If you have any anxiety about how to help relatives interact with your non-verbal (or minimally-verbal) child, this forwarded post is for you. This post, which just came through on one of the lists that I follow includes an excellent description of “Jimplay.”
A while back Dr. Jim [James D. MacDonald] posted this in response to a parent who was having some anxiety regarding an upcoming Thanksgiving family get together. This parent didn’t want their child to be ‘tested’ by extended family members, and also wanted a confident way to address the myriad of questions that were surely to be thrown at her. She was looking for direction for her family. Here’s his response:
Dr. Jim wrote:
“_______’” family.
My child can do more than you think!
Interact WITH not AT my child.
Enter physically in his world and observe him silently for a short while.
Become aware of his interests and ability level.
Then, gently join into his activity without disrupting it.
Do what the child is doing.
Do not do a lot more than he is doing- but be active.
Match his movements; act in ways he can try to do.
Respond to his movements with similar, related movements.
Talk about the here and now, about the child’s experiences.
Be animated: be more interesting than what is distracting him.
Do more of what you do when he stays with you
Do less of what you do when he leaves you.
Match his speech: talk in ways he can now talk (this will help him talk more.)
Respond to his speech: show him you are interested.
Wait silently for him to take his turn
Don’t praise him: enjoy him instead; your response is the best reward.
Take turns with action and talk: be sure to give and take.
If you don’t understand him, treat it as a foreign language and simply give him an English word that fits the situation.
Limit your questions and demands: comment instead.
Bottom line: the more you enjoy each other, the more my child will learn with you.
Filed under: communication | Tagged: Jimplay
