October is AAC Awareness Month, and I want to share a simple but powerful idea: play with AAC.
In the early years and Key Stage 1, play isn’t just fun, it’s the foundation of learning. Ofsted and countless early years practitioners remind us that children need to explore, test, and role-play in order to develop social, emotional and communication skills. But what about the children who can’t rely on speech to join in?
This is where my Car Play Communication Board comes in. It’s a paper-based AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tool, designed to sit alongside toy cars and garages that so many classrooms and homes already have. By adding an AAC board into play, we give every child a voice, whatever their communication style.
The focus here is on core words – simple, flexible vocabulary such as go, stop, push, more, crash, big, small, in, on, fast, slow. These are the words that drive interaction, because they can be used across many contexts, not just cars. Importantly, you won’t see the word why on this board. In play, “why” tends to lead adults down the path of interrogation rather than connection. Children don’t need an interviewer; they need a play partner who comments, models and joins in.
That’s the key: be a commentator, not an interviewer. Use AAC to model language, to share excitement, to say “again!” when the car zooms down the ramp or “oh no!” when it crashes. Keep it simple, keep it repetitive, and don’t expect the child to copy you. Just let them see how AAC works in real life play.
When schools talk about “continuous provision,” they mean creating environments where children can explore and extend learning independently. AAC belongs in this provision too. Embedding tools like the Car Play Board isn’t about adding another intervention or timetable slot. It’s about weaving communication support into the everyday fabric of play – at home, in nurseries, in classrooms.
Play, model, comment – and use AAC. That way, every child can join the game, be heard, and feel part of the action.
Play is where communication grows — our training shows you how to weave AAC into everyday life at home and in school.
