How a Shoebox Can Help Children with Autism Expand Language and Learning Skills!
Want to get started with ABA or re-vamp an ABA program starting today? I created a Shoebox Program several years ago for parents and professionals and have used it with all of my clients who have minimal to no language. This is a program that you can start even if you can only commit to working directly with a child once a week for 10 to 15 minutes.
It’s so easy and powerful, I’m sure you’ll probably see some results.
The first step is to take any box with a lid. Cut a slit in the top of the box lid that’s wide enough for pictures to go in horizontally or vertically. Then, you want to collect some flashcards and pictures to use.
For the pictures, collect pictures of people and/or your child or client’s favorite things. When you’re picking pictures of people, select pictures that only have one person in them. A close up shot where you can see the person’s face is ideal.
For pictures of items, pick things that your child or client will relate to like a picture of an iPad or a picture of a juice cup. Here, focus on pictures with one item. Keep extraneous toys or items out of the pictures so as not to distract or complicate things.
When you’re picking flashcards, you want to keep the same considerations in mind. (If you’re purchasing flashcards, get two sets for use later on!) Go through the flashcards and exclude any words that contain more than 2 syllables. For example, I would use “elephant,” because it contains 3 syllables. We may want to exclude words like, “kite,” which a child may or may not have common exposure to. You want to pick items like, “ball,” which they are going to have daily exposure to; “cat,” “cake,” and even “turtle,” which is 2 syllables but it’s usually an easy word to say.
You can request a step by step process on this program here.
Once you have your materials gathered, you’re ready to get started.
Even if your child is not saying anything, you can still do the shoebox program to encourage eye contact, to gain attention, to get compliance and to start having your child or client warm up to the idea of learning from you.
I use the shoebox program for all of my clients initially until we can establish them sitting, matching and touching things on a table on our command. Then, as the child progresses, we can sometimes use it to expand language even more!
Click the button below to download The Shoebox Program cheat sheet so you can get started today!
We used a similar program with my grandson who is autistic. You can also add components such as actions. What is he doing? Running, jumping, eating and use flash cards with the action word. Also, flash cards or homemade cards using common objects which you have on hand, such as apple, spoon, tothbrush. Real items make more of an impact than pictures.
Thanks for your comment Wilma. I completely agree with you and I’ve also used the shoebox program with real objects, actions and sight words. If you would like to sign up to watch a free 75-minute online workshop with more techniques, go to https://www.marybarbera.com/workshop and let me know your thoughts after you watch! Thanks again!
My son is nonverbal but can read, in fact he loves words and never forgets a spelling once learned. How can I use this program with him?
Thanks !
Can your son say any sounds or word approximations? You may want to check out my blogs at MaryBarbera.com and/or a free 75 min online workshop on the 3 big autism therapy mistakes and what to do instead at marybarbera.com/workshop.
This is very useful information. My friend has an autistic child who is very difficult. I am going to give her this site to look at. I hope it will help her with her son. Thank you for this chance for her to be able to help her son.
Thank you for the information. My son has autism, he can to speak but not a lot. Is really difficult for me because sometimes I can’t understand him. Well my English isn’t very good and he speaking only English. But I want he can to learn more about how can he be more independent?