Tap AAC

Toy and play communication boards: games, music and books

A toy communication board lets a child who doesn’t speak, or doesn’t speak much, choose what to play and play along: I want blocks, my turn, build it, knock it down. Here are five free play boards to print: toys, things that go, ball games, making music and reading together.

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

Toys

Eighteen toys, from ball and blocks to a play kitchen, doctor kit and building bricks, and twelve words for playing together: my turn, your turn, let’s share, pretend, it’s broken, fix it.

Printable toy communication board with I and want. Toys: ball, blocks, car, train, doll, teddy bear, puzzle, bubbles, robot, dinosaur, truck, puppet, play kitchen, doctor kit, tools, building bricks, sand, balloon. Play together: my turn, your turn, again, more, help, all done, let’s share, build it, knock it down, pretend, it’s broken, fix it.
Toys (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

Toys PDF US Letter, 1 page, 1,208 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,208 KB) · A4 PDF (1,208 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,209 KB) · A4 PDF (1,210 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 1,334 KB) · How to add a board

Things that go

Eighteen vehicles, from school bus and fire truck to digger, helicopter and rocket, and the words for what they do: go, stop, fast, slow, up, down, crash and beep beep. For toy cars on the floor, books about trucks, or watching the road from the window.

Printable things that go board with I and see. Vehicles: car, school bus, bus, truck, train, airplane, boat, bike, motorcycle, fire truck, police car, ambulance, tractor, helicopter, digger, dump truck, garbage truck, rocket. What it does: go, stop, fast, slow, up, down, beep beep, crash, ride, look, wheels, road.
Things that go (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

Things that go PDF US Letter, 1 page, 1,086 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,086 KB) · A4 PDF (1,086 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,087 KB) · A4 PDF (1,087 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 1,198 KB) · How to add a board

Ball games

Six ball games, twelve actions (kick, throw, catch, pass it, score) and the talk of a game: my turn, we won!, we lost, good game, and I got hurt and a break for when it’s needed.

Printable ball games board. Balls: soccer, basketball, baseball, football, tennis, volleyball. Play: kick, throw, catch, hit, run, shoot, pass it, bounce, score, jump, stretch, cheer. Talk: my turn, your turn, again, wait, we won!, we lost, high five, good game, I got hurt, a break, a drink, all done.
Ball games (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

Ball games PDF US Letter, 1 page, 1,159 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,159 KB) · A4 PDF (1,159 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,159 KB) · A4 PDF (1,161 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 1,286 KB) · How to add a board

Making music

Twelve instruments from drum and guitar to tambourine and shaker, things to do (sing, dance, clap, stomp, wiggle) and how to play: loud, quiet, fast, slow, again.

Printable making music board. Instruments: drum, guitar, piano, keyboard, violin, xylophone, tambourine, bell, cymbals, whistle, shaker, microphone. Do: sing, dance, clap, stomp, shake, hum, march, spin, wiggle, play, listen, a song. How: loud, quiet, fast, slow, again, all done.
Making music (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

Making music PDF US Letter, 1 page, 1,027 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,027 KB) · A4 PDF (1,027 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,027 KB) · A4 PDF (1,029 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 1,140 KB) · How to add a board

Reading together

Choose a book, then run the reading: read to me, turn the page, read it again, the end. The bottom rows are for talking about the story: who is it?, what happens next?, that’s funny, sad, surprised.

Printable reading together board. Books: book, a story, comics, magazine, audiobook, my favorite. Read: read to me, I’ll read, turn the page, next page, read it again, point to it, look, my turn, wait, help, the end, all done. Talk about the story: what’s that?, who is it?, where is it?, what happens next?, I like it, I don’t like it, that’s funny, happy, sad, scary, surprised, wow.
Reading together (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

Reading together PDF US Letter, 1 page, 1,197 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,197 KB) · A4 PDF (1,197 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,197 KB) · A4 PDF (1,199 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 1,331 KB) · How to add a board

The 5 boards at a glance

BoardButtonsPagesName in the Tap AAC app
Toys321“Toys”
Things that go321“Things that go”
Ball games301“Ball games”
Making music301“Making music”
Reading together301“Reading together”

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 play boards

  1. Put the board next to the toys, not across the room: on the floor by the blocks, taped to the toy shelf, clipped to the music basket.
  2. Play first, then talk. Join the game, and point to the words as you say them: “my turn … knock it down!” The child sees the words being used, not tested.
  3. Leave gaps. Stop before the fun part (“Ready, set …”) and wait. A pointed go or again keeps the game going.
  4. Let the child lead. If they point to train while you are building, follow the train.

For outdoor play there is the playground communication board, and for music class, the song choice board with 12 songs to choose from.

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.