respond to who what  

Two soft toys

cups and plastic food

Laminated symbols for who and what

Use symbols you already have, or get them using the Commtap Symboliser.

1. Set up a tea party together and talk about it using 2/3 word phrases e.g. "teddy's got the cup" and "dragon's got the banana";

2. Play at drinking and eating etc.;

3. Show the symbol for "who" and ask "Who has the banana?" To start with give the model answer "Look.........teddy's got the banana";

4. As the child gets used to this type of response give fewer clues e.g. "Look, ... t....." etc.

Small figures

Small furniture

Small animals

1. Use these to play games so that the boy sleeps on the bed or the camel jumps on the chair etc. Ask "who" questions as above using the "who" symbol;

2. Model the correct answer if needed.

Favourite book

1. Share a special book and ask "who" questions. Use the "who" symbol and point to the symbol and then the person you want the child to name in the book.

2. Give as much support as needed and lots of praise for success. Repeat answers back to the child to reinforce understanding e.g. "Who is running?" "Yes.....rabbit is running".

1. Ask "Who" questions in everyday life e.g. "Who is swinging", "Who is eating ", "Who is sitting next to you?".

2. Provide a good language model answer if needed and praise any attempt at a reply.

See above activities for resources, plus laminated "what" symbol

Follow the activities above for teaching "who" but use "what" and a "what" symbol.

Any of the above equipment

Home made dice:

(Stick "who" and "what" symbols onto sides of a square box to make a dice)

Use symbols you already have, or get them using the Commtap Symboliser.

1. Throw the dice;

2. Ask the child a question made from the symbol that comes up.

Any of the above equipment

Several "Who?" and "What?" symbols

Bag

For the symbols, use symbols you already have, or get them using the Commtap Symboliser.

Take turns to take a symbol from the bag and ask the child a question made from the symbol that comes up.