Communication should help someone be understood.

Communication doesn’t have to look a certain way to matter. A person may communicate through words, signs, gestures, pictures, AAC, facial expressions, body movements, or a combination of many different forms.

Communication Essentials: Early Childhood was designed to give families, educators, and professionals practical visual supports they can use alongside the communication that is already happening.

Rather than focusing only on requesting preferred things, the collection includes messages that help young children communicate wants and needs, make choices, set boundaries, ask for help, share discomfort, and participate in everyday routines.

What's included

This 52-page printable collection includes:

• 108 communication cards across six character options

• 18 essential messages, including More, All Done, Break, I Need Space, Something Else, Yes, Stop, No, Wait, Eat, Drink, Bathroom, Hurt, Don’t Feel Good, I Don’t Know, I Don’t Want This, Look / I Want to Show You, and Help

• Quick Communication Boards for each character

• 2-, 3-, and 4-choice boards

• First/Then visual support

• 35 routine and activity cards

• Photo, write-in, blank, and mixed customizable cards

• A Communication Partner Guide

• A Printing & Setup Guide

Start with what is useful.

You don't need to print or introduce everything at once.

Choose the messages and supports that are meaningful for the person you're supporting right now. Keep them available, model their use naturally, give the person time to communicate, and continue to recognize the communication they already use.

The visuals are there to make communication easier—not harder.

Designed for real life.

Communication Essentials can be used across home, school, therapy, childcare, and community settings. Individual communication cards are designed at 2.5 × 2.5 inches, making them large enough for young children to see, point to, pick up, and use.

The collection is provided as a digital PDF download and can be printed as needed according to the included license.

Every message matters.