My Turn, Your Turn

Learning Goals

• Increasing social play and leisure skills, with a focus on turn taking
• Using visual schedules and work systems to teach predictability, independence, flexibility, generalization and task completion

Learning Connection

Visual supports can build social skills and foster independence. Because visual supports provide children with a concrete reminder of what to do or say, they decrease reliance on verbal and social prompts, thereby increasing independence.

Dr Kathleen Quill –
Do-Watch-Listen-Say: Social and Communication Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder (2017)

Materials

• the learner’s schedule
• the learner’s communication device (if used)
• painter’s tape
• 2 laundry baskets
• variety of balls
• whiteboard
• markers
• My Turn/Your Turn visual

Note: visual schedules and work systems (or activity schedules) can be used to support any level of symbolic and social play.

Preparation

• Create physical boundaries by choosing an area that is segmented from the rest of the space.
• Ensure that the space is free of visual and auditory distractions.
• Provide visual structure by putting painter’s tape on the floor to show where to stand.
• Fill one laundry basket with the balls and place it on the floor by the tape.
• Place them empty laundry basket at the other end of the space.
• Write/draw:
  • Play Ball
  • Stand at the line.
  • Pick up a ball.
  • Throw the ball.
  • Write/draw a spot for 5 checkboxes.
  • Wait.
  • Finished.
  • Say “bye”.
  • Check Schedule.

Extensions:
Depending on the learner’s readiness and social comfort, have him/her wait by standing or by sitting on a chair. As the learner becomes more successful in understanding expectations, consider reducing the detail for the steps on the list. As the learner becomes more independent, reduce adult facilitation.