You know core words are important. You've read about modeling. But when it's 3 PM on a Tuesday and your kid is staring at you, you need something specific. What do we actually do right now?
This post gives you 15 concrete activities you can run at home, each designed to create natural opportunities for core word practice. No special materials required for most of them. No therapy degree needed. Just you, your child, their AAC device, and a willingness to play.
If you're still deciding which core words to start with, check out the 10 core words to teach first. And if you need a refresher on modeling technique, AAC modeling at home covers the basics.
How to Use These Activities
Before diving in, a few ground rules:
- Model on the AAC device yourself. Don't just say the words out loud. Press the buttons on the device as you say them. This is called aided language stimulation, and it's one of the most effective things you can do to support AAC learning (Kent-Walsh & McNaughton, 2005).
- Don't require your child to press buttons. These activities create opportunities. Your job is to model. Their job is to participate and have fun.
- Pick 2 to 3 target words per activity. Trying to target 10 words at once dilutes the learning. Focus on a few words and repeat them constantly.
- Keep sessions short. Five to ten minutes of focused practice beats 45 minutes of half-hearted effort. For more on how much modeling to aim for, see how much AAC modeling is enough.
Play-Based Activities
1. Bubbles
Target core words: more, pop, go, big, my turn
Materials: Bubble solution and a wand (or a bubble machine if you have one)
How to play: Blow a few bubbles, then stop. Wait. Model "more" on the device when your child reaches or looks at the bubbles. Blow more. Say "go!" as you blow. When bubbles land, model "pop" and pop them together. Alternate who blows by modeling "my turn" and "your turn."
Bubbles are one of the best first AAC activities because the cause-and-effect loop is so clear. Blow, pop, stop, more. The repetition is built in.
2. Ball Games
Target core words: my turn, your turn, throw, catch, go, ready
Materials: Any ball (soft ones work best indoors)
How to play: Sit across from your child and roll or throw the ball back and forth. Before each throw, model "ready" and "go" on the device. Alternate turns and model "my turn" and "your turn" each time. If the ball goes wild, that's an opportunity for "uh oh" or "where."
This activity naturally builds turn-taking skills alongside core vocabulary, which makes it especially useful for children who are still learning conversational back-and-forth.
3. Building Blocks
Target core words: up, on, more, big, fall, uh oh
Materials: Blocks, Duplos, Mega Bloks, or anything stackable
How to play: Build a tower together, one block at a time. Model "on" each time you place a block. Model "more" before adding each new block. Comment "big!" as the tower grows. Then knock it down and model "fall" or "uh oh." Rebuild and repeat.
The crash is the best part for most kids, which means they'll want to do it again and again. That repetition is your friend.
4. Hide and Seek (Object Version)
Target core words: where, find, here, look, in, under
Materials: A favorite toy and some hiding spots
How to play: Hide a toy while your child watches (or doesn't). Walk around together looking for it. Model "where" as you search. When you find it, model "here!" or "find!" Use prepositions as you search: "in the box?" "under the pillow?"
For younger children, hide the toy in obvious spots. The point isn't to challenge their problem-solving. It's to create repeated chances to use "where" and "here."
5. Pretend Cooking
Target core words: put, in, mix, more, hot, yummy, all done
Materials: Play kitchen, pots, spoons, or real kitchen items you don't mind getting played with
How to play: "Cook" together. Model "put in" as ingredients go into the pot. Model "mix" as you stir. Ask if you need "more." Pretend to taste it and model "yummy" or "yucky." When the meal is done, model "all done."
This bridges nicely into real cooking activities (see Activity #11 below).
Book-Based Activities
6. Predictable Books
Target core words: more, again, turn, what, that
Materials: Any book with a repeating phrase or pattern. Think Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Dear Zoo, We're Going on a Bear Hunt.
How to play: Read the book and pause before the repeating line. Model "more" or "again" when your child wants to continue. Model "turn" when flipping pages. Point to pictures and model "what" or "that." If your child has a favorite page, read it multiple times and model "again."
Predictable books are powerful because the repetition is already structured for you. You're not manufacturing opportunities. The book does it naturally.
7. Describing Pictures
Target core words: I see, big, little, that, look, want
Materials: Any picture book, magazine, or photo album
How to play: Flip through pictures slowly. Model "I see" and then name what you notice. Compare sizes: "big dog" and "little dog." Point to things and model "that." If your child points to something, model "I see that" or "look" on their device.
Photo albums of family members or recent outings work especially well because the content is personally meaningful.
Routine-Based Activities
8. Cooking Together (Real Version)
Target core words: put, in, mix, more, help, want, all done
Materials: Simple recipe ingredients. Think smoothies, trail mix, no-bake cookies, or anything that involves dumping, stirring, and tasting.
How to play: Give your child a job at each step. Model "put in" as they add ingredients. Model "mix" as they stir. Ask "more?" before adding additional ingredients. When they need help opening a container or holding something, model "help." When the food is done, model "all done."
For more ideas on weaving AAC into meals and cooking, see AAC during mealtimes.
9. Getting Dressed
Target core words: on, off, help, want, that, my turn
Materials: Regular clothing
How to play: As you dress your child, model "on" for each item that goes on. Model "off" when removing clothes (bath time is great for this). Offer choices and model "want" and "that" when they choose. If they're learning to dress independently, model "my turn" and "help" as needed.
Daily routines are goldmines for AAC practice because they happen every single day, automatically. You don't have to plan anything. The routine is the activity. For more on this approach, see daily routines for AAC practice.
10. Bath Time
Target core words: in, out, more, splash, wash, all done, cold, hot
Materials: Bath toys, cups, washcloths
How to play: Model "in" as toys go in the water and "out" as they come out. Model "splash" during water play. Pour water and model "more." When washing, model "wash" for each body part. At the end, model "all done."
Bath time combines sensory engagement with a natural routine, which means attention is usually high and the repetition is built in.
11. Clean-Up Time
Target core words: put, in, help, more, all done, where
Materials: Whatever needs to be cleaned up
How to play: Model "put in" as items go back in their containers. Model "help" when you assist. Ask "where?" when looking for the right spot. Count remaining items and model "more." When everything is away, celebrate "all done."
This one has the bonus of teaching a life skill while also practicing core words. Wins all around.
Music and Movement Activities
12. Freeze Dance
Target core words: go, stop, more, dance, fast, slow
Materials: Music (phone, speaker, anything)
How to play: Play music and dance. When the music stops, everyone freezes. Model "go" when the music starts and "stop" when it stops. Between rounds, model "more" to keep going. Comment on speed: "fast!" or "slow!"
The go/stop contrast is incredibly clear in this activity, which makes it one of the best ways to teach those two words. Kids also tend to love it, which means high engagement.
13. Action Songs
Target core words: up, down, in, out, go, stop, more
Materials: None
How to play: Sing songs with built-in actions. Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes gives you body parts. If You're Happy and You Know It gives you actions. The Wheels on the Bus gives you "up and down," "in and out," and "go." Model the core words on the device as you sing them. Pause mid-song and wait for your child to request "more."
If your child has a favorite song, sing it five times in a row. That's not too many. That's five rounds of modeling the same words in the same context, which is exactly what builds learning.
Art and Sensory Activities
14. Painting
Target core words: more, want, that, my turn, all done, big, little
Materials: Paint, paper, brushes (or fingers)
How to play: Offer paint colors one at a time. Model "want" and "that" when they choose. Use a small amount so they need to request "more." Take turns painting and model "my turn." Comment on their work: "big circle!" Talk about when they're finished with a color or the whole activity: "all done."
Controlling the materials is key here. If your child has unlimited paint access, there's no reason to communicate. Giving a little at a time creates natural communication opportunities without being frustrating.
15. Playdough
Target core words: make, cut, roll, more, want, help, big, little
Materials: Playdough and basic tools (rolling pin, cookie cutters, plastic knife)
How to play: Build things together. Model "make" as you create shapes. Model "cut" and "roll" as you use tools. Offer small pieces so they request "more." If they can't manage a tool, model "help." Compare creations: "big snake" and "little snake."
Playdough is endlessly flexible, which means you can use it to target almost any set of core words. It's one of those activities you can return to week after week and still find new modeling opportunities.
Putting It All Together
You don't need to do all 15 activities this week. Pick two or three that match your child's interests and your family's routine. Run them for a few days, focus on the same 2 to 3 target words, and see what happens.
The research is clear: children learn words they hear frequently in meaningful contexts (Romski & Sevcik, 1996). These activities give you the contexts. Your modeling gives them the frequency. Together, that's a solid recipe for progress.
Quick Reference: Activity to Core Words Map
| Activity | Best Core Words |
|---|---|
| Bubbles | more, pop, go, my turn |
| Ball Games | my turn, your turn, throw, go |
| Building Blocks | up, on, more, fall |
| Hide and Seek | where, find, here, look |
| Pretend Cooking | put, in, mix, more |
| Predictable Books | more, again, turn, what |
| Describing Pictures | I see, big, little, look |
| Real Cooking | put, in, mix, help |
| Getting Dressed | on, off, help, want |
| Bath Time | in, out, more, all done |
| Clean-Up Time | put, in, help, all done |
| Freeze Dance | go, stop, more, fast |
| Action Songs | up, down, in, out |
| Painting | more, want, that, my turn |
| Playdough | make, cut, roll, more |
If you're just getting started with AAC, our beginner's guide to core words will help you choose which words to target first. And for more on the modeling technique that makes all of these activities effective, read how to teach core words.
The most important thing is to keep it fun. If your child is engaged and enjoying themselves, the communication will follow.