Description
The Construction Play Communication Book is a visual communication resource designed to support autistic and neurodivergent learners during meaningful construction play. It is part of the Elevating Neurodiversity Shared Communication Book series.
It brings together carefully selected vocabulary for Core Words, WHO, WHAT DOING, WHAT, WHERE and WHAT LIKE?, using the Colourful Semantics framework to help adults model language within real play experiences.
Construction play naturally creates opportunities to build, dig, push, pull, carry, move, stack, knock down, fix and make. This communication book helps adults make the language within those experiences more visible and accessible without interrupting the child’s play.
The focus is on meaningful communication rather than testing vocabulary or requiring children to produce sentences on demand. Adults can use the visuals to notice what the child is interested in, join their play, model relevant language and support communication as the experience unfolds.
What’s included
The book includes six communication sections covering Core Words, WHO, WHAT DOING, WHAT, WHERE and WHAT LIKE?
The vocabulary is intentionally focused rather than overloaded, making it easier for adults to find and model useful words during construction play.
The resource also includes practical guidance to support adults in using the visuals responsively during shared play.
Use it during real construction play
Take the communication book into your construction area, block play, small-world construction or outdoor building activities and use it alongside the child’s actual experience.
Instead of stopping play to complete a worksheet, adults can model language around what is already happening.
A child builds a tower. The adult can model build, blocks, up or more.
A child pushes a digger through the sand. The adult can model push, digger, go or in the sand.
A child knocks down a tower. The adult can model knock down, fall, again or more.
The aim is to make communication part of the experience.
Who is it for?
This construction play communication resource is suitable for class teachers, specialist teachers, teaching assistants, SENCOs, speech and language professionals and families supporting autistic and neurodivergent learners.
It can be used in mainstream classrooms, specialist settings, autism provision, early years environments and at home.
Part of the Shared Communication Book series
Construction Play is the first book in the Elevating Neurodiversity Shared Communication Book series.
Each book follows the same familiar visual system while focusing on a different everyday play environment, helping adults use consistent communication support across different experiences.
