Connection – communication through play

Playing with your child creates opportunities for moments of connection. This is when you are aware of each other and are sharing the experience together. These moments of connection form a foundation for communication to grow.

Why is playing and connecting important?

Making connections with your child in play:

• Develops your awareness of each other
• Allows turn taking which is part of all social interaction
• Helps you both to notice communication attempts
• Provides opportunity to develop understanding

How do I get started?

Find time in the day when you can be with your child in a quiet environment. Switch off distractions like the TV or radio so your child can focus on you, and you on them.

Get face-to-face with your child and at the same level as they are.

Make sure your child is comfortable and supported. If your child has supportive seating, you may find it helpful to play together whilst they are in their chair. This way your child’s energy and focus can be on play and not on trying to stay balanced.

What do I play?

Here are some ideas of activities to try with your child. Find the ones that you and your child enjoy best:

• Hidey boo
• Copying the sounds and actions your child makes
• Bubbles
• Singing songs and rhymes together
• Exploring musical instruments together
• Exploring sensory toys such as light spinner, windmills, rattles
• Sensory people games such as bouncing, rocking or tickling

Sometimes children need extra time and help to learn how to connect with others in play. Intensive interaction is a strategy that can help. If this would be helpful for your child, your speech and language therapist will give you more information.

Keep going

Find time each day to play and connect with your child. You could build play into daily routines, for example play a game of hidey boo while getting your child dressed, play a tickling game when change their nappy

Repeat the games so your child can begin to recognise the game and anticipate what is going to happen. Remember children often need things repeating more than we do.

Keep the play fun, try something new if your child loses interest.

Playing little and often is best.

Keep it simple, play one thing at a time.

You may find the following table helpful to plan your play and or record what you did. You might like to chat about it with your speech and language therapist: