(Tips and Activities to Help Kids Communicate Better)

Communication is more than just talking. It includes gestures, tone of voice, and expressions. If you’re a parent, caregiver, therapist, or teacher, helping children, especially those with autism, communicate and pay attention together needs multifaceted approach.

Here are some ideas and things to do to make these skills better:

1. Use Gestures- Gestures are like silent words. They help in communication without speaking. Encourage and recognize the power of non-verbal cues in conveying thoughts and emotions.

2. Pay Attention to Tone- Tone gives feelings to words. It’s important to understand different tones. Tonal variations infuse words with life, imbuing them with emotion and context. Teach children to discern nuances in tone, empowering them to grasp the subtleties of communication.

3. Learn Expressions- Expressions are the brushstrokes that paint vivid pictures in the canvas of communication.  Expressions show feelings. By learning them, children can understand,  interpret and express emotions better.

4. Smile: The Universal Language- A smile transcends barriers, bridging hearts and minds with its warmth and universality. Smiling is a way to connect with others. Cultivate the habit of smiling, for it is a powerful tool of connection. It helps in understanding and being understood.

5. Visual Strategies: Seeing is Believing- Visual aids and strategies serve as powerful tool in communication, offering clarity, better understanding and support for children navigating the complexities of interaction.

6. The Art of Pausing- In the rush of conversation, pause and allow moments of reflection, as sometimes, stopping and thinking can help understand better, especially for children with autism (who may benefit from a slower pace). This  fosters comprehension and processing.

7. Conciseness and Precision- Be Clear, concise and short in your communication, ensuring that each message is clear, precise and actionable. Using simple and short words makes it easier to understand.

8. Empowering Autonomy Through Choices- Choices are the building blocks of autonomy, empowering children to assert their preferences and make decisions. Offer controlled(close- ended) choices to cultivate decision-making skills while maintaining instructional control. Letting children make choices helps them feel independent.

9. Building Trust, Fostering Security- Honor your word and promises, laying the foundation of trust and security. Predictability provides emotional anchors, reducing anxiety and nurturing a sense of safety.

10. Share Emotions- Talking about your feelings helps in understanding each other. Share your daily experiences and emotions, creating bridges of understanding between you and your child. By sharing your perspective, you foster empathy and deepen your child’s connection to the world around them.

Activities to Enhance Communication and Joint Attention:

1. Mirror Game: Copy each other’s facial expressions to understand emotions better, fostering empathy and emotional intelligence.

2. Daily Events Chart Mapping: Chart the day’s events on a small whiteboard/ diary/sheet expanding vocabulary and memory while providing a visual roadmap.

3. Doing Chores Together: Doing tasks, fun activities and daily household chores together helps in learning and paying attention. Engage in daily chores together, promoting joint attention, language processing, and experiential learning. Integrate logical reasoning into tasks to stimulate problem-solving skills.


Communication and attention are important skills that open doors to connection and understanding. By incorporating the above mentioned tips and activities every day into daily interactions, we can nurture growth and empowerment in children, to express themselves better.

Author Ms. Shivanie
Founder/ Managing Director “The Motivation”
Counseling Psychologist, Parent Coach, Autism Expert.
“The Motivation” is a Psychological and Counseling services based in Noida, India. https://themotivationpsychologist.com

Compiled & Edited by
Shilpi Mayank Awasthi
Founder SpecialSaathi