Ourselves
Making Choices
Pupils at the Bridge School communicate their choices and preferences for activities and particular things through varying communication means and all have the right to make choices as part of everyday life. As parents/carers you will know the most appropriate method of communication and can discuss this with your child's class teacher.
Example ideas:
Provide options on daily activities to encourage your child to make a choice, e.g. choosing what t-shirt to wear or what cereal they want for breakfast. You can limit the number of choices to two or you can extend if appropriate.
Encourage your child to choose a set amount of activities that they wish to complete during the day (see make your own timetable resource). This can also be done as adult led, a lucky dip, or a your turn/my turn where you take it in turns to plan out the day ahead.
Provide a set of games or activities and make sure that as the adult, you also get to make the decision. Where appropriate, talk about the thought process, for example, ‘We played snakes and ladders yesterday so I won’t choose that today.’
Communicating likes and dislikes
All children have the right to express their likes and dislikes through their individual communication means and it is an important part of their communication.Below are some suggested activities that may encourage or offer your child the opportunity to demonstrate this. It is important to expose children to their less preferred choices as well as their preferred to encourage their understanding of the world around them and also expand on their experiences.
Example ideas:
Expose your child to different types of music, classical/ dance/ rock/ nature. Do they like the music loud or quiet? Fast or slow? You could build a music list of preferred songs. Do the choices alter depending on mood?
Explore different flavours and foods. Does your child prefer a certain flavour yogurt or crisps?
Explore different scents and smells including shower gels, shampoo, fabric softener, herbs and spices. Let them communicate which ones they like/dislike and write or record this.
Set up varying tactile media such as dry soil, wet soil, porridge, cornflour and conditioner. Explore the media with a range of body parts, e.g. feeling grass with feet, one foot in warm water bucket, one in cold, ice lolly on wrist etc.
Offer a variety of different activities for your child and see which ones they prefer, e.g. certain books, toys.
Keeping Healthy
Keeping healthy is an important part of everyday life and you can encourage your child to 'keep healthy' following some of the suggested activities below.
Suggested activities:
Run a mini 'exercise' class. Encourage pupils to stretch out before participating in an activity (dancing / aerobics / running - depending on individual pupil needs) - end session with a 'relaxation' session (Soft lights, relaxing music, encourage pupils to take deep breaths etc)
Do some form of exercise each day where appropriate.
Encourage your child to participate in simple yoga sessions such as Cosmic Kids (see online resources section)
Keeping clean- explore a range of soaps/ scents when washing.
See website link in online resources folder 'Glow Scotland Communication Resources' for choice boards, symbolised recipe instructions and personalised timetables.