Description
The Water Play Communication Book is a visual communication resource designed to support autistic and neurodivergent learners during meaningful water 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.
Water play naturally creates opportunities to pour, squeeze, spray, stir, wash, push, float, fill, splash, scoop, pull, sink, empty and measure. 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 water play.
The resource also includes practical guidance to support adults in using the visuals responsively during shared play, with examples of how to Notice, Join, Model, Respond and Expand during water play.
Use it during real water play
Take the communication book into your water tray, outdoor water play, sensory water activities or other water-based experiences and use it alongside the child’s actual play.
Instead of stopping play to complete a worksheet, adults can model language around what is already happening.
A child pours water into a bucket. The adult can model pour, fill, bucket or more.
A child splashes in the water. The adult can model splash, water, more or together.
A child discovers that a boat floats. The adult can model boat, float, water or there.
The aim is to make communication part of the experience.
Who is it for?
This water 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
Water 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.
