Starter Core Board: 12 Core Words That Open Up Communication

Quick answer: A starter core board is a single page of about 12 high-use words, such as go, more, stop, and want, that a child can point to or tap to communicate. These words work in almost any situation, so a small set lets a child request, refuse, and comment right away, then grows as the child is ready.

When a child has few or no spoken words, families often want something they can put in front of the child today. A starter core board answers that need. Instead of pictures of specific toys or snacks, it offers a handful of flexible words that carry meaning across the whole day. Say a child taps “more.” That one word can mean more juice, more bubbles, more tickles, or more of a favorite song. That flexibility is the reason core words are the backbone of most communication systems.

What is a core board?

A core board is a page of high-frequency words arranged so a child can select them by pointing, looking, or tapping. Core words are the small set of words that make up most of what any of us says all day, regardless of the topic. Words like go, stop, more, help, and want show up constantly. A well-built aac core board puts those words in fixed spots so the child learns where each one lives, the same way a keyboard layout stays put.

This is one form of augmentative and alternative communication, the umbrella term the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association uses for tools and strategies that support or replace speech. AAC ranges from a paper board to a speech-generating device, and a core board is often the friendly first step.

Which 12 core words should a starter board include?

There is no single official list, but most starter boards pull from the same pool because these words open the most doors. A practical set of 12 might be:

• go and stop for directing action
• more and all done for continuing or ending
• want and not (or no) for requesting and refusing
• help for asking for support
• like for commenting on preferences
• you and my (or I) for talking about people
• that for pointing out things without needing a specific picture
• here for giving and locating

Notice how few of these are nouns. That is on purpose. Nouns are easy to picture but limited in use, while core words stretch across many moments. A child who can combine “want” and “that” can request almost anything by pointing, without waiting for the right picture to be added.

Why start with only 12 words?

A short list is easier for the child to learn and, just as important, easier for the adults around them to model with any reliability. Modeling means the grown-up points to the words on the board while talking, and consistency matters more than quantity. Twelve familiar spots are something a parent can actually remember and use during breakfast, bath time, and play.

The board is meant to grow. Once a child uses several of the starter words with purpose, more words and a larger grid can be added. Starting small is not a limit. It is a foundation that keeps early attempts from feeling overwhelming for everyone.

How do you teach the words on the board?

The main strategy is modeling, sometimes called aided language input. The adult touches the words on the board as they speak them, so the child sees language happening in the same place they will use it. If a parent says “let’s go” while tapping go, and later says “all done” while tapping all done, the child slowly maps the words to their spots.

A few habits help. Model without demanding a response, since pressure tends to shut communication down. Wait after modeling to give the child time to react. Follow the child’s interest instead of quizzing them. Understood.org offers family-friendly guidance on these early steps, and a speech-language pathologist can tailor the approach to a specific child. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also encourages families who are watching for communication milestones to act early rather than wait.

Between sessions with a clinician, families sometimes want a light way to keep language practice going at home. Voice-first, play-based tools such as the Little Words speech app give a child low-pressure daily speaking practice that can sit alongside a core board and support the same target words. Home practice like this is one option among many and works best as a supplement to therapy, not a replacement for it, so it should stay short, playful, and positive.

Do you need a device, or is paper enough?

Paper is enough to begin. A printed core board costs almost nothing, never runs out of battery, and can be laminated and clipped to a bag. Many families start there while they figure out what suits their child. Over time, some children move to an app on a tablet or to a dedicated speech-generating device that speaks the word aloud when tapped. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders describes this range of assistive communication options.

When a family does pursue a dedicated device, cost can be a real question. Speech-generating devices are sometimes covered as durable medical equipment through programs including Medicaid, and coverage depends on the plan and on documentation from an evaluation. A speech-language pathologist usually leads that assessment and helps match the tool to the child’s needs.

Will an AAC board slow down spoken language?

This worry is common and understandable, but the evidence points the other way. Professional summaries note that AAC does not prevent speech and frequently supports it. Giving a child a dependable way to communicate now reduces frustration and gives them a reason to keep engaging, which is exactly the environment in which spoken words tend to grow. A core board is not a signal that a family has given up on talking. It is a bridge that keeps communication moving while speech develops on its own timeline.

Key takeaways

• A starter core board is a single page of about 12 high-use words that work across most daily situations.
• Core words like go, stop, more, and want stretch further than picture-of-a-snack nouns, so a small set covers a lot.
• Teach the words by modeling: point to them while you speak, without pressuring the child to respond.
• Paper works to start, and some children later move to an app or a speech-generating device that may be covered through programs such as Medicaid.
• Using AAC does not hold back speech and often supports it, so a core board is a bridge rather than a stopping point.

Frequently asked questions

What is a core board?

It is a page of high-frequency words a child can point to or tap to communicate. Because the words work in many situations, a small set covers a wide range of daily needs.

Why start with only 12 words?

A small set is easier for the child to learn and easier for adults to model consistently. Twelve core words let a child request, refuse, comment, and direct, and the board can grow later.

Will using an AAC core board stop my child from talking?

No. Evidence summarized by professional groups shows AAC does not hold back speech and often supports it while spoken language keeps developing.

Do I need a special device to use a core board?

Not to begin. A printed paper board works right away. Some children later move to an app or a speech-generating device, and a speech-language pathologist can help choose.

How do I teach the words on the board?

Mainly by modeling. Adults point to the words while they speak, without demanding a response. Repeated, pressure-free modeling across daily routines is what helps the words stick.

See also: Connected Technology in Healthcare Systems

Sources

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) (asha.org)
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Assistive Devices for Communication (nidcd.nih.gov)
• Understood.org: AAC Basics for Families (understood.org)
• Medicaid.gov: Speech-Generating Devices and Durable Medical Equipment Coverage (medicaid.gov)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Developmental Milestones (cdc.gov)