What are information-carrying words?

An information-carrying word (ICW), also known as a key word, is a word that carries meaning in an instruction. For a word to count as an ICW or key word, the child has to make a choice of some sort to complete the instruction correctly.

When working on ICWs or key words, we always use familiar words for the child. We are not testing their understanding of the individual words but their ability to follow a certain length instruction.

• We only know if a child is able to follow ICWs successfully if they can follow the instruction without any additional prompts, such as the adult looking, pointing or gesturing at the item or activity we want them to select
• If they struggle to follow the instruction, we may need to do some of these things to help them achieve the instruction correctly
• As they become more confident with this, we should aim to remove all additional prompts so we can check they can follow the instruction independently.

The following activities can be used to support your child to develop these skills.

Before giving an instruction, it is important to remember to:

• reduce background noise (turn off the television, radio and other distractions). Ideally, try to find a quiet corner
• say the child's name or touch them gently on the arm and wait for them to look before giving the instruction
• use simple language and praise to keep them engaged in the task.

Activity ideas using objects or toys

The ICWs are shown in bold in the examples below. Remember, the child needs to make a choice for these items or actions to make them count.

Be creative and try to think of other examples using your child's favourite toys or activities.

• Using a teddy and dolly and a selection of play food, ask them to "Give banana to teddy", "Give apple to dolly" and so on
• During bath time or getting dressed, ask them to "Find your nose", "Find Mummy's feet" and so on
• Using a teddy, dolly and stickers, ask them to put a sticker on "dolly's tummy", "teddy's ear" and so on
• Using transport vehicles (or any other objects) and a table and chair, ask them to "Put the car on the table", "Put the tractor on the chair"
• Whilst doing an inset puzzle, or tidying up, ask them to "Find the teddy and the car".

Activity ideas using objects, toys or actions

• Using a selection of toy animals, ask them to "Make elephant jump", "Make dog go to sleep", "Make cat fly" and so on
• Using a ball, teddy and dolly, ask them to "Roll the ball to teddy", "Kick the ball to dolly", "Bounce the ball to dolly" and so on
• Using a brush and sponge and teddy, ask them to "Brush teddy's nose", "Clean teddy's tummy".

How can I use this in real life?

Think about all the opportunities across your day that you can practise following two ICWs with your child.

This can be within everyday activities they enjoy, as long as you are using familiar words and they only have to make two choices to complete the instruction.

• sorting out the washing
• finding items in the supermarket
• playing with teddies, dolls or vehicles
• requesting different coloured paints or pens
• finding a certain coloured sticker
• finding objects or animals in a book
• finding certain clothes to wear
• choosing a certain colour or size brick when building a tower.

Remember

• If your child is currently working on following two ICWs, they will not be ready to follow these instructions independently in everyday situations
• Think about the instructions you give them on a day-to-day basis
• If you really need them to follow an instruction, try to simplify it to one ICW and use single words, gestures or pointing to help them be successful
• When you have time to support them, you can make this harder so they can practise their target of following two ICWs independently.