Easy AAC Strategies Parents Can Use at Home During Speech Therapy

Last Updated on October 10, 2025 by Lisa Whaley

Easy AAC Strategies Parents Can Use at Home During Speech Therapy

Empowering children with speech challenges, including those with autism, starts at home. When parents use easy, everyday AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) strategies, they can help make communication natural, fun, and successful. This practical guide reveals how any caregiver can turn daily routines into powerful opportunities for AAC growth, no special training required.

What Is AAC? Understanding the Basics for Families

AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. It includes all the tools, systems, and methods people use to communicate if they have difficulty with spoken language. AAC can be as simple as picture cards or as high-tech as a tablet with a communication app, and even includes gestures or sign language. Children with autism, apraxia, Down syndrome, and other speech and language challenges may all benefit from AAC.

Low-tech AAC: Picture boards, symbol books, pointing, gesture, or written notes.
High-tech AAC: Speech-generating devices (SGDs), dedicated tablets, or communication apps.

AAC is not a last resort. Early and enthusiastic AAC introduction supports language, reduces frustration, and builds confidence at any ability level.

Key Takeaway: AAC is a bridge to communication for children with speech challenges and should be used in daily life, starting at home.

Modeling AAC: Show, Don’t Tell

The single most effective strategy for parents: MODEL AAC! Modeling, also called Aided Language Stimulation, means that YOU use the child’s device/board just like you hope they will. If your child is learning “more drink,” you point to or press those words as you say them out loud during lunch.

Start simple. Use one or two words at a time.
Model during any activity: meals, play, getting ready, or errands.
No pressure! Model without expecting a response, AAC is not a quiz.
Invite siblings, grandparents, or friends to use AAC, too.

The more you model AAC in natural, everyday ways, the more comfortable and willing your child becomes to try it too.

Quick Modeling Wins:

Point to “go” and “stop” during play.
Select “help” or “do again” while building blocks together.
Use “all done” at the end of a meal.

Personalize Vocabulary and Make AAC Fun

Genuine engagement happens when a device “speaks” your child’s language, literally. Personalize vocabulary to reflect your child’s real interests, routines, and favorite people:

Add words for beloved TV shows, pets, foods, toys, and places you visit together.
Make sure family names, inside jokes, and school routines are on the device.
Update vocabulary regularly as your child’s tastes and life change.

Include fun, silly, or playful words, jokes, or “no!” as well as “yes.” Let your child explore the device’s built-in voices, sound effects, or themes to add joy and motivation to communication.

Key Tip: If your child outgrows vocabulary or loses interest, refresh the device’s content and ask for their input. Choice creates buy-in.

Embed AAC in Everyday Routines and Environments

Speech therapy can be incredibly helpful in teaching a child to use AAC. SLPs play an integral role in teaching family members how to facilitate their child’s communication by using AAC. Parents can then put what they have learned into practice by creating short, frequent opportunities for AAC use that are woven into home routines. This “real life” practice is a highly effective and natural way to teach communication skills. Here are ways to get started:

During morning routines: Let your child pick clothes, breakfast, or music using their AAC.
At mealtime: Use AAC to request more, different foods, or to comment (“hot,” “yummy,” “done”).
Household chores: Practice “help,” “my turn,” “all done,” or “wait.”
Shopping trips: Model greetings, thanks, or choices at the store.
Story time: Allow your child use AAC to label, answer, or comment during reading.

Use visual reminders or sticky notes around the house to prompt AAC use. If using a high tech AAC device, carry a backup communication board for outings or places where technology might not be practical.

Harness Play, Humor, and Choice to Build Motivation

Children do not communicate just to check a box, they do it for connection, fun, and to get what they want and need. Use these motivators as a springboard for AAC:

Play “Simon Says” and have the child give commands through AAC.
Encourage them to request silly songs, dance breaks, or favorite jokes.
Build scavenger hunts using core words like “find,” “look,” “where,” or “here.”
Give authentic opportunities to say “no” and make choices. Saying “no” is just as important as saying “yes”, real power means expressing both preferences and refusals.

Parent Tip Box: Motivation improves AAC use. Invite your child to pick device voices, participate in jokes, or challenge you in games where you model AAC “mistakes” and let your child correct you.

Streamline Technology and Prepare for Real-World Use

AAC success is not just about mastering vocabulary, it’s about making sure the technology and supports fit real family life. Here are practical tech-focused strategies for parents:

Train all people involved. Teachers, siblings, caregivers, and aides need to know how to use the device and how to troubleshoot basics (like charging or simple fixes).
Keep home screens simple, hide rarely used buttons and highlight favorites.
Make devices portable: use straps, stands, or mounting systems so AAC is always within reach.
Have a low-tech/printed board as a backup for messy or outdoor environments.
Regularly check that vocabulary and tech supports match your child’s changing needs, especially after big transitions like a new school year, or moving to a new house.

Top Tech Tips:

Charge devices nightly and make it part of the bedtime routine.
Keep extra chargers or batteries in your “go bag.”
Print waterproof boards for bath time, swimming, or outdoor play.

Go Beyond Requests: Core Words and Real Conversation

Communication is far deeper than simply requesting a drink or a toy. Focus on “core words,” which are high-frequency, flexible words that can be used in almost any context (examples: “go,” “help,” “want,” “look,” “funny,” “like,” “stop”). These form the backbone of real conversation.

Encourage telling stories, expressing opinions, or sharing jokes, even if vocabulary is limited.
Model comments (“Oh wow!” “I don’t know”), questions, and refusals as much as requests.
Celebrate when your child uses AAC for social purposes, not just for needs (such as greeting a friend, making a comment, or sharing excitement).

Expanding the use of core words across activities keeps communication fresh and relevant and supports true language development, not just rote “button pushing.”

Core Words List (Great for Daily Modeling):

I, you, want, more, stop, go, help, do, like, not, yes, no, big, little, all done, look, play

Troubleshooting: When Progress Slows or Stalls

Every child has plateaus or “rough patches” with AAC. Rather than getting discouraged, try these solutions:

If your child seems disinterested, change device vocabulary, add new favorite topics, or use AAC during highly motivating activities.
If physical access is an issue (buttons are hard to press or see), adjust device settings, try larger buttons, or explore features like eye-gaze or switch activation. Also, inquire about a referral to occupational therapy to help with barriers to physical access.
If device “stigma” develops (such as feeling babyish or embarrassed), customize it with cool cases, emojis, or mature vocabulary.
If technology fails, always have low-tech backups available and share a “what to do if…” cheat sheets with all family and team members.

Encouragement: The most important thing is seeing AAC as a normal part of everyday life, not something for “therapy only.” Honest communication about challenges leads to better, more flexible solutions.

Celebrate Small AAC Wins and Build Confidence

Tiny successes in AAC use fuel lasting growth. These small wins boost your child’s communication confidence, laying the foundation for “big” progress. Spot and cheer every achievement:

Your child asks for a favorite item on their own.
They use AAC with someone new, like a neighbor or a sibling.
They express a refusal kindly (“Don’t want,” “No,” or “Stop”).
They repair a communication breakdown (clarifying or trying again).
They use AAC in a new place, like the park or a store.
They start caring for their device, charging, bringing, or cleaning it independently.

Share small wins with the rest of your family, teachers, and your child’s supporters. Celebration can be as simple as extra praise, a sticker, or sending a quick note to school.

Mini List: 10 Small AAC Wins Worth Spotting

Looking toward the device for help.
Bringing AAC to the table independently.
Greeting a new person with AAC.
Combining gesture and AAC.
Requesting a break or help unprompted.
Repeating after a misunderstood message.
Joking, commenting, or sharing joy.
Selecting a favorite song or show.
Successfully refusing or saying “no.”
Taking pride in device ownership (charging, caring, decorating it).

Privacy, Safety, and AAC Use at Home

Children’s privacy and digital safety are critically important for families using AAC devices. Most modern AAC apps and systems comply with strict privacy laws such as COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), which regulate the collection, use, and storage of any personal information.

Always supervise new app downloads or changes to the device.
Do not post identifiable AAC content (like videos using names or home addresses) online without informed family consent.
Review device privacy settings and app permissions, and ask your SLP or tech provider about best practices for updates or data.

Privacy Note: Only share your child’s AAC achievements online or with wider audiences if you have explicit, written family permission, following school or clinic policy.

Summary: Easy AAC Wins for Families During Speech Therapy

Model AAC often and without pressure, conversation, not testing, is the goal.
Personalize vocabulary for immediate engagement, let your child have a say in what’s on their device.
Embed AAC practice in natural routines, meals, play, chores, and errands all count.
Keep motivation high with jokes, choices, and playful interactions.
Make technology easy and portable so AAC is always handy, use print backups for device-free moments.
Go beyond requests; model comments, questions, refusals, and social sharing.
Spot and celebrate small AAC wins to build lifelong confidence and communication power.
Always prioritize your child’s privacy and data safety when using AAC tools.

FAQs: Easy AAC Strategies for Home Use

1. My child is not interested in their AAC device. What can I do?
Try adding favorite characters, preferred foods, or jokes. Let your child help pick the device’s voice or colors. Use AAC during the most motivating, high-interest activities to build new habits.

2. How can I encourage other family members to use AAC at home?
Invite them to model AAC during daily routines. Share “success stories,” have brief practice sessions together, and reward frequent, short uses over long therapy times.

3. What if my child wants to use AAC only with adults or only at home?
Practice with new people in low-pressure ways, such as during free time or preferred activities. Praise and celebrate every successful attempt with new partners or places.

4. Is it “cheating” if my child speaks and uses AAC together?
Not at all. Mixing spoken words, gestures, and AAC is normal and builds true communicative flexibility.

5. Do I need to correct every “mistake” my child makes on their device?
Focus on communication, not perfection. If the message is not clear, reinforce the effort and keep modeling the right words or buttons. Corrections should be gentle and only if truly needed.

References

AAC Therapy Hacks That Actually Work for All Ages. (Key strategies, troubleshooting, modeling, motivation, and tech organization)
7 Small AAC Wins That Build Massive Confidence Over Time. (How and why to spot/celebrate small wins, plus practical routines and confidence-building tips)
Creative Ways to Teach Writing to Kids Using AAC. (How to model, scaffold, and motivate at home and in learning)
How AAC Can Boost Reading Skills in Nonverbal Learners. (Strategies for integrating reading, literacy, and communication at home)

Final Thought: Every small step in AAC is big progress. Practice regularly, celebrate every attempt, and remember, you are your child’s most powerful speech partner at home.