Intensive Interaction
At Marshlands our staff are trained to deliver Intensive Interaction.
Intensive Interaction is a practical approach to interacting with people with learning disabilities who do not find it easy communicating or being social. The approach helps the person with learning difficulties and their communication partner to relate better to each other and enjoy each other’s company more.
What are the main aspects of Intensive Interaction?
Intensive Interaction helps with the essential aspects of communication. These aspects are:
- Giving eye contact;
- Using facial expressions;
- Sharing personal space with others;
- Enjoying being in the presence of another person;
- Paying attention to the other person and concentrating;
- Using non-verbal cues;
- Vocalising with intended meaning;
- Understanding physical contact.
Intensive Interaction can help to develop the fundamental features of communication. This is because during the sessions you can:
- Mirror the behaviour of the other person;
- Share physical contact;
- Make eye contact with each other;
- Share the focus of an object or gesture;
- Use vocalisation to copy each other.
Why is it useful?
Intensive Interaction can be a really useful tool to use, particularly with children with SEND. This is because children can feel connected, like you’re speaking their language and sharing their thoughts and ideas, in a way that they can understand. It can also help children to feel more aware of themselves, their bodies, the people around them and their environment.
