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How to Use AAC During Everyday Routines at Home

VOIS Team · 4 September 2026

Communication can become frustrating very quickly when you know your child wants something, but you are not quite sure what it is.

This is where AAC can become part of everyday family life.

It does not need to be saved for therapy sessions or special communication time. Some of the best opportunities happen during the routines that are already part of your day.

Snack time

Your child walks into the kitchen, stands near the fridge and clearly wants something. Instead of guessing between yoghurt, juice or fruit, they can use their AAC system to tell you.

From there, the communication can grow naturally.

They might ask for help to open the container, more when they want another spoonful, or finished when they are done.

Play

The same thing happens during play. Play gives children lots of natural reasons to communicate. They may want again, more, help, my turn, your turn, go or stop.

The nice thing about play is that communication does not feel like work. It is simply part of what is already happening.

Getting dressed

Getting dressed is another routine that can easily become more interactive.

Instead of simply moving through socks, pants, shirt and shoes, you can use AAC to help your child take part. They might choose what comes next, ask for help, or indicate that they are finished.

The same idea can carry into brushing teeth, bath time, toileting, getting ready for school or even helping around the house.

The important part is not to turn every routine into a lesson. You are looking for simple moments where AAC can make communication easier.

Thinking about the words your child needs

It also helps to think about the words your child is likely to need during each routine.

Some words will be very specific, like a favourite snack, their own shoes or a bath toy.

Other words can be used again and again throughout the day, such as help, more, stop, go and finished.

Building routines into VOIS

If you are using VOIS, one useful approach is to create categories around the routines that happen most often in your home.

You might have a category for Snack Time, another for Play, and another for Getting Dressed.

Inside each one, you can use real photographs of the things your child sees every day. Their own yoghurt, their own shoes, their own toys.

That makes the board feel connected to their world.

Start with one routine

You do not need to build everything at once.

Start with one routine where communication often becomes difficult. Add a few useful words and pictures. Use them yourself and let your child see how they fit into what is already happening.

AAC at home does not need to feel like therapy. It can simply become part of family life.

And when your child has a clearer way to say I want that, help me, again, stop or I'm finished, you spend less time guessing and more time communicating.

This article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for individual advice or assessment from a qualified speech-language therapist or healthcare professional.