Your Child Will Learn
To understand and follow simple requests
Here’s What to Do
- Throughout the day, try asking me to complete simple tasks.
- Help me understand what you mean by gesturing with your arms and hands.
- Praise me when I respond correctly to your requests.
- If I don’t seem to understand, help me complete the task. This will help me understand what the request means.
Put PEER Into Action
PAUSE
- Get down to my level and make eye contact with me before making a request.
ENGAGE
- Examples of simple requests: “Come here,” “Give me your ball,” and “Wave bye bye.”
- Gesture to help me understand. Say “Want up?” as you hold out your arms or “take the cracker” as you hold out a cracker.
ENCOURAGE
- When your child completes the request, repeat it as a statement, like: “Yay! You’re waving bye bye!”
- If I don’t respond, demonstrate the request for me or help me complete it. For example, if I don’t respond to “Take the cracker,” gently place a cracker in my hand while you say “Take the cracker” again.
REFLECT
- Are there some phrases I seem to understand more than others?
Not Quite Ready
Keep practicing simple requests until I begin to follow the directions.
Ready for More
Try making requests without giving gesture hints.
As Your Child Masters This Skill
They will begin to respond correctly to simple requests.
Time to Complete
15 minutes
Materials Needed
None