Want to teach time?

Many special needs parents ask me how to teach time to their non verbal autistic child. As with the Animated Language Learning program, visual strategies are the way to go:

Help your child to x off each day on a calendar in a visible location like the kitchen. By doing this your child will be able to see each day pass. When you have this strategy successfully running look out the window and add a note about the weather. Like sunny, raining, warm and so forth. Something of the present.

When this is established, add a note about something in the future. Like a trip to the park or something your child will look forward to. If your child can’t read yet, use pictures (or start ALL!). When the day arrives celebrate the planned activity.

From there over time the past, present and future can be seen and understood.