If Your Child is Non-Verbal or Just Beginning to Verbalize, Try These This Halloween.

If you've read any of my other posts, then you already know I get straight into it. If you haven't... Welcome! My name is Leena and I am an SLP. Here are some tips that may help your little one participate in Trick or Treating.

Adapt the act of going trick or treating so your child can be a part of all the Halloween fun. So what if they can't verbally say "Trick or Treat", they can still use the phrases "Happy Halloween" and "Trick or Treat". How they do it will simply look a bit different.

Individualizing and Adapting

Halloween Sentence Strip

For a non-verbal child, think about using a communication button with the phrases programmed into the button and a symbol or a sentence strip velcro'd to the top. You would hold the device for them and give them the appropriate sequence of cues. For example, " First, knock knock", you may have to help them knock by lifting up their hand, helping them make a fist and then tapping it on the door. The next cue, once someone has opened the door, can be one of the following:

"What do we say?"- and have them push the button.

or more directly,

"Push button". It really depends on what your child needs. You may also need to use hand over hand to push the button, provide a partial tactile prompt by lifting their elbow to have them finish the movement by pushing the button, or model the movement of tapping on the button in its entirety. It depends on the level of prompts and cues your child needs. You can also use a communication board with photos of the exact items they will be using while out trick or treating. Check out my previous blog post "Making Communication Boards...", to learn just how to create one yourself using PowerPoint. No need for another subscription for an additional program.

For a child who is imitating or simply benefits from either visuals or partial verbal prompting, a sentence strip, like the one pictured above, should do the trick. You can find a link to it at the bottom of the post, by clicking on the pic or simply navigate to the Tables and Freebies page and look for the file "Halloween Sentence". Back to using the visual sentence. Some kiddos may only need a verbal cue, for example, " They opened the door, hold your bag up and now what do we say?" Others, may need you take their hand- to bring their attention to the visuals, and tap on each symbol. If needed, provide the partial verbal prompts "Hap...Hal" giving a pause between words so that they can complete it. Other children may need the full model. Whatever they need is ok. Keep in mind that even if you have rehearsed it 50 times, and they've used the phrases 45/50 times, when they are actually in the moment in front of a novel house, with costumed kids giggling and screaming all around them, cars honking, multiple doorbells ringing, dogs barking... they may be so overwhelmed and overstimulated that the cues and prompts just don't work. If they freeze, just model it, and maybe hang back at the next house so the crowd dissipates a bit. If possible go a little earlier. Adjust this activity, like any other, to suit the needs of your child.

Combine and adjust the tools, phrases, prompts and cues needed for your child, of course. Individualization is essential when adapting any activity. As I mentioned before, be prepared to have to model or prompt more than they needed during practice runs. It doesn't mean they are failing, it doesn't mean you are failing. It just means in that environment, with everything going on around them, they need a little extra help.

Practice Makes Perfect!

In the days leading up to the big event, do some practice runs. Get the family in on it. Knock on bedroom doors and have the other kids role play as neighbors. This will give you a chance to practice the prompts and cues you will be using when you go trick or treating. If you have personable relationships with your neighbors, set up a time to knock on few doors and practice, ringing the bell, pushing the communication button, and waving bye. Many of our kiddos, especially those diagnosed on the spectrum ( but certainly not limited to) need plenty of opportunities to rehearse novel scripts. Creating those opportunities sets them up for success on the big day.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Sentence Strip