Communication Activities for Non-Verbal Children

What does it mean to be “Non-Verbal”?

When we refer to a child as “nonverbal” it means that the child is not using verbal language to communicate. Although a child may not communicate through spoken language, it is important to recognize when a child is communicating non-verbally (i.e. though gestures, facial expression, mouth sounds, arranging pictures, ). When a child communicates non-verbally, this provides parents and facilitators with an opportunity to model language. Below are activities to help promote communication for non-verbal children.

Activities for Toddlers - For children in this age group, it is beneficial to teach basic linguistic concepts (i.e. colors, animals, shapes, size).

Classify or group items by color or shape with your toddler. Use buttons to practice sorting and grouping by color and then see if they are able to do it again by shape. Support your child by modeling what you would like them to do. Put all the circles together and explain what you are doing.

Other activities to practice this skill include using a shape sorter to identify shapes and colors, going on a scavenger hunt to find items a specific shape or color and using Play-Doh to practice colors. Children love to manipulate Play-Doh to make different shapes in different sizes (i.e. a big red ball).

Paint is also a fun way to engage nonverbal children. Encourage the child to request paint pictures by pointing or making a vocalization such as the “p” sound for paint, you can also encourage your child to use sign language to sign “more” when they want more. Dot paint is a great idea for young children. Using finger paints and a paint brush can also be lots of fun!

Group animals based on where they live (i.e. the farm, zoo, sea). Discuss the size of animals (i.e. bigger/smaller).

Use puppets or a toy farm set to play with animals. Model vocabulary (i.e. names of animals/sounds). Make sounds like “moo” when playing with the cow or “oink” when playing with the pig, this can be motivating for children to mimic.

Use toy cars to practice colors. Model vocabulary (i.e. fast red car/slow blue car). Make sounds like “vroom”, this can also be motivating for children to mimic.

Sing songs with gestures (i.e. The Itsy Bitsy Spider or The Wheels on the Bus). Music can be encouraging for children to follow along.

According to Solomon, Medin & Lynch (1999), and Wilson (2004), basic concepts are the academic building blocks of thinking and learning in early education, central to cognitive discovery, daily conversations and classroom instructions.  Therefore, research shows that understanding of basic concepts is critical for school success and higher-level thinking (Klix, 1983).

Activities for School Aged Children

Routine Boards

Use visual boards with single-step actions to help teach common routines. You can create a board for brushing teeth which includes Get Toothbrush, Wet Toothbrush, Apply Toothpaste, Brush Teeth, Rinse Toothbrush. The amount of detail can vary based on the child. Other visual boards might include using the bathroom, getting dressed or packing a backpack for school.

This Visual schedule can be purchased on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Visual-Schedule-Planner-Create-Aids/dp/B093ZC33TT/ref=asc_df_B093ZC33TT/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=507941038061&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6658012892727863845&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004518&hvtargid=pla-1295066024600&psc=1

Sensory Bins

Sensory bins allow children to use multiple senses while exploring their environment. Sensory bins can be made with a variety of materials including rice, beans, flour and water and even hair gel. Create bins that allow clients to search for items targeting vocabulary of common objects.

Practice CORE vocabulary - More, Help, Need, Want, Go, Eat, Play

Activities for Middle School and High School Children

Daily Journals

Even non-verbal children have something to say, and journaling can be a valuable tool that school-based therapists can incorporate. Journals can be written, or simply pictures and illustrations for children who are unable to write. Use writing prompts to stimulate ideas. Prompts might include Favorite Foods, I Feel ____ When ____, My Best Friend Is ____.

Experience Books – When a child goes on a field trip or has a unique experience, that activity can be utilized as an ongoing teaching tool through the use of Experience Books. During the field trip, take lots of pictures of the things the child sees and does. Then print those pictures out with short sentences that help to recall and describe the experience. Picture books can help children to identify objects and emotions they may not experience on a daily basis, but that they can recall and are familiar with.

The Name Game – Non-verbal children often struggle with recognition of their own names. Speech and language therapists can play the Name Game to help them identify with the sound of their own name and respond appropriately. Play this game in small groups of 3 or 4 students calling out names at random including the names of the students present. Whenever a student’s name is used, have the other students point to that student and have the student whose name was called, stand up. When the student stands, provide a small reward such as a sticker or small piece of candy.

Face Puzzles – Use Face Puzzles to allow children to show what emotions they may be feeling or to help them identify what emotions would be appropriate in various settings.