{"id":2561,"date":"2016-08-18T18:52:01","date_gmt":"2016-08-18T22:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parenttraining.chip.uconn.edu\/?page_id=2561"},"modified":"2026-02-20T15:17:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T20:17:48","slug":"functional-communication-training-fct-saying-no-all-done-and-asking-for-help-or-a-break","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/parenttraining.chip.uconn.edu\/index.php\/functional-communication-training-fct-saying-no-all-done-and-asking-for-help-or-a-break\/","title":{"rendered":"More on Functional Communication Training (FCT)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One skill that can help to prevent problem behavior is to teach children how to say \u201cno.” Then they can say \u2018no\u2019 to things they do not want. Or they can ask nicely for \u201chelp\u201d or for \u201ca break\u201d or to be \u201call done\u201d with an activity they want to stop. It is important to give the child a way to say, \u201cNo thank you!<\/strong>\u201d Sometimes, even if you really want your child to do something, it\u2019s better for him to say, \u201cNo,\u201d than to have problem behavior as a way of saying \u201cno\u201d to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes It’s Ok to Take “No” for An Answer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you start teaching a child to communicate \u201cNo thank you,\u201d you must let the child know you understand what he wants. It\u2019s a good idea to say \u201cOK\u201d as often as you can. When your child gets to be good at using words, signs or PECS (Picture Exchange Communication, Module 13) to say, \u201cNo thank you,\u201d you can then work on getting him to understand that he can\u2019t always have what he wants. In the beginning, when he is first learning to ask for a break or for help or to be all done, it is important to reinforce this whenever you can. You do this by giving him what he wants. So even if you\u2019re busy, or teaching him and don\u2019t want to take a break, be sure to give him a break if he asks for one. You can make it a short break, like 2 or 3 minutes, but what a great time to reinforce this nice asking!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teaching Finished or All Done<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To teach this skill, think of a time your child wanted to avoid something. A common time is at the dinner table. Children often get bored and start to cry when they\u2019ve finished eating and they want to leave the table. This is very true for young children in highchairs who can\u2019t leave the table without help. For children who cannot speak, this can be very frustrating. If this is the case with your child, one idea is to put a picture showing \u201call done\u201d on the table or tray in front of him that he can reach.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"finished\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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clipart.library<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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NOTE: This drawing shows an international sign for \u201call done.” You can use this, or make your own picture, showing your own sign for \u201call done.\u201d You can use any picture you think will work. For example, you could make up a hand sign for \u201call done\u201d and have someone take a picture of you making the sign. Then you could use that picture. Check out www.babysignlanguage.com<\/a> for lots of simple signs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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And you don\u2019t have to wait until your child starts to be very upset. As soon as you see that he has finished eating and is beginning to get bored, prompt him to hand you the \u201call done\u201d picture. Then say, \u201cAll done!\u201d and help him down from the table right away. Over time, fade your prompts until he is asking to be all done all by himself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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You can also teach your child to make the sign for \u201call done\u201d as shown in the picture just above. To do that, the child should start with both of his palms facing his face and then twist his hand so his palms are facing away from him. One good thing about this method is that he will be able to use it any time, whether or not you have an \u201call done\u201d picture he can reach. The sign for \u201call done\u201d looks like this:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n