Thinkabara💬 AAC communication boards (printable & talking)
A core words board and 6 topic boards with color-coded pictures. Tap a picture to hear it and build a sentence, or print a board, cut-out cards and a First / Then board.
Words on each board
⭐ Core words: I, you, he, she, we, it, my, that, want, go, like, help, stop, eat, drink, play, look, open, turn, make, get, put, feel, come, more, big, little, good, bad, hot, cold, fast, all done, different, yes, no, please, thank you, hi, bye, what, where, who, when, in, on, up, down, not, now, again, here.
🍎 Snack & meal time: I, want, eat, drink, more, all done, yummy, yucky, hot, cold, water, milk, juice, apple, banana, grapes, crackers, cheese, sandwich, pizza, cereal, yogurt, cookie, carrot, spoon, cup, please, thank you, no, yes.
😊 Feelings: I, I feel, happy, sad, mad, scared, tired, sick, hurt, excited, silly, calm, frustrated, worried, bored, shy, proud, lonely, need a break, hug, help, quiet, yes, no.
🧸 Play time: I, you, my turn, your turn, play, want, go, stop, again, help, throw, build, ball, blocks, bubbles, puzzle, car, doll, book, music, swing, crayons, tablet, outside, fun, all done.
🏫 School & class: I, teacher, friend, need, help, go, read, write, draw, listen, wait, finished, bathroom, water, break, pencil, paper, scissors, glue, backpack, lunch, recess, bus, computer, what, where, yes, no, I don't know.
🩹 My body — what hurts?: I, my, hurts, feel sick, itchy, need, head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, throat, tummy, arm, hand, leg, foot, back, bandage, doctor, medicine, a little, a lot, hot, cold, yes, no.
🪥 Daily routine: I, wake up, get dressed, brush teeth, wash hands, bath, potty, eat, sleep, read, go, shoes, jacket, pajamas, bed, blanket, light, car, school, home, park, first, then, now, later, yes, no.
How to use the boards
- Model: point to words while you say them in everyday moments. Children learn AAC the way they learn speech — by seeing it used.
- Keep it close: put the board on the fridge, the table and in the car.
- Respond: treat every touch as communication, even if it seems random at first.
- Color code: yellow = people, green = actions, blue = describing, orange = things, pink = social, purple = questions, gray = little words.
Frequently asked questions
What is an AAC board?
AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication. A communication board is a grid of pictures and words that a person points to in order to talk. It can support or replace speech for children who are not yet speaking, are minimally verbal, or have conditions such as autism, apraxia or cerebral palsy.
What are core words?
Core words are the small set of words people use most often in every situation — I, want, go, more, stop, help, not, that. Because they work everywhere, a core word board lets a child say many different things with the same pictures.
Will using an AAC board stop my child from talking?
No. Research shows AAC does not stop children from developing speech, and it often supports it. Work with a speech-language pathologist to choose the right system (paper board, app or device) for your child.
How do I teach a child to use a communication board?
Model, model, model: point to the pictures yourself while you talk ("Let's GO OUTSIDE"), without asking the child to copy. Keep the board available all day, respond to every touch, and add words slowly.
Are these AAC boards free to print?
Yes. Every board prints on one US Letter page, plus cut-out picture cards and a First / Then board. The pictures are emoji, so they print in color on any printer.
Related pages
All speech therapy activitiesSocial language & feelingsPractice sheets