Page 73 - Routines-Based Early Intervention Guidebook
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Routines-Based Early Intervention Guidebook
Teaching how to Take Turns 5.4
Turn‐taking skills are a building block of communica on. In order to take turns in
communica ve exchanges, young children first must learn how to take turns physically
through ac vi es, games and play. For children who really struggle with taking turns, we
o en work on turn‐taking skills at a non‐verbal level to build this founda onal skill.
This might be as simple as rolling a ball back and forth. On the surface, this many not seem
like it is suppor ng communica on but it is actually helping to build this important founda on‐
al skill.
Special Note: It is important to create opportuni es for the child to lead and par cipate as an
equal partner. Too o en, an adult ini ates and the child plays the roll of responder when it is
his or her turn. Stronger turn‐taking skills can be built if the child is also taught how to ini ate
and how to lead others while taking turns. Here are some great examples of turn‐taking
ac vi es.
Powerful Turn‐taking Play Ac vi es
1. Game playing ‐ All games require turns. This is some mes difficult to learn even
for the most developed child. The best games require turns for the game to
con nue. For example, pu ng a puzzle together when each child holds the next
piece. When working in groups, choose games that have rapid transi ons between
players. Long intervals can introduce behaviors that don’t allow the child to learn
turn‐taking.
2. Playing with your voice— Children love to hear different voices and make and
imitate sounds. You can imitate a cartoon character, speak with a stuffed animal,
change the speed and volume of your voice, or sing rather than speak. Children are
prone to take a turn and imitate you.
3. Cumula ve play—Ac vi es such as puzzles, building a tower with blocks or
assembling a racetrack require all of the members to take turns. As an adult, you
can control the ac vity by handing out the pieces one‐by‐one so that everyone sees
who is next and waits. Cumula ve games are really sa sfying because there is
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