Skills We Are Strengthening:
- Shared Focus
- Anticipation
- Waiting
- Looking Back and Forth
- Playing Together
For a child who:
- Enjoys exciting movement or sensory activities
- Finds it difficult to wait briefly during play
- Engages with the activity but not always with the person
- Needs support noticing another person's role in an activity
- Enjoys predictable games and routines
Activity: Ready Steady Go!
Materials - A balloon.
Duration:
Multiple turns till engagement drops.
Try This Technique: Pause and Wait
- Blow a balloon.
- Hold the balloon still in front of your child and build anticipation by saying - Reeeady... Steeeady...
- "Pause & wait"
- Look for any signal from the child such as a glance, smile, sound, gesture, word, or attempt to continue the game.
- As soon as the child signals, release the balloon and say: "Goooo!"
- Repeat several times.
End while engagement is still high.
Remember: any signal counts.
Small Wins To Celebrate:
Celebrate every signal. Even one look = win!
Do not keep asking, “Look at me.” or "Look at balloon".
Do not rush the activity. Give a sustained pause and wait for a signal.
What Not To Do:
Do not force eye contact.Do not keep asking, “Look at me.” or "Look at balloon".
Do not rush the activity. Give a sustained pause and wait for a signal.
Ready to Level Up?
When your child consistently looks to you before the balloon is released, waits through the pause, and actively signals for "Go!", the activity has done its job.
Consider introducing new activities that create opportunities for interaction.
Consider introducing new activities that create opportunities for interaction.
Reflection:
The balloon itself is not the goal. The goal is helping the child learn that another person is an important part of the fun.Over time, the child begins looking, waiting, and signaling because those actions help keep the interaction going.
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