Lists
For kids who are reluctant to write, lists are an excellent tool to encourage the sharing of ideas. Listing also helps kids who struggle to communicate. A list with three items asks them to expand on their first idea, rather than stopping at one thing.
A journal entry like the one below may have been initiated by me asking Michael, “What were your favorite parts of the weekend?” If he named one thing, we would write it and then I might ask, “What else?” Mikey finds it easier to generate language when he has a photo to reference. So, when he had to think of a third thing for his list, I may have pointed to the photo to prompt his language.
Boy, Mikey had a lot of fun that weekend. Maybe Mom and Dad should get away more often. Wink.
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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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