Description
The Sand Play Communication Book is a visual communication resource designed to support autistic and neurodivergent learners during meaningful sand 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.
Sand play naturally creates opportunities to dig, scoop, pour, fill, empty, build, bury, find, hide, sift, smooth, pat, make, sprinkle, carry and tip. 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 sand play.
The WHAT DOING section focuses on observable actions such as dig, scoop, pour, fill, empty, build, bury, find, hide, sift, smooth, pat, make, sprinkle, carry and tip.
The WHAT section includes familiar sand-play materials and resources such as sand, tray, bucket, spade, scoop, sieve, mould, rake, shovel, stone, shell, pebble, water, sandcastle, flag and truck.
The WHERE section focuses on meaningful locations within the sand-play environment, while WHAT LIKE? provides descriptive vocabulary including soft, dry, wet, warm, cool, smooth, rough, grainy, gritty, fine, heavy, light, full, empty, big and little.
Use it during real sand play
Take the communication book into your sand tray, sand table, sandpit or outdoor play area 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 digs into the sand. The adult can model dig, sand, deep or more.
A child scoops sand into a bucket. The adult can model scoop, sand, bucket or full.
A child fills a mould. The adult can model fill, mould, sand or more.
A child builds a sandcastle. The adult can model build, sandcastle, big or make.
A child hides a shell in the sand. The adult can model hide, shell, sand or under.
The aim is to make communication part of the experience.
Who is it for?
This sand tray 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
Sand Play is part of 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.
Digital PDF resource. No physical product will be shipped.
