INTENSIVE INTERACTION
WHAT IS INTENSIVE INTERACTION?
Intensive Interaction is a way of teaching communication skills. It can be carried out by anyone.
Intensive interaction works on developing essential interaction skills such as;
- Enjoying being with other people
- Building relationships
- Using and understating eye contact
- Sharing attention with another person
- Using vocalisations
- Taking turn in communication
HOW DOES INTENSIVE INTERACTION WORK?
The aim is the have enjoyable and relaxed interactions
Through these interactions the child learns essential communication skills
Importantly the student child takes the lead and directs the interaction
The adult responds to the child’s lead and joins them in their behaviour.
Research has found this is to be an effective way of engaging with people who ae developing early interaction skills and helping develop their communication skills.
WHO IS INTENSIVE INTERACTION FOR?
The aim is the have enjoyable and relaxed interactions
Through these interactions the child learns essential communication skills
Importantly the student child takes the lead and directs the interaction
The adult responds to the child’s lead and joins them in their behaviour.
Research has found this is to be an effective way of engaging with people who ae developing early interaction skills and helping develop their communication skills.
HOW DO YOU DO INTENSIVE INTERACTION?
- Set aside some time to be with the person
- Get to a physical level where the other person can see your face
- Give the young person your full attention
- Wait, be patient and watch carefully what the other person is doing.
- Join in with the activities they chosen and copy their movements, facial expressions, vocalisations or even breathing patterns.
- You do not need to copy dangerous or undesirable behaviours
- Ensure that you allow the child to lead you and let them set the pace. This will help the other person have a positive experience and helps to demonstrate that engaging with people is enjoyable and rewarding
- Make the interaction fun and be relaxed
- It is ok for the sessions to be short interactions, and repetitive. This is all part of the learning expensive.
- You do not need any equipment when doing intensive interaction but it is ok if the other person uses objects or incorporates toys in the interaction
TOP TIPS FOR POSITIVE INTERACTIONS
Intensive Interaction is not just copying someone. When doing intensive interaction, you are trying to engage with the child emotionally. We achieve this by showing them we want to be with them through facial expression and body language.
Some people do not like close contact and may prefer some distance between you.
If the child likes to use certain objects but does not like you touching them – try to have your own matching objects so you can still join them in using them but are not using theirs.
Look out for signals that they child has had enough of the interaction. End it at this point, we want it to be a positive experience.
Ref SALT dept Phoenix School E3