The best AAC practice doesn't happen during therapy. It happens during the boring, repetitive parts of your day that you don't think twice about.
Routines are powerful because they're predictable. Your child already knows what comes next, which means they can focus on the language instead of trying to figure out the situation. And because routines happen every day, you get repeated practice without having to plan anything.
Here are five routines that work well for AAC modeling, with specific words and phrases to try in each one.
1. Meals and Snacks
This is the easiest routine to start with because it happens multiple times a day and your child is already motivated. They want the food. That motivation is your leverage. (For a deeper dive, see our full guide on AAC during mealtimes.)
Words to model:
- want ("You want banana?")
- more ("More milk? More.")
- all done ("All done eating? All done.")
- help ("Help open? Help.")
- yummy / yuck (great for opinions and engagement)
How it works:
Give your child a small portion instead of a full serving. When they finish and look at you or reach for more, model "more" on the device before giving seconds. This creates a natural communication loop: they want something, you model the word, they get the thing.
Don't withhold food as a bribe. The goal isn't to make them press the button before they can eat. The goal is to show them what the word looks like on the device while the concept is fresh in their mind.
2. Getting Dressed
Getting dressed has a built-in structure: there's a clear sequence, it involves choices, and it happens every morning.
Words to model:
- on / off ("Shirt on. Socks on.")
- help ("Help with zipper? Help.")
- want ("Want the blue shirt?")
- more ("More, one more sock.")
- all done ("All done getting dressed!")
How it works:
Hold up two shirt options and model "want" as you ask which one. When you pull a shirt over their head, model "on." If they struggle with a button, model "help" before you step in.
This routine is especially good for building the habit of offering choices. Even if your child can't express a preference yet, seeing you model the choice-making process teaches them that communication leads to control over their world.
3. Bath Time
Bath time is contained (your child isn't running away), multisensory, and usually fun. That makes it ideal for AAC practice.
Words to model:
- more ("More water? More bubbles?")
- stop / go ("Water go! Water stop.")
- in / out ("Duck in the water. Duck out.")
- wash ("Wash hands. Wash feet.")
- all done ("All done bath.")
How it works:
Use the faucet as a communication opportunity. Turn the water on and model "go." Turn it off and model "stop." Hand them a cup, let them pour, and model "more water" when they want a refill.
Bath toys are useful too. Put a rubber duck in the water and model "in." Take it out and model "out." These simple spatial concepts come up constantly in everyday language, and bath time makes them concrete.
4. Play Time
Play is where children are most engaged, which makes it a great time to model. The trick is to follow your child's lead instead of directing the play.
Words to model (varies by activity):
For bubbles:
- more, pop, big, go, my turn
For cars/trains:
- go, stop, fast, crash, more
For building blocks:
- up, on, more, fall down, help
For swinging:
- go, stop, more, high, push
How it works:
Join whatever your child is already doing. If they're pushing a car, push one alongside them and model "go" and "fast." If they're stacking blocks, model "up, up, up" and then "fall down!" when the tower crashes.
The key is to narrate what's happening using the AAC device, not to redirect their play into a language lesson.
5. Bedtime Routine
Bedtime is slow, sequential, and consistent. Your child knows exactly what comes next, which frees up mental energy for language.
Words to model:
- want ("Want this book?")
- more ("More stories? One more.")
- all done ("All done. Night night.")
- on / off ("Lights off.")
- like ("You like that page?")
How it works:
During story time, let your child pick the book by modeling "want" as you hold up options. As you read, pause on pages and model comments: "look," "funny," "more." When the last book is done, model "all done" and "night night."
Bedtime is also a natural place for "all done" to carry real meaning. The routine ends, the lights go off, the day is over. That concrete association helps the word stick.
Putting It All Together
You don't need to model during all five routines at once. Pick one. Do it for a week. Then add another.
Here's a sample plan for your first month:
| Week | Routine | Focus words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snack time | more, want |
| 2 | Snack time + bath | more, want, stop, go |
| 3 | Add getting dressed | more, want, stop, go, help, on |
| 4 | Add play time | all of the above + context words |
By the end of month one, you'll have four routines where AAC modeling is just part of what you do. It won't feel like extra work anymore. It'll just feel like talking to your child.
Tips for Staying Consistent
Keep the device accessible. If the tablet is in a drawer, you won't grab it during snack time. Leave it on the kitchen counter, on the bathroom shelf, in the play area. It should be as easy to reach as a cup of water.
Don't worry about being perfect. You'll forget to model. You'll tap the wrong symbol. You'll have days where you barely use the device at all. That's fine. Consistency over weeks matters more than perfection on any single day. This is especially true during school breaks, when routines disappear and AAC practice can quietly stop. If summer break is coming up, read our guide on preventing AAC regression over summer before the school year ends.
Tell other caregivers. Grandparents, babysitters, daycare teachers. The more people modeling, the more input your child gets. Show them the basics: "Just tap 'more' when you're giving him seconds." If you need help with that conversation, see our post on explaining AAC to family members.
Track what works, not what doesn't. If your child lights up during bath time AAC but ignores it during meals, lean into bath time. Meet them where their interest is.
Start Today
Open SabiKo, pick one routine from this list, and model two words during it today. That's your whole plan. Do it again tomorrow. The rest will build from there.
Download SabiKo free and build AAC into your daily routine.