Communication doesn’t take a vacation! Check out these activities to help you bring your child’s voice to the pool, the beach, and the backyard. Print the full download below!

Activity 1: Make a Splash Board🔗

A foam kickboard makes a perfect lite-tech “talker” for the water. It floats, it survives splashes, and it gives your child a way to say “more,” “splash,” and “my turn” when their device has to stay dry. Print the board from the downloadable PDF, attach it to a kickboard, and you’re ready to go!

What You’ll Need🔗

• A foam kickboard – flatter, rectangular shapes hold more buttons.
• The printed core board from page 2 – cut it into buttons or keep it whole!
• Clear packing tape, a laminator, or plastic page protector.
• Waterproof duct tape to attach it to the board.
• Scissors for cutting

How to Make It🔗

1. Print page 2 on regular paper. Print a second copy if you’d like to cut out the buttons and swap them around.
2. Laminate the sheet, sandwich it between two layers of clear packing tape, or slip it into a plastic page protector and tape the top shut.
3. Trim the corners round so they’re secure and won’t peel up in the water.
4. Tape it down to the flat underside of the kick board with waterproof tape all the way around the edge.
5. Take it to the water and start modeling: point to the words as you talk and show them how to use it!

Tips for the Pool and Beach🔗

• Model, don’t quiz. Tap words yourself as you play. No pressure to repeat or respond.
• Honor every press. If they point to “splash” say, “Splash!” and splash! Real responses build real communication.
• Follow their lead. Notice what they love–jumping, splashing–and talk about that.
• Keep it nearby. Float it on the steps or clip it to your bag so it’s always in reach.

Activity 2: Chalk Talk Driveway Game🔗

Turn your sidewalk or driveway into a giant version of your child’s talking page. Draw a handful of words from the QuickTalker Freestyle big enough to stand on. Then, hop to a word, and say it on the device together.

The chalk square and the button reinforce each other: your child connects the word they see on the ground to the word they press on the device. It’s communication, gross-motor play, and outdoor time all at once, and the chalk washes away with the hose when you’re done.

What You’ll Need🔗

• A box of sidewalk chalk
• Your child’s AAC device
• A flat patch of sidewalk, driveway, or patio
• A bucket of water or a hose for clean-up.

How to Make It🔗

1. Pick 6-8 words from your child’s device. Favorites like “Go,” “More,” “Stop,” Jump,” “Splash,” and “Again,” work great.
2. Draw each word in a big square large enough to stand inside. Match the chalk colors to the word categories on the device so the connection is clear.
3. Copy the symbol. Sketch the same picture that’s on the device next to each chalk word. Now, the ground matches the screen!
4. Hop and press. Jump to a word, find it together on the QuickTalker Freestyle, and press it. Then, do the action( “Jump!” then jump!”
5. Take turns. Let you child lead you to a square, say it together on the device, and follow what they choose.

Tips for Chalk Play🔗

• Every square is a button. Each time you land on a word, find and press it on the device too. The chalk and the device teach the same word two ways.
• Keep the squares spread out. Room to move between words turns talking into a game, with the device traveling along with you.
• Let them erase. Spraying or splashing the words away is its own reason to press “more,” “all done,” and “wet,” on the device.
• Redraw favorites. If one word gets pressed and stomped again and again, that’s a win. Draw it bigger tomorrow!

Activity 3: Frozen Treasure Hunt🔗

Freeze small waterproof toys in a block of ice, then let your child free them using warm water, salt, and a little patience. Every step is a reason to communicate: “open,” “help,” “more,” “cold,” “go,” and it’s the perfect way to cool off on a hot afternoon.

What You’ll Need🔗

• A few small waterproof toys or laminated picture cards
• Warm water in a cup, plus a spoon or dropper
• A towel
• The page 2 board nearby
• A plastic container or bowl to freeze water in
• A pinch of salt to melt ice fast (and it surprises everyone)

How to Make It🔗

1. Freeze the toys. Drop the toys into the container, fill it with water, and freeze it overnight.
2. Pop the ice block out into a tray or sink where the mess is okay.
3. Give your child the tools and wait.
4. Let them ask for more water or help on their device or core board before you jump in.
5. Model as it melts: “so cold!”, “I see it!”, “almost,” “keep going!”
6. Celebrate each rescued treasure, then refreeze and play again.

Tips for the Hunt🔗

• Use bigger toys for little ones. Skip tiny pieces with children who still mouth objects, and always stay close.
• Pause on purpose. A sealed cup or stuck toy is a natural reason to say open or help.
• Narrate the senses. “Cold,” “wet,” “melting” — describing words come alive here.
• Stretch it out. Slow melting means more turns and more chances to talk; there’s no rush.

Download the Full Pack🔗

Engage in the summer fun by printing out these directions and the core board below!