PECS Phase 1

PECS or the Picture Exchange Communication System is a very misunderstood system as most people think that if a child is using pictures - then they are using PECS. Which is not the case!

PECS was developed in 1985 by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost with the primary goal of teaching “functional communication”.

So that means, not questioning the child and asking him/her to identify 5 fruits or animals or toys. It’s about developing the spontaneity and the intent to communicate.. not by telling the child to ‘pick up’ the picture and exchange it or ‘look for’ the picture, but teaching the child to communicate in a structured way with no verbal instructions.
The clinician or caregivers begin PECS by teaching the child to exchange a picture of an item he or she wants. There are six phases of PECS. Going through all of them is what develops the communication! Not just the first one or two phases..

And what kind of items would you start with? ANY REINFORCING ITEM FOR THE CHILD.. not just food and not just a toy you want the child to like. The reinforcer could be a food item, a toy, an activity, a game, etc.

In the video, the child has learnt Phase 1 of PECS - which is to exchange a picture for the reinforcing item - in this case, it is a food item (biscuits).