Bayley's communication zooms ahead!

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Hands on

Student	Bayley	Date	21 May 2008
Topic	“Hands on” game	Observer	Steph (speech language therapist)

Intended learning

For Bayley to experience shared enjoyment through joint attention in a turn-taking game.

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This photo shows Bayley in speech language therapy. Bayley has been working on enjoying activities with his speech language therapist, Steph.

Today, at the start of the game, Steph held Bayley’s hands and said “Hands on… Bayley” helping Bayley put his hands on his own face. Steph then said “Hands on… Steph” and helped Bayley move his hands to rest on her face.

Bayley loved the anticipation created by the intonation patterns; for example, a rising voice when Steph said “on…” and surprise; for example, when Steph said “Bayley” in an excited voice as Bayley felt his hands on his own face. Bayley watched Steph’s face carefully to know what would happen next. His expressions of delight and surprise matched Steph’s expressions. This was genuine joint attention. If Bayley looked away, Steph stopped using her voice and let her expression go neutral. When Bayley looked back, she quickly “lit up” again and the game continued. This taught Bayley that the game was something that needed to be played “together”.

Soon, Bayley created a new facet to the game by taking Steph’s hands and moving them for her as before. Steph continued with the “Hands on…” routine and Bayley moved Steph’s hands accordingly. Steph tried to catch Bayley out by saying “Hands on…Steph!” for a second time, disobeying the turn-taking rules. Bayley quickly accommodated and, laughing, put her hands back on her face.

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