Talkabout for Children 2: Developing Social Communication

Talkabout for Children: Developing Social Communication, 3rd edition is a bestselling professional workbook, designed to support educators and therapists who deliver social and relationship skills groups for young children (aged 4 and above) or children with special needs. This practical resource is packed with activities and games for developing social skills.

Social communication is an essential aspect of our quality of life and this resource helps to develop this in young children aged 4-11 years old. The book introduces the second level of the Talkabout hierarchy, where self-awareness comes before non-verbal skills and non-verbal comes before verbal, with assertiveness coming last. This resource provides three sections full of practical activities exploring the areas of Talkabout Body Language, Talkabout Conversations, and Talkabout Assertiveness:

• Planning and evaluation forms
• A three-term intervention plan for schools
• Over 60 structured activity sessions focusing on social communication
• A two year teaching plan to help teachers incorporate groups into the school curriculum
• A short introduction to working with children with social skills difficulties
• An assessment of social skills and planning sheet for intervention
• Ideas for 25 group cohesion activities to use at the beginning and end of sessions
• All the supplementary handouts and images needed to deliver the session, with resources available to photocopy or download and print.

Fully updated and revised, this third edition is presented with full-colour illustrations and handouts and includes a new introduction by Alex Kelly reflecting on her own experiences of using the resources since they were first developed. This key resource will help teachers, teaching assistants, health care professionals and parents to support children’s social communication.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

• This section includes a brief introduction to the book and the key points behind setting up and running groups.

Initial Assessment

• This section includes an assessment of social skills with a visual assessment summary and a sheet to determine where to start work.

Level 1 TALKABOUT Body Language

• The aim of this level is to increase awareness of body language and to improve skills in using body language effectively. It includes 26 activities which can be taught over a period of 2 academic terms or 25 sessions.

Level 2 TALKABOUT Conversations

• The aim of this level is to increase awareness of conversational skills and to improve skills in using speaking and listening in conversations effectively. It includes 23 activities which can be taught over a period of 2 academic terms or 25 sessions.

Level 3 TALKABOUT Assertiveness

• The aim of this level is to increase awareness of assertiveness skills and to improve skills in using effective body language and speaking skills when being assertive. It includes 21 activities which can be taught over a period of 2 academic terms or 23 sessions.

Group Cohesion Activities

• This section provides 25 suggestions for effective group cohesion activities to use at the beginning and end of sessions.

Plan of Intervention

• This section provides you with a suggested plan of intervntion over 3 school terms.

Forms

• This section includes some forms that can be used for session planning and evaluation.

Index

• An index of topics and activities.

"Easily and quickly implemented in class and groups! Lots of fun and very enjoyable!"
- Kirstie Davies, teacher, Wales

"Talkabout is working really well in our school. Every child has different needs and Talkabout caters to all of them. It’s keeping them in the classroom. It’s fun, it’s enjoyable, and it’s what they look forward to in their week."
- Lakhvinder Kaur, Year 9 TA, SEMH school, Birmingham