On 14th November, Milestone’s therapy team hosted it’s latest coffee morning for families. The event was aimed at supporting families to understand how to use the Total Communication approach at home, to support language and communication development. The session included:
- thinking about how children learn language and learn through play
- how to use symbols around the home to help your child understand
- ideas and activities to take home with you
- time to talk to each other and share ideas
During the morning, the therapy team’s presentation gave families a chance to think about what Total Communication is and how we use it to support children’s understanding and expressive language. The session looked at different resources including visual timetables, transition photos, the use of symbols and different communication aids such as chatting sheets, communication books and single message voice output devices. There was also time spent exploring how to create family’s own sensory stories at home.
Throughout the morning, families had the opportunity to talk to each other, as well as ask questions of the therapy team. It was a great collaborative event and all those who attended went away with a toolkit of different ideas of how to use Total Communication with their child at home.
