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A student communicates, and half the room misses it.
This tool helps teams recognize and understand early, pre-symbolic communication so it can be supported consistently across people and settings.
What this is:
A structured assessment and observation tool focused on play skills within the pre-symbolic stage of communication and cognitive development.
Who this is for:
Speech-language pathologists
Special educators
Teams supporting individuals with complex communication needs
Anyone working with early or pre-symbolic communicators
What's included:
Overview of what play reveals about communication and the four play levels
Observation and elicitation guidance
Flowchart for determining level
Skill checklist and partner facilitation hierarchy
Data collection tools
Team-friendly summary pages
Looking for more detail?
Here's a deeper look at how this tool works:
How does this person play, and what does that tell you about where they are as a communicator?
Play Skills is the fourth booklet in The Shared Map, a modular clinical mini-booklet series for assessing communication in individuals with complex communication needs.
Play is not a break from assessment, it is part of the assessment: how a person explores toys and materials reveals the same developmental foundation that later supports symbolic communication.
This booklet asks you to offer toy sets and follow the child's lead before modeling, so you observe authentic, independent play first rather than play that was prompted into existence.
It walks through four play levels, from early sensory exploration through combinatorial and pretend play, with a decision tree that routes you to the level you observed.
What is inside:
Cover with client info, path map tracker, and notes space
Overview: what play reveals about communication, why play belongs in a comprehensive assessment, and the four play levels at a glance
Elicitation Protocol: how to offer toy sets and follow the child's lead before modeling, to draw out authentic, independent play first
Observation Flowchart: decision tree identifying which level of play you observed
Skill Checklist: play behaviors at Levels I-IV, plus diversity and flexibility, across three observation dates
Partner Facilitation Hierarchy (F0-F8): play-specific examples
Data Collection Sheet: tally, rating grid, and behavioral description formats
Progress Snapshot: IEP- and hearing-ready with signature block
Student Voice page
Family and Team Pull-Out: three panels for home, classroom, and team use
References and Bibliography: APA format
Print single-sided or double-sided.
Includes color and black-and-white versions.
Age range: all ages.
A student communicates, and half the room misses it.
This tool helps teams recognize and understand early, pre-symbolic communication so it can be supported consistently across people and settings.
What this is:
A structured assessment and observation tool focused on play skills within the pre-symbolic stage of communication and cognitive development.
Who this is for:
Speech-language pathologists
Special educators
Teams supporting individuals with complex communication needs
Anyone working with early or pre-symbolic communicators
What's included:
Overview of what play reveals about communication and the four play levels
Observation and elicitation guidance
Flowchart for determining level
Skill checklist and partner facilitation hierarchy
Data collection tools
Team-friendly summary pages
Looking for more detail?
Here's a deeper look at how this tool works:
How does this person play, and what does that tell you about where they are as a communicator?
Play Skills is the fourth booklet in The Shared Map, a modular clinical mini-booklet series for assessing communication in individuals with complex communication needs.
Play is not a break from assessment, it is part of the assessment: how a person explores toys and materials reveals the same developmental foundation that later supports symbolic communication.
This booklet asks you to offer toy sets and follow the child's lead before modeling, so you observe authentic, independent play first rather than play that was prompted into existence.
It walks through four play levels, from early sensory exploration through combinatorial and pretend play, with a decision tree that routes you to the level you observed.
What is inside:
Cover with client info, path map tracker, and notes space
Overview: what play reveals about communication, why play belongs in a comprehensive assessment, and the four play levels at a glance
Elicitation Protocol: how to offer toy sets and follow the child's lead before modeling, to draw out authentic, independent play first
Observation Flowchart: decision tree identifying which level of play you observed
Skill Checklist: play behaviors at Levels I-IV, plus diversity and flexibility, across three observation dates
Partner Facilitation Hierarchy (F0-F8): play-specific examples
Data Collection Sheet: tally, rating grid, and behavioral description formats
Progress Snapshot: IEP- and hearing-ready with signature block
Student Voice page
Family and Team Pull-Out: three panels for home, classroom, and team use
References and Bibliography: APA format
Print single-sided or double-sided.
Includes color and black-and-white versions.
Age range: all ages.