...there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with Jack's logic. We've been going to the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic for weekly speech appointments, and Jack's been getting reacquainted with his old nemesis, PECS. PECS (for Picture Exchange Communication System) is a communication method for individuals with limited or no speech. It has several useful functions, not the least of which is that it encourages a child to initiate communication by bringing or pointing to a picture of something they want, need, or feel. It also serves as a visual teaching tool for performing certain tasks:
It's frequently used in schedule format so that the child can see what's coming next in their routine, hopefully making transitions a bit easier. This is where it totally broke down for us at home. Showing Jack the pictures of what was next usually provoked a melt down. He didn't want to be reminded that he was going to have to stop playing with Lego blocks soon and get in his booster seat for lunch. Nonetheless, PECS has made its way back into his life and though he put up a bit of fuss about it at first, he's actually latching on to it pretty well. They've been using a triangular felt board with a "First/Then" design, storing the pictures of all kinds of activities on the back of the board. First we do puzzles, then you can have a fruit snack (his ultimate motivator). Last week when we went in, they had the room all set up with toys and puzzles and coloring sheets, with a very structured plan for the order of activities. Under the "First" slot on the board was a picture of building blocks and under the "Then" slot a picture of, what else, fruit snacks. Jack promptly walked over, removed the picture of the blocks, pulled a 2nd fruit snack picture from the back of the board and stuck it under the "First" slot. Then handed it over to the grad assistant. Smartie pants!
It's frequently used in schedule format so that the child can see what's coming next in their routine, hopefully making transitions a bit easier. This is where it totally broke down for us at home. Showing Jack the pictures of what was next usually provoked a melt down. He didn't want to be reminded that he was going to have to stop playing with Lego blocks soon and get in his booster seat for lunch. Nonetheless, PECS has made its way back into his life and though he put up a bit of fuss about it at first, he's actually latching on to it pretty well. They've been using a triangular felt board with a "First/Then" design, storing the pictures of all kinds of activities on the back of the board. First we do puzzles, then you can have a fruit snack (his ultimate motivator). Last week when we went in, they had the room all set up with toys and puzzles and coloring sheets, with a very structured plan for the order of activities. Under the "First" slot on the board was a picture of building blocks and under the "Then" slot a picture of, what else, fruit snacks. Jack promptly walked over, removed the picture of the blocks, pulled a 2nd fruit snack picture from the back of the board and stuck it under the "First" slot. Then handed it over to the grad assistant. Smartie pants!
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