Sometimes it can be overwhelming for a therapist to collect manding data for the entire session (ourselves included!). Therefore, you create 5 minute manding periods that are embedded throughout the session instead.

When a child goes to a new activity, start a timer for 5 minutes (this is for data collection purposes only, not to indicate that the child only has 5 minutes to play). Contrive many opportunities for mands throughout these 5 minutes and record it on this graph.

You can use one graph for many activities, or split it up and use a separate graph for each activity. Using a separate graph per activity will show you whether your student is more motivated to speak during specific activities.

Also included here are “snack time request ideas.” These may be more advanced than a beginner learner, but it will give you an idea of how to brainstorm specific requesting ideas with staff.