CHOICE BOARDS As parents of kids with Autism, we want our children to have an equal opportunity to express their choices, like:
- The food they want to eat
- The clothes they want to wear to a birthday party
- The game they want to play, or
- The TV show or video they want to watch
But many autistic kids find it really hard to communicate their choices in the moment. And when we pick something that doesn’t suit them, you know very well what can follow.
Tantrums, meltdowns and distress. That distress is communication: your child is telling you that this matters to them. It’s hard for you, and hard for your little one too.
But what if there was another way? Choice boards can help. In this video, Autism 360 Coach Ella Bailey shows how you can use simple choice boards using pen and paper.
She uses the example of “Favorite TV show”, but you can use this strategy for anything that involves making a choice.
How to use a choice board with your child: start with just two options your child already likes, using photos, drawings or real objects. Hold the board at their eye level, name each option while pointing to it, then wait. Your child can point, look, touch, hand you a picture or say the word, and all of these count as a choice. Honor the choice straight away so your child learns that their communication works. Once two options feel easy, you can slowly add more.
I am Ash and I celebrate Neurodiversity! Growing up with an elder brother with severe Autism was tough – but it has also taught me essential life lessons. I don’t believe that people with Autism are necessarily or have any disorder (except in extreme cases). They are just different! And that is something to be proud of! I am passionate about helping other families who may have Autism conditions in their family. So please reach out and drop me a note. I will be glad to help 🙂
