Pinderfields Hospital

Coaching Communication Together - Let's  R.O.C.K©

 R.O.C.K© is a really great strategy because it brings communication coaching together into real life and play.  R.O.C.K© turns games, songs and routines into communication therapy opportunities and the repetition and cueing helps a child begin to join in and communicate during in the activity. 

What is R.O.C.K©?

 R.O.C.K© stands for: Repeat, Offer Opportunities, Cue in and Keep Going/Keep it Fun

We are our child's Communication Coach and R.O.C.K© gives us a way of planning and giving some structure to develop those important communication skills. We call it a ROCK routine because we do the game or activity over and over so it becomes a routine. 

Choose an Activity for R.O.C.K©. 

It might be a game where you say 'Ready Steady ...' before you knock down a tower and you want your child to join in 'Go'. 

It might be a rhyme like 'Round and round the Garden' where you want your child to recognise when the game starts and anticipate what is going to happen and laugh and be enthusiastic....maybe hold out their hand to you. 

Ask the staff at the PRU for help with deciding on your ROCK routine. 

Repeat: Repeat what you SAY and DO each time you begin and end the activity.

Opportunities: Think about your child’s skills and ask yourself, “What could my child do during this activity to make it a communication opportunity. Can they take a turn or reach out to indicate they want something?” Maybe your child can use eye gaze? Maybe your child can vocalize?  Can your child use gestures (pointing, actions)? You want to choose something at the right level, that is not below or above your child’s current communication skills.

Cue: What did you expect your child to do for this activity? If your child has difficulty participating the way you anticipated, then cues are what you will do to help them participate. Cues can be things like waiting a longer time for your child to attempt to take a turn in the activity or using a facial expression that indicates it is their turn. 

Keep it going and Keep it fun: Choose something your child enjoys, make fun sounds, have a fun ending to the activity. Then…start it again!

When using R.O.C.K©, try to coach the child's communication in the activity every day. Everyday predictable activities are a great way to help children with social communication difficulties to understand language and encourage them to participate, interact and communicate.

ROCK ON!

More information is available here... http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/R-O-C-K--in-People-Games--For-Children-with-ASD-or.aspx