Tap AAC

Core word “not”: fixing silly mistakes and saying “not that one”

Not changes what another word means: not that, not now, not hot, not mine. It lets a person disagree, correct you and say what something isn’t, in more ways than a plain no. This week, point to not whenever you use it, and make a few silly mistakes for the person to fix.

Download the free printable (PDF) US Letter, 1 page, 412 KB

Printing on A4 paper? Download the A4 PDF (1 page, 412 KB).

Core word of the week 8 printable for “not”: a big picture card, phrases like not that and not now, six ideas (silly play, snack, dressing, bath, car, school), a mini board with not, that, want, like, hot, now, and a note for home with a box for each day.
The printable: the word, ideas for the week, a mini board to cut out and a note for home.

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 195 KB) · How to add a board

  • Week 8 of 32
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  • One page
Picture card for the core word not: a red circle with a line through it

No and not: why both belong on the board

No answers a question. Not goes inside a message: not that one, not want, not like. That makes it a building block for longer sentences.

It is also a way to correct people, and correcting a grown-up who got it wrong is a lot of fun. Not is a little word with no easy picture, so it is learned by seeing it used, many times, in play and in real moments.

Socks on hands and wrong puzzle pieces: mistakes that need not

Silly play

  • Put a sock on your hand: “A hat? Not a hat!”
  • Give a toy cow a dog’s bark: “Woof? Not a dog. Moo!”
  • Try the wrong puzzle piece: “Not that one. This one.”

At snack

  • Offer the wrong thing on purpose: “Crackers? Not crackers? Apple!”
  • Food that has cooled down: “Not hot now. You can eat it.”

Getting dressed

  • “Not this shirt? Okay, that one.”

In the bath

  • Feel the water: “Not hot. Not cold. Just right.”

In the car

  • “Are we home? Not yet.”

At school

  • “Not my turn. Your turn.”
  • Sorting games: “Red? Not red. Blue!”

Every day

  • When the person pushes something away, say it for them: “Not that. Not want.”
  • Name feelings: “You’re not happy. You’re mad.”
What it can look like

Getting dressed. Mom holds up the blue shirt. Ella shakes her head. Mom points to not and that on the mini board: “Not that one?” She holds up the striped one, and Ella smiles. Later, Mom puts Ella’s sock on Ella’s hand and wiggles it. Ella laughs and reaches for the board: not! “Not on your hand! Not a mitten!”

Not that, not now, not like

Put not in front of words from earlier weeks to flip their meaning.

If no and not get mixed up, or not upsets them

If they mix up no and not

It doesn’t matter at first. Say it back the full way: “Not that one. Okay.”

If not upsets them

Start with play. Silly mistakes make not a fun word before it is a serious one.

Note for home: make a silly mistake and let them fix it

This week we are learning not. Point to not when you use it: “Not that one.” “Not hot now.” Make a few silly mistakes on purpose, like a sock on your hand, and let your child fix them with not. When they push something away, say it for them: “Not that.”

The same note is printed at the bottom of the week’s page, with a box to tick for each day. For families who are new to modeling, send the one-page AAC modeling at home handout with it, and keep using the word cards from earlier weeks.

More core word of the week plans

All core word printables and guides

Need a different board? Make your own with the free AAC board maker.

These cards, handouts and plans are general information, not therapy or medical advice, and they don’t replace a speech therapist. A speech therapist who knows the person can help choose the right words and the right way to practice. Everything here is free to print and share; please don’t sell it (terms of use). Questions? Email support@lmnoplabs.fun.