04/17/2025
AAC isn’t just for therapy—it’s for everyday life routines! Mealtime, playtime, brushing teeth, getting dressed… all of these are perfect chances to model language and help our kids grow their communication skills.
Kids who are verbal communicators hear thousands of words modeled for them every single day, and our AAC users need the same input on their device to truly learn it. Modeling AAC during daily routines helps bridge that gap and shows them their voice matters.
Don’t worry about doing it perfectly—just keep it natural, have fun, and highlight those bold words. Every small moment is a chance to connect, teach, and empower. Let’s get communicating, connecting, playing, and growing—one routine at a time!
[Image Description:
A colorful infographic titled “Ways to Model AAC in Everyday Routines” created by PICSL Therapy LLC. It focuses on using core words during daily activities to support children who use AAC. At the top, target words are listed in bold: GET, OPEN, CLOSE, UP, DOWN, GO, STOP, ON, OFF, EAT, DRINK, HUNGRY, THIRSTY, IN, OUT, HELP, ALL DONE, MORE.
Below, four color-coded boxes illustrate routine-specific examples:
-Meal/Snack Time (yellow box): Phrases include “I’m hungry/thirsty,” “Let’s get [food/drink],” “I need help,” and “I’m all done.”
-Getting Dressed (pink box): Phrases include “Let’s go get dressed,” “Take off,” “Put on,” “Pull down,” and “All done.”
-Brushing Teeth (blue box): Phrases include “Let’s go brush teeth,” “Put on [toothpaste],” “Ready, set, GO,” and “STOP.”
-Playtime (green box): Phrases include “Let’s go play,” “Let’s open/close it,” “I need help,” “Up, up, up,” “More,” and “All done, let’s clean up.”
A note at the bottom reminds caregivers to verbally model the full phrase while selecting the bold word on the AAC device.]
