Tap AAC

Feelings thermometer printable and social talk boards

A feelings thermometer shows how big a feeling is, from calm to too big, and what helps at each size: deep breaths for a little upset, a break or headphones for very upset, get a grown-up when it’s too big. This page has a free printable feelings thermometer and four more boards for everyday social talk: playing together, the people in my life, taking care of me and staying safe.

Each board is one page, with a picture on almost every button. Print the PDF, or add the board to the Tap AAC app, where every button on the page says its words out loud.

Feelings thermometer

Five sizes of feeling, from calm through a little upset, upset and very upset to too big. Next to each size are the things that help at that size, so the person can point to the size first and then to what they need: a drink, squeeze, quiet corner, give me space. The bottom row is for after: I’m okay now, let’s talk, sorry, I’m ready.

Printable feelings thermometer: a colored scale from calm to too big. Feelings: calm, happy, worried, frustrated, mad, overwhelmed. What helps: deep breaths, a drink, squeeze, stretch, a break, quiet corner, headphones, big hug, give me space, get a grown-up, quiet please, take a walk. Calm again: I’m okay now, let’s talk, sorry, I’m ready.
Feelings thermometer (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

Feelings thermometer PDF US Letter, 1 page, 858 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (858 KB) · A4 PDF (858 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (858 KB) · A4 PDF (858 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 941 KB) · How to add a board

Playing together

Words for joining in (can I play?, let’s pretend), taking turns (my turn, wait my turn, let’s share) and being a good friend (are you okay?, good idea, high five), plus a row for when it’s not okay: stop it, that’s mine, I’ll tell a grown-up. Six games sit at the bottom, from tag to blocks.

Printable playing together board: join in, take turns, be a good friend, when it’s not okay (stop it, I don’t like that, that’s mine, leave me alone, I’ll tell a grown-up, help) and games: tag, hide and seek, catch, board game, blocks and ball.
Playing together (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

Playing together PDF US Letter, 1 page, 1,307 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,307 KB) · A4 PDF (1,307 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,309 KB) · A4 PDF (1,308 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 1,452 KB) · How to add a board

My people

Mom, Dad, brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, stepparents, and the people around the family: teacher, best friend, babysitter, neighbor, coach. Point to I want and a person, or ask where are they? and say I miss you. Glue a photo over any picture to make it your own family.

Printable my people board with I and want. Family: Mom, Dad, brother, sister, baby, Grandma, Grandpa, aunt, uncle, cousins, stepmom, stepdad. People I know: teacher, friend, best friend, classmate, babysitter, neighbor, coach, doctor, helper. Talk: where are they?, I miss you, I love you, visit, call them, play with me.
My people (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

My people PDF US Letter, 1 page, 1,268 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,268 KB) · A4 PDF (1,268 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,270 KB) · A4 PDF (1,270 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 1,398 KB) · How to add a board

Taking care of me

Blowing your nose in four numbered steps (get a tissue, blow, throw it away, wash hands), then pictures for the rest of self care: washing your face and hair, brushing your hair, cutting nails, deodorant, lotion, flossing, sunscreen and covering a cough. The talk row has I can do it next to help me.

Printable taking care of me board: blowing my nose in four steps, then wash my face, brush my hair, wash my hair, cut my nails, haircut, deodorant, lotion, floss my teeth, sunscreen, mirror, cover my cough, hand sanitizer, and help me, I can do it, stop, ouch, wait, all done.
Taking care of me (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

Taking care of me PDF US Letter, 1 page, 756 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (756 KB) · A4 PDF (756 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (756 KB) · A4 PDF (756 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 862 KB) · How to add a board

Staying safe

Four big cards to show when something is wrong (Help! Call 911, I’m lost, I don’t feel safe, Please call my family), the safe helpers to go to, and the safety rules to practice at home: stay with my grown-up, look both ways, seat belt on, don’t touch. Write the person’s name after my name is.

Printable staying safe board: help cards (Help! Call 911, I’m lost, I don’t feel safe, Please call my family), safe helpers (police officer, firefighter, teacher, nurse, store worker, my family) and safety rules (stop, stay with my grown-up, hold hands, cross at the crosswalk, look both ways, seat belt on, helmet on, don’t touch, hot, sharp, danger, my name is).
Staying safe (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

Staying safe PDF US Letter, 1 page, 788 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (788 KB) · A4 PDF (788 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (788 KB) · A4 PDF (788 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 894 KB) · How to add a board

The 5 boards at a glance

BoardButtonsPagesName in the Tap AAC app
Feelings thermometer311“My feelings thermometer”
Playing together301“Playing together”
My people321“My people”
Taking care of me221“Taking care of me”
Staying safe221“Staying safe”

Every board is also a ready-made page in the Tap AAC app, under the name in the last column: search the app’s Page library for it. Printed together, the 5 boards make a small communication book on this topic: keep them in a binder or folder, with the one used most at the front (tips for communication books).

How to use the feelings thermometer

  1. Teach it on a calm day. Go through the five sizes together and pick, with the person, what helps at each one. Cross out anything that doesn’t help them.
  2. Check in at easy moments: after school, before bed. “How big is it now?” Point to the size yourself first, so the person sees how it’s done.
  3. When the feeling is big, say less. Point to the size and to one thing that helps, and wait. This is not the time for questions.
  4. Afterwards, use the last row: I’m okay now, let’s talk. Talking about what happened works better once everyone is calm.

The thermometer is a way to talk about feelings, not a test or a treatment. If big feelings come often or keep someone from school or sleep, talk with the person’s doctor or therapist. For naming feelings in more detail, use the feelings board; for a list of calming choices, the calm down choices board.

Practicing the safety cards

Practice the staying safe cards when nothing is wrong: at home, then in a store with a grown-up close by. Show the person who the safe helpers are where you go, like the store worker at the counter. Keep one copy of the help cards in a bag or a coat pocket, with a family member’s contact written on the back.

All the boards are free to print and share (terms of use). The “Add to Tap AAC” files are Open Board Format (.obz) files: Tap AAC opens each one as the printed page, and other AAC apps that open .obz files show it as a grid of buttons. How to add a board to Tap AAC.

More free boards on related topics

See all free printable boards

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

These boards and guides 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, pictures and layout. The boards are free to print and share; please don’t sell them (terms of use). Questions about the boards? Email support@lmnoplabs.fun.