Playground communication board: free printable

A playground communication board gives a child words for play: asking someone to join in, taking turns, choosing the swing or the slide, and saying fast, again or stop. This free board has 30 picture words in three groups, ready to laminate and take outside.

Download the free PDF US Letter, 1 page, 1,172 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,172 KB) · A4 PDF (1,172 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,172 KB) · A4 PDF (1,174 KB)

Printable playground communication board. Play together: play with me, my turn, your turn, come here, wait, look, help, stop, go, again, more and all done. Things to do: swing, slide, climb, sandbox, ball, bubbles, chalk, bike, seesaw, monkey bars, tag and hide. How is it: fast, slow, up, down, uh oh and it hurts. — The playground board: 30 words for playing together.

Edit this board in the free board maker: change the words and pictures, then print.

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How to use a playground board

Bring it along. Laminated, with a hole punched in a corner, it can clip to a stroller, a bag or a belt loop.
Join the play, then point. Push the swing and point to fast or again: “Again? Again!”
Pause the fun. Stop the swing and wait. A pause gives a reason to point to more or go.
Show turn-taking. Point to my turn and your turn as you take turns on the slide.
Bring other children in. Show a friend how the board works. They can point to words too.

Words for playing with friends

The top group is about people, not places: play with me, come here, my turn, your turn, look. These are the words that start play with other children. Try them at home first with a brother, a sister or a parent: “Play with me?” and a race to the slide.

What it can look like

At the park, Eli is waiting at the bottom of the slide ladder while another child takes ages at the top. His aunt points to wait, then my turn. Eli waits. When the ladder is clear, he points to my turn himself and climbs up. At the bottom, he points to again.

Words on this board

Play together

play with me
my turn
your turn
come here
wait
look
help
stop
go
again
more
all done

Things to do

swing
slide
climb
sandbox
ball
bubbles
chalk
bike
seesaw
monkey bars
tag
hide

How is it?

fast
slow
up
down
uh oh
it hurts

Taking it outside

Print on card stock and laminate it, or it won’t survive the first sandbox.
Cut the board apart along the group labels if three smaller cards are easier to carry.
Teachers: keep a copy in the recess bag, and show the playground staff how it works.
It hurts has a red border so it’s easy to find. Answer it right away, every time. The where does it hurt board can help find out where.

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.