Communication Friendly Environments 
We all use many ways to help in understanding and communicating things other than just using the spoken word.
A Communication Friendly Environment (also know as a Total Communication Environment) builds on these natural ways to support a child’s communication development.
Here are some examples of how we communicate without words:
- Facial expression – a smile tells your child you are pleased with them
- Tone of voice – use a soft, low voice to calm and sooth a hurt child
- Pointing /looking – you can show where something is by pointing or looking at it
- Gesture/ action – holding your arms out to say ‘ let’s have a hug’ or pretending to have a drink to say it’s drink time
- Using real objects - showing food/ drink or toys to choose from
- Pictures/ symbols – red man/ green man shows when to cross the road, recognising the McDonalds logo!
Why do we need a communication friendly environment?
- To help children to understand things that are said to them
- To help you to understand what your child is telling you
- To help to reduce frustration, anxiety or challenging behaviour caused by not understanding the spoken language they hear.
- To support attention and listening skills
How to make your environment more communication friendly
- Use more gestures e.g. beckoning somebody to ask them to come to you, pointing and looking more
- Try using sandtimers to let a child know how long the have to continue with particular activity
- Use objects of reference e.g. showing the shampoo bottle to say it’s bath time. See some ideas on the
Coventry schools objects of reference list
- Show pictures and symbols e.g. using pictures of places to show where you’re going
- Have pictures or symbols of different activities on a choosing tube
- Use a communication bag
- Put in place a now / next board (and board)
- Use a visual timetable
- Change your tone of voice and facial expression to add meaning to what you say e.g. ask a question and have a puzzled expression on your face
- If a child is using Augmentative and Alternative Communication it is important that you support them to use it. This could be a communication book or an eye gaze device.
Click here for a printable advice sheet on how to create a communication friendly environment in your setting.