Summer break is full of fun and it’s a great time to keep building communication skills. With a little planning, your child’s augmentative and alternative communication device (AAC) can be part of every summer moment, from playtime with bubbles to mealtime and everywhere between.

Read on for some great ideas and scroll down to download the free resources!

Weekly Summer Activities🔗

Each week of summer vacation, focus on a different aspect of your daily routine. Make different aspects of your day special by showing where target words and phrases are on the device.

Make sure you customize the speech app with buttons relevant to each week’s theme. You can pick any amount of target words or phrases to use. Show your child how to navigate to the buttons to talk about different topics.

Quick Tips

• Use the device together: Show your child where words are on the device (modeling) so your child sees AAC as part of everyday life.
• Start with words that work everywhere: Focus on words used in many contexts (core words) while also using special words that excite and motivate your child (fringe words).
• Make it personal and fun: Customize the speech app around your child’s interests. Add favorite phrases, silly sounds, or inside jokes to spark curiosity and joy.
• Celebrate every attempt: All types of communication count! Smiles, gestures, and button presses are all worth celebrating.
• Stay consistent: Using the device regularly helps your child feel comfortable, confident, and ready to communicate.  

Week 1: Play Time🔗

Let your child lead activities and show them how to communicate and make choices during playtime!

• Words to Target: play, more, fun, turn, stop, go, help, like.
• Phrases to Use: “Do it again,” “Let’s go!” “This is fun!”

Week 2: Mealtime🔗

Bring the QuickTalker Freestyle to the table! Let your child help cook, choose foods, and share opinions with their device.

• Words to Target: yummy, yucky, hot, cold, eat, drink, all done, more.
• Phrases to Use: “I like it.” “I don’t like.” “I’m hungry.”

Week 3: Transitions🔗

Transitions can be tricky, but AAC gives your child the language to express what they need when things change.

• Words to Target: all done, finished, stop, go, goodbye, hello, in, out.
• Phrases to use: “I’m all done.” “What’s next?” “Let’s go!” “Come on.” “See you later.”

This is only three out of eight weeks available for your summer vacation. Download the resource and get all eight!

Summertime Activities With AAC🔗

Summer offers lots of unique experiences for kids. Swimming pools, playgrounds, and more are great places to bring your child’s AAC device! Here are a few activities to get kids excited to communicate.

Play With Bubbles🔗

Grab some bubbles and head outside! Model descriptive words and turn-taking.

• Words to Target: bubbles, blow, pop, big/small, more
• Phrases to Use: “It’s my turn/your turn.” “More bubbles!” “Pop the bubbles.”

Go to the Playground🔗

The playground is full of opportunities to request, comment, and ask for help!

• Words to Target: play, swing, slide, more, up/down, fun
• Phrases to Use: “I want to swing/slide.” “I want to go fast/slow.” “This is fun!”

Water Sensory Table🔗

Grab any plastic bin or tub and fill it with water and toys. Use the device to take actions, explore textures, and have fun!

• Words to Target: water, wet, splash, boat, ball, “uh oh!”
• Phrases to Use: “The water is cold.” “I can splash.” “The boat is in the water.”

Play With Chalk🔗

Create art together and practice talking about colors, asking to share, and making requests.

• Words to Target: chalk, draw, color, red, blue, green, yellow
• Phrases to Use: “The _____ is red.” “Draw a ____.” “I want [color].”

Enjoy a Summer of Conversations🔗

Relax this summer knowing that your child is growing and learning. With consistency and encouragement, your child will become a confident communicator!

Print These Activities🔗

Save two free resources to use throughout the summer. Print them out and hang them somewhere you can see to remember when to use them.