Halloween is an exciting time of year filled with costumes, decorations, and fun activities. It’s also the perfect opportunity to help individuals using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems build their communication skills. By focusing on core words, we can help AAC users participate in all the spooky fun!
In this blog post, we’ll explore some key Halloween-themed core words and suggest activities to target these words in fun, meaningful ways.
What Are Core Words?
Core words are versatile, high-frequency words that can be used across many contexts. They make up about 80% of what we say daily and are essential for effective communication. Examples include words like "go," "stop," "more," "help," and "want."
These words differ from fringe words, which are more specific to certain topics (e.g., "pumpkin," "ghost," or "witch" for Halloween). While fringe words are important too, core words form the foundation for communication.
Halloween Core Words to Focus On
Here are some important core words that can be used during Halloween activities:
Go: As in "Let’s go trick-or-treating!" or "Go to the next house."
Stop: To stop during games or when a spooky activity gets too scary.
More: When asking for more sweets, decorations, or Halloween fun.
Help: Asking for help with a costume, pumpkin carving, or finding a trick-or-treating spot.
Turn: Turn-taking in games or when trick-or-treating.
Want: Expressing a desire for a specific Halloween treat or activity.
Like: Talking about what costumes or sweets they like.
Not: To say what they don’t want, like “Not scary!” or “Not that sweet!”
Look: To point out decorations, costumes, or spooky sights.
In: Putting sweets"in" a bag, or things "in" a pumpkin.
Out: Taking sweets out of a bowl or items out of a Halloween treat bag.
On: Putting on costumes or decorations.
Off: Taking off costumes or decorations.
Fun Halloween Activities to Target Core Words
Here are some engaging Halloween activities paired with the core words you can target in each:
1. Pumpkin Carving
Pumpkin carving is a classic Halloween activity! It’s full of opportunities to practice core words.
Core Words: "In," "out," "help," "want," "more," "stop"
How to Use Them:
Ask for help scooping out the pumpkin seeds ("Help get seeds out!").
Talk about putting the candle in the pumpkin or taking it out.
When drawing the face, ask if the person wants more decorations or needs to stop.
2. Trick-or-Treating
Whether trick-or-treating in person or doing a fun indoor version, this is a great opportunity for communication!
Core Words: "Go," "stop," "look," "more," "want," "help," "in," "out"
How to Use Them:
Use go to get from house to house or from door to door.
Say stop if they need a break or are done at a house.
Encourage them to look at all the decorations.
They can ask for more sweets, or if they want a specific piece of sweets.
Say in when putting sweets in their bucket or out when giving sweets away.
3. Costume Dress-Up
Dressing up is a big part of Halloween. Use this activity to encourage communication around choices, actions, and preferences.
Core Words: "On," "off," "want," "help," "like," "not,"
How to Use Them:
Ask if they need help putting their costume on or taking it off.
Have them express if they like or don’t like a part of the costume.
They can say if they want to wear a specific costume.
4. Halloween Sensory Play
Create a spooky sensory bin with Halloween items like fake spiders, slime, or small pumpkins. Sensory play is great for tactile learning and communication!
Core Words: "In," "out," "look," "more," "stop," "want," "not"
How to Use Them:
Ask what they want to put in or take out of the sensory bin.
Encourage them to look at or touch different items.
They can request more sensory items or ask to stop if they’ve had enough.
Express if they want to touch certain things or not touch others.
5. Halloween Storytime
Reading Halloween books or telling spooky stories provides a great opportunity to use core words to describe events or make decisions.
Core Words: "Look," "like," "want," "more," "stop," "help,"
How to Use Them:
Ask them to look at the pictures in the story or express what they like or don’t like.
Let them tell you if they want more stories or if they want to stop.
6. Halloween Games
Halloween games, like a spooky version of musical chairs or a Halloween scavenger hunt, are full of interaction!
Core Words: "Go," "stop," "turn," "help," "want," "more"
How to Use Them:
Use go and stop when playing a game like freeze dance or musical chairs.
They can ask for more of the game or say they want a prize.
They may need help finding items in a scavenger hunt or making a choice in the game.
Why Target Core Words?
Core words are incredibly useful because they can be applied across a wide range of activities, not just Halloween-specific ones. By focusing on these essential words during fun and engaging seasonal activities, AAC users can:
Build their vocabulary and communication skills.
Increase participation in the Halloween fun.
Feel empowered to express their wants, needs, and preferences.
Tips for Success
Model frequently: Demonstrate how to use the AAC device by using the core words yourself while talking during activities.
Be patient: Let the AAC user take their time in finding the words and forming responses.
Create fun choices: Offer fun choices like different costumes or games to make communication more exciting.
Celebrate success: Celebrate any use of the AAC device, even if it’s a simple word like “go” or “help.” Positive reinforcement goes a long way.
Read more of our helpful AAC blog posts.
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