Encouraging Turn Taking
Why is turn taking so important? Turn taking ENGAGES two or more people in a COMMUNICATIVE INTERACTION. An interaction requires taking another’s perspective, or point of view, to some degree. This is an extremely important cognitive development that is necessary for advanced communication skills.
For example, if you are building blocks with your child and your put a block on the tower, then your child puts a block on, you are both regarding each other’s contribution to the tower and interacting through play. Even this simple action of taking turns building a block tower develops your child’s ability to shift attention and engage in a shared process. Essential to any conversation is the ability to listen, consider the information, and then respond or contribute.
Turn taking stages
Early on: >
- Gazing
- Smiling
- Blinking
- Sucking or stopping sucking
Later:
- Vocalizing
- Touching
- Attention seeking behaviors
- Looking
- Imitating (this is often the easiest way to get turn taking going; by imitating your child’s action, vocalization, or gesture)
- Pointing
- Nodding
Your child may initiate the turn taking, respond to your turn, or end the turn taking by not responding back. It is often up to you to recognize the opportunity to engage in turn taking and to continue the turn taking.
You’ll know you’ve been successful when you and your child are taking several turns each, and when your child anticipates taking a turn!
My Turn To Learn has a Checklist: Strategies for Encouraging Turn Taking on page 202. Some tips include:
- Keep turns short so that your child does not lose interest waiting for his turn
- Follow your child’s interest so that he will want to take more turns in the interaction
- Encourage your child to take “one more turn” just as you suspect he’s losing interest, then finish the activity or conversation
- Build your child’s anticipation by saying “1,2,3…go” as you take your turn