Setting the Tone:
Making sure that the appropriate environment is created helps a child feel comfortable and confident at the start of a session.
- Ideally, use a quiet area of the room, as free from distractions as possible
- Other stimuli from previous games should be put away
- Prop the device so that it is at an angle that reduces glare and enables the child to see the screen clearly
Establishing Permission:
It is important that the child feels comfortable and that you get “permission” from the child to play the game. We recommend getting a child’s verbal assent.
The language can be something like the following:
I’d like to show you some fun games and ask you some questions. Some of them are easy and some are kind of hard, but that’s okay. We can try them anyway. You can tell me whenever you want to stop, or if you need to go to the bathroom. Does that sound okay? Do you have any questions for me?
Once the child responds and you have answered any questions s/he may have, you can begin the assessment. Depending on the time it takes to get through this introduction, you may want to ask again if the child needs to go to the bathroom.
Explaining how to play:
It is important that to explain to the child that there will be turns for them to play and to listen. This will help the child understand that sometimes the Game will be automatically dragging the cards and sometimes it will be their turn to drag the cards. The following video clip demonstrates the appropriate voice and interaction with a child.
Every child is different and may react differently to the assessment. Some children may be overly excited and attempt to start touching the screen before receiving directions. In this case, the Examiner may need to “play defense” by covering certain portions of the screen. See below for an example of appropriate defense: