Tag AAC

Asking for help is an important communication and problem-solving skill that children develop over time. It allows a child to communicate when they need assistance, clarification, comfort or support and can help them become more confident and independent in everyday activities.

Children can ask for help in many different ways. Some may use spoken words, while others may communicate through gestures, pointing, eye gaze, signs, pictures or an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system. Parents and carers can support this skill by recognising these different forms of communication and creating natural opportunities for children to practise asking for help at home.

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Everyday activities can create useful opportunities for children to develop communication and language skills. You do not need specialised toys or complicated exercises — familiar play, books and daily routines can all provide opportunities to introduce new words, share ideas and practise back-and-forth interaction.

The most useful language activities for children are often simple, enjoyable and connected to what the child is already interested in. Parents and carers can support communication by following their child’s lead, modelling language and giving them time to respond in their own way.

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Cooking can create natural opportunities for children to develop communication and language skills while taking part in a meaningful everyday activity. Following a recipe, choosing ingredients, describing what is happening and completing steps in order can all provide useful opportunities for interaction.

Cooking activities for language development do not need to be complicated. Preparing a sandwich, making fruit salad, mixing pancake batter or decorating biscuits can give children opportunities to hear and use new vocabulary, follow directions, make choices and talk about what happens first, next and last.

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Talking with children does not always need to involve asking questions. Making simple comments about what a child is doing, seeing or experiencing can create natural opportunities for communication and language development.

Commenting can reduce the pressure on a child to provide an answer while still giving them useful language to hear and respond to. Parents, carers and educators can use comments during play, everyday routines, books and shared activities to support back-and-forth interaction.

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