Play & communication - best friends AKKtiv ComAlong

Children have always played Children play in all places, at all times and all over the world When children succeed in their play, they become motivated and get self-esteem All-gone!

What did you play when you were a child? Think of a play you played when you grew up Tell the person next beside you Tell us about your feeling for the play Talk about what you learned in your play How do you play today? ”when I saw this doll I just couldn’t let it be I had to put make up on” AKKtiv ComAlong

What is play? Play, communication and learning are three concepts that are often used together In play, children can process what has happened and prepare for what will happen AKKtiv ComAlong

motor skills turn-taking concepts fantasy communication learning experiences interaction imitation JOY problem solvent What have you done? -Just playing! expectation AKKtiv ComAlong

Play together or on ones own Solitary play –possibility to repeat the same activity many times without tiring others –opportunity to take a break Play side-by-side –Plays alongside others –Plays separately but with toys or action that are similar to others Parallel play or Associative play –Involves social interaction but little or no organization –Interested in eachother without a plan ☺Fits for owI an fox strategies Cooperative play –game where the child understands turn taking, reciprocity, consensus, AKKtiv ComAlong

Children with disabilities Have a need to play and be activated like all children Sometimes there is a need to adapt the environment for the child to access play –Motivate –Making visible AKKtiv ComAlong

Play can be described in various ways Motoric play, “practice play” –child examines and tests the objects in different ways Construction play –construction games, with blocks, pillows, sand, clay etc. Symbolic play, pretend play, role play –for example, play school or a party where stuffed animals are classmates or guests. Rule-based play –For example song-play, games JESTI

Something well-known and something new and unexpected – to be a bit crazy and ”fox” In play and games, it is important to have a balance between order and chaos A proper mixture of order and chaos makes the activity exciting and fun AKKtiv ComAlong

Strategies to keep interaction going Go along! Incorporate! Pursue! AKKtiv ComAlong

Go along! When the child is not acting like you expected let the child's logic “rule” in play and interaction parents as a teacher adapts and “goes along" Interacting is far more important than "right and wrong", logic, common thread, material, etc. AKKtiv ComAlong

Incorporate! When the child is shifting focus and is about to leave the game/activity incorporate the child’s 'new' interest in the game/activity so that interaction and joint activity continue AKKtiv ComAlong

Pursue! When the child looses focus, becomes uncertain, have difficulty planning or lack ideas give the child a replica (words, signs, images, objects), to suggest what can be done so that interaction and joint activity continue AKKtiv ComAlong

“Toy” – material to play with The play often is more important than specific ”toy”. It can be something you and your child focus on together. In this way “toys” are tools or resources for a common understanding and symbolic development. AKKtiv ComAlong

What is our role as adults? Prepare for play/activity so the child/student will be able to take the initiative on his/her own terms, for example: –display the necessary material –mark drawers and shelves with pictures of contents. Model, for example: –play with the new toy/material –how to use a speech-generating device to make the teddy bear talk Repeat the activity/game and develop in small steps.

AKKtiv ComAlong Example: Introduce a play based on a book Look together in the book and tell the story. –Read one page at a time –Take the appropriate item –Use signs, picture board or recorded messages Create an environment suitable to the book's content using the illustrations from the book Play using all communication resources!

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Home assignment 4 Today, we’ve talked about play. Try to use imitation and taking turns in a play situation. Also try some fox strategies. What kind of play situation did you choose for imitation and taking turns? What situations did you choose to use the fox strategies? When you imitated your child, what happened? Describe how you took turns. Describe how you used the fox strategies. AKKtiv ComAlong

Choose activities in which parents can increase the fun-factor : Soap bubbles Balloons Things/toys/computer games that need to be handled in any way that requires assistance, for example, musical boxes, turn-up Spinning tops Tickle-play Peekaboo/hide Faucet - water Swing Sandcast play AKKtiv ComAlong

Books Always Repetion provides recognition and anticipation Association picture- words Shared focus Possibility to take turns Adaptation Format, content, AAC- support (signs, symbols, speech- generating device) Story-book-boxes Flannel-board-stories

Music/ rhyme Always Repetion provides recognition and anticipation Easy to combine with motion Joy Make sound Adaptation Song card Manual sings Choose the music / rhyme with the help of objects, images, and / or Speech- Generating Devices Freeze - become silent / quiet and show expectation AKKtiv ComAlong