If your child uses an AAC device, you know how essential it is for their access to communication across their daily activities. Below, you will find practical tips on how to seamlessly incorporate AAC into everyday activities at home, helping your child become more comfortable and independent with their communication device.
1. Start with Familiar Routines
Begin by identifying your child’s daily routines. Breakfast, bedtime, and playtime are prime opportunities for AAC use. Here’s how to integrate AAC into these familiar routines:
– Breakfast Time: Use the AAC device to help your child choose their breakfast from a range of options. Model finding the page with breakfast items on the AAC device and selecting a choice for yourself. Then, encourage them to use their device to express needs and preferences like “I want milk” or “More cereal.”
– Playtime: During play, model using the AAC device to make choices, direct actions of others in play, comment, request, or express feelings. If your child is playing with blocks, you might prompt them to say “Build” or “Big tower” to encourage engagement and communication. If something silly happens, you might model “funny” or “silly” to comment during play.
– Bedtime: Incorporate AAC into bedtime routines by having your child use the device to indicate their preferred bedtime story or to express their feelings about the day. You can create a bedtime routine page on the device in collaboration with your child’s speech therapist with options like “Brush teeth,” “Read book,” and “Goodnight.”
2. Model and Encourage Communication on Device
As you interact with your child using their AAC device, model appropriate language and communication strategies. This not only supports your child’s learning but also helps them see how the device can be used in various contexts.
– Modeling: Use the AAC device yourself to demonstrate how to ask for things, express needs, or comment on activities. For example, if you’re playing with toys, use the device to say, “I like the red car” or “Let’s build a tall tower.”
– Encouragement: Encourage your child to use their device by giving them ample opportunities to communicate. Praise their efforts and provide gentle prompts when needed. For example, if they need help, prompt them to use the device by saying “you can tell me, ‘help me’” while pointing to the corresponding icon on the device.
3. Incorporate Social Interactions
Encouraging social use of language with family members and peers is crucial for developing confidence in using communication skills. Use the AAC device to facilitate interactions during family activities:
– Family Meals: During mealtimes, have conversations using the AAC device, getting the whole family involved. Ask your child to talk about their day or share their favorite part of the meal. Encourage family members to ask questions that your child can answer using their device, and encourage them to model their own answers on the device.
– Playdates: During playdates or when playing with peers at the park, use the AAC device to help your child engage in play. Creating a “playdate” or “social” page with phrases like “Let’s play,” “My turn/your turn”, and “can I play?” support initiation and sustaining of interaction.
4. Consistency is Key
Consistency is essential for developing communication skills with an AAC device. Make sure to use the device regularly and across different settings. The more your child experiences the device as a natural part of their daily routine, the more confident they will become in using it.
Integrating an AAC device into everyday routines at home can significantly enhance your child’s communication skills. By using the device during familiar activities, modeling its use, and encouraging social interactions, you can help your child become more comfortable and proficient with their device. Remember, the goal is to make communication a seamless part of daily life, fostering both independence and connection.
If you have any questions or need further guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s speech therapist. We’re here to support you and your child every step of the way!
Casey Werman, MS, CCC-SLP
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Coordinator
Speech-Language Pathologist