Carrier Phrases
I have danced around the idea of carrier phrases in posts like the one below.
Carrier phrases are defined as short, repeatable phrases used to help individuals expand their vocabulary within correct sentence structure. To help kids express themselves, we can provide the first part of the sentence as they would say it. For example, “I see…” and then we can pause and wait for them to complete the sentence.
Examples
- I see…
- I feel…(used literally for something touched or an internal feeling or emotion)
- I hear…
- I smell…
- I want…
- Can I have…
- I need…
Over Time
You can fade your verbal prompt of the carrier phrase. You could replace it with a visual prompt in certain settings like talking about a completed puzzle. This would mean putting out an index card with the phrase “I see” printed on it. When we did this with Mikey, he would read the “I see” himself and then add his own observation. The result is that he would be able to look at the puzzle and utter the complete sentence. “I see giraffe.” Or “I see elephant.”
Good stuff! Communication being built step by step. Keep at it, parents!!
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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