Here are some activities that can help you teach your child how to answer yes and no . Make sure that your child is really good at each step before you move on to the next one.
Yes No : Do You Want It? (Yes)
Show your child something you know he likes, such as bubbles or a favorite snack. Then, ask your child, “Do you want ____?” (Fill in the blank). If your child shows you that he wants it (by reaching for it or repeating the word), model “yes” for your child to imitate. You can do this by having him say the word yes or by nodding his head up and down. As your child gets better at this, try just nodding your head to remind him instead of saying the word “yes” for him to imitate each time.
Yes No: Do You Want It? (No)
Start with the above activity. When your child is consistently answering yes, try offering something that you know she would answer “no” to. For example, if you’re playing with bubbles and your child is consistently answering “yes”, now switch it up and offer something uninteresting, like a small scrap of paper: “Do you want paper?” Model “no” just like as described above with yes. Say “No, no paper” and switch back to the one you know she likes: “Do you want bubbles?”
The next step: Once you’ve practiced helping her say “no”, try to get her to answer without your help. If she still says “yes”, say “yes, yes paper” and hand her the uninteresting object. She will probably be confused because that wasn’t really what she wanted. When she discards it or hands it back to you, say “oh! No, no paper” and switch back to offering the preferred object.
Yes No : Asking More Questions-Basic Wants and Needs
Before moving on to this step, make sure your child can answer “Do you want ___” with either yes or no depending on if she actually wants it (make sure she’s not just saying yes to everything). Once your child can do that, try using other questions about her basic wants and needs. You can ask questions like “Can I have…”, “Do you need help?”, “Are you ready?”, etc.
Yes No : Is This a ___?
Once your child can answer yes no questions about his/her basic wants and needs, try asking questions about what things are called. For this activity, show your child an object or a picture and say “Is this a ___?” Use the correct name for the item sometimes and say the wrong word others. Help your child answer either “yes” or “no”.
Read books that prompt your child to answer “yes” or “no”.
Some of my favorite baby/toddler books are series by Karen Katz, Leslie Patricelli and Usborne Touchy-Feely Books. These books are interesting, interactive and fun for young readers. And you can heighten their interest in the book by over-exaggerating your yes/no response and prompting them to imitate you.
Ask silly yes/no questions for your child to answer.
Grab some real objects, a stuffed bear, a wooden spoon, a toothbrush and begin asking your child if the object is what it is. For example to work on “yes” you would hold up the wooden spoon and ask, “Is this a wooden spoon?” Or to work on answering “no” hold up the wooden spoon and ask, “Is this a ball?” And let the fun and silliness ensue!!
Model saying “yes” and “no” and nodding your head.
If you child isn’t ready to say the words “yes” and “no” yet, chances are they still understand what you are asking. So you may need to model saying the word and nodding your head for them to imitate. Sometimes physical prompts are needed to help with shaking their head “no” and“yes.” And you typically will get a whole body shake for a head nod as it is difficult at this age to move the head independently from the rest of the body.
Books that Reinforce
• No, David by David Shannon, David, a young and mischievous boy, often gets into things that he should not.
• Yes Day! By Amy Krause Rosenthal, About a day where everyone says “yes!”
Apps for Teaching Yes/No
1. Answers Yes No HD, A simple AAC app providing voice output and the ability to incorporate and custom program images on a button. Users can create boards with more than just yes/no as well.
2. What Did Snakey Eat?, Very cute app that makes for a nice therapy activity for answering yes and no. This preschool game includes pattern recognition and helps young children develop critical thinking skills.
3. Autism and PDD Yes/No Questions, Great app aimed at children on the spectrum but can we used with a variety of children.
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