Intensive Interaction
Teaches and develops the ‘Fundamentals of Communication’, attainments such as:
- Use and understanding of eye contacts
- Facial expressions
- Vocalisations leading to speech
- Taking turns in exchanges of conversation.
It works on early interaction abilities: how to enjoy being with other people, to relate, to know, to understand and practice communication routines.
Using Intensive Interaction (engaging attention through the use of body language)
5 Top tips:
- Empty yourself of your own agenda and enter the child’s world.
- Look for what your child’s body language is telling you has meaning for them, the physical feedback they are giving themselves, not just at what they are doing - but how they are doing it, since this will tell you how they are feeling. Watch the whole body rather than just the face.
- Tune in to the child with empathy using their ‘language’(noises/sounds/movements), with the aim of building up a ‘conversation’ and emotional engagement. Give them time to respond.
- Rather than mimicking and imitating them exactly, think of your answer as a response with very slight variations to attract their attention.
- Look out for negative responses (such as a flinch to light touch, moving away from you), which will indicate Hyper or Hyposensitivities. Stop if you feel they don’t want you near them or carry on from a distance.
REMEMBER: The child leads the session NOT you. Therefore, it could happen anytime, anywhere.
The child will eventually know that when they make a sound or movement, they will get an answer.
Aloneness becomes shared interest
They show pleasure and want to interact.
Intensive Interaction videos and information:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjKxu6QKjAo
https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/oxtc/good-advice/intensive-interaction/