.g., omission of sounds at the end of words).

Research has found that the following error patterns respond well to this approach:
- Syllables (identifying the different parts in a word e.g., “ae-ro-plane”)
- Final Consonant deletion (omission of the final sound e.g., “ca” instead of “cat”)
- Initial consonant deletion (omission of the first sound e.g., “at” instead of “cat”)
- Fronting (instead of making a sound at the back of the mouth, it’s made at the front e.g., “tat” instead of “cat”)
- Backing (instead of making a sound at the front of the mouth, it’s made at the back e.g., “gun” instead of “bun”)
- S blends (e.g., “sl, sm, sn, sk, sw”)
- Gliding of liquids (e.g., “lellow instead of yellow”, “wabbit instead of rabbit”)
What does a Speech and Language Therapy session look like when using the Phonology Cycles Approach?

The format of the session remains the same for whichever speech sound pattern your child is working on. Your child’s Speech and Language Therapist will review the previous session. Then they will use an activity to work on your child hearing the sound several times (this is called ‘auditory bombardment’). Then your child will practise saying the sound. Next, the Speech and Language Therapist will check if your child can say any of the sounds which they haven’t been able to produce before, with support. This is called a stimulability check. After this, your child will take part in an activity which builds their awareness of sounds in words (such as a rhyming or syllable activity). The session will finish with another auditory bombardment task (i.e., hearing their tricky sound repeatedly).

I will give you advice for practising at home, as it’s vital that your child learns in the correct way. We aim for 100 turns in therapy sessions, so it’s vital your child is motivated.

Contact me to improve your child’s speech sounds and improve their confidence when talking.

Find a speech and language therapist for your child in London. Are you concerned about your child’s speech, feeding or communication skills and don’t know where to turn? Please contact me and we can discuss how I can help you or visit my services page.

1
READ MORE Learn the benefits of Cycles Phonology Approach in Speech Therapy
Lisp · Speech and Language Therapy · Top tips

Speech prompts and strategies I use in Speech Sound Therapy
ByLondon Speech and Feeding May 14, 2024May 13, 2024

This particular student has a mild motor planning difficulty and six weeks ago he came to me with a very strong lisp. In addition to the lisp he is struggling to produce a number of sounds, SH and L on its own and all the clusters (FL/BL/KL/PL) but also CH together with some vowel difficulties.

The prompts are a mix partially from the DTTC (Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing) model by Dr Edythe Strand as well as phonological models I have learned over the years, and some of them are my own.

Visual/picture prompts and Images

Here I use the ‘Flat Tyre’ Sound, to offer as an image for a new S sound and the ‘Tick Tock’ Sound for a new image of the T sound. Both cards are from the Bjorem Speech Sound Deck, which I love and use almost daily.

Gestural Cues

I like to use all the ‘cued articulation’ hand cues by Jane Passy for consonants and fricatives. Here we use our fingers and hand to illustrate what our tongue does, and we also show whether a sound is voiced or voiceless. When I use one finger it is voiceless (k/f/s/p) and when I use two fingers for the same cue it means that the voice needs to be turned on: (g/v/z/b/n/m). For vowels I like to use Pam Marshalla’s cue system.

Simultaneous production

We say the word together.

Direct imitation

I say the word and my student copies me directly.

Imitation after a delay

I say the word and then after a little wait my student says the word.

Spontaneous production

My student has now learned to say the word by him/herself.

Offering feedback

It sounds like… I just heard… I didn’t hear the first sound there? Can you try again?

Letting the student reflect

By just shaking my head or by looking quizzical so that my student realises something didn’t quite go right.

Postitive reinforcement

‘Yes that was it, do it again, nice one…’

Cognitive reframing

This is a technique where we identify different semantic cues and metaphors or imagery cues, so instead of teaching or focusing on a sound we try out viewing each syllable from a different point of view.

For example: ‘yellow’. I have had great success with this one: we start with just saying ‘yeah yeah yeah’. I might make a little joke and say something like ‘imagine your mum says tidy your bedroom, what do you say or what do you think?’ Answer: ‘yeah yeah yeah’. Then we practice ‘low’ together, I might blow some bubbles high and low and we talk about ‘low’. And then we put ‘Yeah’ and ‘Low’ together and now we have YELLOW!! It might at first still sound a bit odd, like ‘yea-low’ but we soon shape that up and have the real word.

Each student is different and having a great rapport is crucial to our success.

Then a little game break after some 7–10 or so repetitions and always trying to finish on a positive note.

What game breaks do I use:

Very quick ones! Students can post something, place a counter in a game, take out a Jenga block from the tower, pop in a counter for ‘connect 4’, stick a sword into the Pop the Pirate barrel or add a couple of Lego blocks to something they are building.

I hope this is helpful, please contact me for any questions.

Sonja McGeachie

Early Intervention Speech and Language Therapist

Feeding and Dysphagia (Swallowing) Specialist The London Speech and Feeding Practice

The London Speech and Feeding Practice

Find a speech and language therapist for your child in London. Are you concerned about your child’s speech, feeding or communication skills and don’t know where to turn? Please contact me and we can discuss how I can help you or visit my services page.

1

READ MORE Speech prompts and strategies I use in Speech Sound Therapy
Ages and Stages · Speech and Language Therapy · Top tips

My child is hard to understand at school age. Should I be concerned?
ByLondon Speech and Feeding March 30, 2026March 25, 2026
Many parents notice speech errors when their children are toddlers. At that stage it often feels quite normal. Young children are still learning the sounds of their language, and those early mispronunciations can be very endearing.

But as children grow older, parents sometimes begin to wonder:

‘Should my child still be speaking like this?’

A common concern I hear from families is that their child is still difficult to understand even after starting school. Sometimes it is a parent who notices it first. Other times it is a teacher who gently mentions that classmates occasionally struggle to understand what a child is saying.

When this happens, parents naturally wonder whether it is something their child will grow out of, or whether some extra support might help.

When should children’s speech be clear?

Children learn speech sounds gradually over several years. Some sounds develop earlier, while others take longer to master.

By the time children reach five to six years of age, most of their speech should be clear enough for unfamiliar adults to understand. There may still be a few tricky sounds developing (such as /R/ or /TH/), but overall speech should be fairly easy to follow.

If a child is frequently difficult to understand at school age, it can sometimes indicate that a speech sound difficulty has persisted beyond the stage when it would normally resolve on its own.

Why some children remain hard to understand

There are several reasons why speech clarity may still be developing in older children.

Phonological patterns

Some children continue to use speech patterns that are typical of younger children. For example:
- saying ‘tat’ instead of ‘cat’
- saying ‘doe’ instead of ‘go’
- leaving sounds out of words
These patterns are called phonological processes. They are a normal part of early speech development, but when they persist into the school years they can make speech difficult for others to understand.

Difficulty producing specific sounds

Other children may have difficulty producing certain individual sounds clearly. This might include sounds such as:
- /S/
- /SH/
- /R/
- /TH/
These difficulties are called articulation difficulties.

A child might understand exactly what they want to say but find it hard to produce the sound accurately with their tongue, lips or airflow.

Motor speech planning challenges

For some children, the difficulty lies in the planning and coordination of the movements needed for speech.

Speech requires very precise timing between the tongue, lips, jaw and breath. If the brain finds it difficult to organise these movements consistently, speech can sound unclear or inconsistent.

In some cases this may relate to Childhood Apraxia of Speech, although only a full assessment can determine this.

Why clarity matters for school-age children

Speech clarity becomes particularly important once children start school.

At this stage, children are:
- Answering questions in class
- Talking with friends
- Reading aloud
- Developing confidence in communication
When speech is difficult to understand, children sometimes become more hesitant to speak, particularly in group situations.

This can affect confidence and participation, even when the child has lots of ideas they would like to share.

The good news: speech can improve

The encouraging news is that speech sound difficulties can often improve significantly with the right support.

Speech therapy focuses on helping children:
- Learn how sounds are produced
- Practise accurate speech movements
- Understand how sounds change meaning in words
- Build consistency through structured practice
Different children benefit from different therapy approaches. Some need support with phonological patterns, while others benefit from more motor-based practice that strengthens speech coordination.

Often therapy combines several strategies to support the child’s individual speech profile.

When to seek advice

If your child is already at school and you find that people outside the family often struggle to understand them, it can be helpful to seek advice from a speech and language therapist.

A detailed assessment can help identify:
- Which sounds are causing difficulty
- Whether patterns such as fronting or sound substitutions are present
- Whether motor planning challenges may be contributing
- Which therapy approach is likely to be most effective
Early support can help children develop clearer speech and greater confidence in communication.

Every child’s speech journey is different

Speech development is not the same for every child. Some children master speech sounds quickly, while others need a little more guidance along the way.

The important thing is that support is available when children need it.

With the right strategies and practice, many children make excellent progress and develop speech that is clearer, more confident and easier for others to understand. If you are concerned about your child’s speech clarity or ongoing speech sound errors, a speech and language assessment can help identify the underlying difficulty and guide the most appropriate support.

Feel free to contact me on my contact page.

Sonja McGeachie

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Owner of The London Speech and Feeding Practice.

Find a speech and language therapist for your child in London. Are you concerned about your child’s speech, feeding or communication skills and don’t know where to turn? Please contact me and we can discuss how I can help you or visit my services page.

3
READ MORE My child is hard to understand at school age. Should I be concerned?
Autism Therapy · Speech and Language Therapy

How to use Attention Autism to develop language and communication
ByLondon Speech and Feeding May 17, 2023May 31, 2023
Now you’ve read Attention Autism (part one), you are familiar with the concept of ‘bucket time’ and the benefits it has to offer your child. It’s time to explore all the different stages. In sessions, it can be noisy and with so much to take in, you may want something to refer to. If you’re in need of a helping hand or memory jogger for stage two, read on…

Knowing what stage your child is working at is vital. Every stage has different aims to develop and enhance functional communication. So being familiar with your child’s goals ensures you can continue to practise at home. If you’re unsure of their goals, please ask your Speech and Language Therapist.

With all speech, language and communication goals, the aim is always to generalise skills from therapy settings to home and nursery or school life. This generalisation period will take time. Please try to stick with the plan. You will experience the benefits for your child, and it’ll make family life a little easier.

You may remember that Autistic children thrive on visuals. Let’s use their strengths to support their communication needs. It is a good idea at the start of the activity to have a visual for what’s happening now and what will happen next. If you’re anything like me, you’ll grab a pen and paper or a whiteboard and whiteboard pen, and will doodle away! You don’t need fancy photos.

The attention builder

Stage two of the Attention Autism approach is called “the attention builder”. The clue is in the name, your child’s goal is to keep focused on the activity for a longer period. The duration will be different for every child, but it’s useful to time their attention, so you can report progress back to your therapist.

Parents are often worried about doing something wrong. If it all goes a bit pear-shaped or not as you expected, don’t panic! This is the time to ask yourself, did my child have fun? Did they engage in the activity? It’s very helpful to reflect on the experience. What could you do that would make the activity easier for your child to access? (For example, did you set up the activity before your child entered the room? This would allow for a smoother session, so that waiting time was minimal.)

Three ideas for stage two activities

There are so many ideas out there, which at times can feel overwhelming. I’m always looking for the easiest options to present to you to reduce overwhelm and allow it to feel manageable.

Remember this is about having fun. Your child’s communication will benefit from you relaxing and having this structured approach.

Here are our three top ideas for stage two attention Autism activities:

1. Flour castles

You’ll need:
Container, cup or glass

Flour

Sheet (for the table/floor) (optional)
This is a fun-filled activity to try. But it can get a little messy!

Fill a small glass, cup or container with flour and flip the cup over to build flour castles. It’s great to engage your child especially with the “Splat” at the end.

2. Paint balls

Another activity which is a little bit cleaner is ‘Paint balls’.

You’ll need:
- Tray, container
- Paint
- Rubber balls or marbles
- Paper (optional)
First dip the marbles into the paint, then drop into the container and roll it around to make a pattern. You could always make a pattern on some paper.

I love to use everyday objects in therapy, so when I came across this next idea, it was added to the list. It’s simple, effective, not to mention clean!

3. Skittles

You’ll need:
- A packet of skittles
- Warm water
- Plate
You’ll need to create a circle of skittles around the edge of the plate. Then add small amounts of warm water to the plate and watch the rainbow of colours appear.

These activities offer a sequence to build and sustain your child’s attention. Remember the key is to have fun. Create meaningful interactions that your child cannot miss! If they can learn to hold their attention, they can learn to use functional skills.

Now you’ve got ideas for stage two activities. Go ahead and carry them out.

Have fun!

If you need speech, language or communication support or advice, I am always here to help.

Find a speech and language therapist for your child in London. Are you concerned about your child’s speech, feeding or communication skills and don’t know where to turn? Please contact me and we can discuss how I can help you or visit my services page.

0
READ MORE How to use Attention Autism to develop language and communication