10-Minute Speech Practice That Doesn't Require Sitting Still

Last updated 2026-07-10

What is core vocabulary and why does it matter for nonverbal toddlers?

Core vocabulary is the small set of words that show up most often across everyday talk, no matter the topic or setting. Researchers at Prentke Romich Company and later teams at the University of Nebraska and elsewhere have counted the actual words people say across hundreds of hours of natural speech. The finding holds up across studies: roughly 36 words account for about 80% of what we say, and the top 100 to 200 words cover close to 90% ^[1].

These are not nouns like "cup" or "dog." They are mostly verbs, prepositions, pronouns, and describing words: more, go, stop, help, want, like, different, good, bad, get, make, do, here, that, you, I, mine, not. Nouns are easier to teach because you can point at an object. They are also the least flexible part of language. A child who only has nouns can label things. A child who has core words can request, protest, comment, and start a conversation.

For a nonverbal toddler, meaning a child who is not yet using speech consistently to communicate, core vocabulary gives the most communicative power per word learned. That is the whole point.

Which core vocabulary words should you teach first?

Start with 10 to 15 core words that show up in nearly every daily routine. That is where most speech-language pathologists (SLPs) working with nonverbal or minimally verbal toddlers begin. The exact list shifts a little by curriculum, but the words below appear on almost every core vocabulary list published by major AAC researchers and organizations ^[1][2].

ASHA (the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) says that for children using augmentative and alternative communication, core words should be the base of any vocabulary system ^[2]. They let a child combine meaning: "more go" at the swings, "help me" when a toy is stuck, "I want that."

Aided language stimulation research makes the same point. The words that come up most in natural language are the ones that pay back the most. Nouns add content. Core words carry the grammar and the intent.

Pick 5 words from the table that match your child's day right now. If mornings are chaos, "more," "help," "go," "stop," and "no" cover almost everything. Expand from there.

How many words does a nonverbal toddler need before speech emerges?

Nobody can hand you a word count that guarantees speech will follow, and anyone who does is selling you something. What the research shows is that for children using AAC, a base of about 30 to 40 core words understood receptively tends to come before expressive use ^[3]. AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) milestones note that by 12 months most children produce 1 to 3 words, and by 24 months around 50 words plus two-word combinations ^[4].

A child who is nonverbal at 24 months is off that trajectory, which is exactly why the core vocabulary approach exists as another path. The goal is not to delay speech. It is to give the child a working way to communicate right now while the speech system keeps developing.

For children with autism spectrum disorder, childhood apraxia of speech, or other conditions affecting speech motor planning, research suggests AAC does not lower the odds of speech developing and may support it by cutting communication frustration ^[3][5]. The old fear that "a device will make them lazy about talking" has no evidence behind it.

What is the difference between core vocabulary and fringe vocabulary?

Fringe vocabulary is everything that is not core: specific nouns, proper names, topic-specific words, character names from a favorite show. These matter too. They add meaning and make the system personal. But they are low frequency. A child who loves trains will use "Thomas" and "track" in train play and never need those words at the dinner table or the grocery store.

Core vocabulary goes everywhere. "More" works at the dinner table, at the park, in the bath, and during screen time. That portability is why SLPs put it first.

A sensible balance for a nonverbal toddler's AAC system or picture board: 70 to 80% core words, 20 to 30% personally meaningful fringe words ^[2]. The fringe words tend to be motivating (characters, foods, specific toys), which helps engagement. Make the system all fringe and the child can only communicate in a handful of situations.

How do you model core vocabulary words at home without a therapist?

Aided language stimulation (ALS) is the technique, and it costs nothing but attention. You model the target words on whatever communication system the child uses (a picture board, a speech-generating device, or simple gestures or signs) while you say the word out loud. You do it steadily, you do not demand the child copy you, and you do not stop the activity to drill.

The steps are simple in principle:

1. Choose 2 to 3 core words to focus on for one to two weeks. Do not try to teach everything at once. 2. Print a small card or board with those words, or program them prominently on the child's AAC device. 3. During every natural routine (meals, bath, play, transitions), point to and say the word yourself the moment it fits. "More?" as you offer another bite. "Go!" as you push the swing. "Stop" when the game pauses. 4. Wait. Give the child 5 to 10 seconds to respond. Resist filling the silence. 5. Accept any approximation: a point, a reach toward the board, a vocalization, an eye gaze at the symbol. Respond as if it were the word.

The research behind this, sometimes called "modeling without prompting" or "natural aided language," shows children learn core words faster when caregivers model across the whole day instead of in structured drills ^[6]. You do not need a clinic. You need repetition in real moments.

If your child uses no communication system yet, a single laminated picture card that says "more" on the table at mealtime is a start. Make the word visible, reachable, and used by you first.

What AAC tools work best for teaching core vocabulary?

The options run from free to several thousand dollars, and the research does not show that pricey high-tech devices beat low-tech boards for early learners. What matters more: whether the system is always within reach and whether caregivers actually use it ^[2][6].

Low-tech options:

• Core word boards (printed at home, laminated): ARASAAC and the PrAACtical AAC website have free downloadable core word boards in multiple symbol sets.
• Communication books organized by core and fringe categories.
• Single-message voice output devices (a recorded button that says "more" or "help") for children just starting out.

High-tech options:

• Dedicated speech-generating devices (SGDs) like PRC-Saltillo's Accent or Tobii Dynavox products. These can cost $6,000 to $12,000 out of pocket, but Medicaid and many private insurance plans often cover them for children with a documented communication disorder ^[7].
• Apps on an iPad: Proloquo2Go, TouchChat, LAMP Words for Life, and Snap Core First are the ones SLPs use most. App costs range from $0 to roughly $300 ^[8].

The Little Words app is built specifically for early core vocabulary modeling, with parent-friendly setup and activities based on the daily routines above. It is a low-barrier place to start while you wait for early intervention services or an SLP evaluation.

For a closer look at devices, the AAC devices guide covers costs, insurance, and how to trial before buying.

One practical note: whatever you pick, keep the symbols and words consistent across home, daycare, and any therapy setting. Switching systems every few months resets the learning.

How does core vocabulary fit into early intervention services?

In the United States, children under age 3 with developmental delays qualify for early intervention services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C. The law requires services be provided "to the maximum extent appropriate" in the child's natural environment, meaning your home or childcare setting, not a clinic ^[9].

An early intervention SLP usually runs a communication evaluation and, if AAC fits, can provide a core vocabulary board or help with device trials as part of the child's Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Part C services are free or on a sliding scale depending on your state.

For children 3 and older, IDEA Part B covers services through the public school system. The plan shifts from IFSP to Individualized Education Program (IEP).

If you are on a waitlist (3 to 6 month waits are common in many states), start modeling core vocabulary at home today. The window you have right now matters. Studies on early AAC intervention consistently find that earlier exposure to a full vocabulary system produces better communication outcomes ^[3][5]. You do not need a professional to hand you a board before you begin.

Does teaching AAC or sign language delay speech development?

This is the question almost every parent asks. The short answer is no, it does not delay speech, and there is decent evidence it may help.

A 2006 review by Millar, Light, and Schlosser in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology looked at studies of children who received AAC intervention. It found AAC did not suppress natural speech development, and most participants showed increases in speech production ^[3]. The National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities has also stated plainly that withholding AAC while waiting for speech to emerge is not a supported practice.

The fear makes intuitive sense: if a child can get needs met without speaking, why speak? But communication and speech are different skills. A child who uses a picture board to say "more" is still learning to request, to take turns, to link a symbol to a meaning. Those are the mental foundations of language, not a substitute for speech.

Where apraxia of speech is in play, the motor planning demands of speaking are much higher than for peers. AAC lets those children communicate at a level that matches what they understand while the speech motor system catches up.

How do you know if a nonverbal toddler is making progress with core vocabulary?

Progress is not always a new spoken word. For many nonverbal toddlers, early progress looks like this:

• Reaching toward or looking at the picture board to ask for something (instead of crying or pulling)
• Touching a core word symbol consistently for one purpose, like always touching "more" for a favorite food
• More eye contact and turn-taking during communication attempts
• Fewer frustration meltdowns at moments where communication used to be impossible
• Any new vocalization paired with a communication attempt, even if it does not sound like the target word

SLPs track a mix of things: the number of different words used (lexical diversity), how often intentional communication acts happen per minute, and whether two-symbol combinations start showing up ^[2][10].

A child who goes from zero intentional communication acts in a 30-minute observation to five or six is making real progress, even with no spoken word yet. Do not measure success by whether speech appears. Measure it by whether the child is communicating more.

What should you do if your toddler is nonverbal at age 2 or 3?

Request a referral. If your child is 18 months or older with no single words, or 24 months with no two-word combinations, the AAP recommends a speech-language evaluation ^[4]. You can request one through your pediatrician, through your state's early intervention program (no doctor referral required in most states), or directly through a private SLP.

While you wait, start modeling. Print a free core word board from PrAACtical AAC or ARASAAC today and put it somewhere visible at mealtimes. Use it yourself, every time. That is not a substitute for an evaluation, but it is not nothing either.

If you want help with the home side, a speech therapy and speech therapist overview walks you through what to expect from an evaluation and what to ask.

For families facing an autism diagnosis alongside communication delays, autism spectrum speech therapy covers the evidence base and the approaches that tend to work best in that context.

The one thing to skip is watch-and-wait past 24 months with no communication support in place. Early intervention outcomes beat late-start intervention, and the research on that is consistent ^[5][9].

Are there free core vocabulary resources parents can use right now?

Yes, and several of them are genuinely good.

PrAACtical AAC (praacticalaac.org) is run by SLPs and has free downloadable core word boards in multiple sizes and symbol sets, plus how-to guides for modeling. ARASAAC (arasaac.org) is a Spanish government-funded free symbol library used worldwide; you can build custom boards with their online tools at no cost.

The Speak for Yourself app has a free trial. Cboard is a fully open-source, free AAC web app. For low-tech, a laminated sheet with 10 to 15 core words in large symbols costs under $2 to print and laminate at a copy shop.

The Little Words app (littlewords.ai) has a short quiz to personalize your starting word set and walks parents through daily modeling routines, useful if you feel stuck on where to begin.

For families who need online speech therapy because in-person services are far away or too expensive, telehealth SLP sessions for early AAC setup are increasingly available through platforms like Expressable and SpeechTherapyPD.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most important core vocabulary words for a 2-year-old who doesn't talk?

Start with 8 to 10 words that cover requesting, protesting, and commenting: more, go, stop, help, want, no, yes, like, good, and that. These appear in nearly every daily routine and give a child the most communicative range per word. You can model them with a simple picture board or AAC app while speech is still developing.

How many core words should a nonverbal child have on their AAC board?

For a child just starting out, 12 to 20 core words is a manageable set. Research on AAC language learning suggests that flooding a new user with 100+ symbols reduces use. Start small with high-frequency core words, confirm the child is accessing them consistently, then expand. Full AAC systems eventually include 100 to 200 or more words.

Can I teach core vocabulary without an expensive device?

Yes. A laminated paper board with printed symbol pictures works. ARASAAC offers free symbols and board-building tools online. The factor that drives outcomes is not the technology level but how consistently caregivers model the words throughout the day. Low-tech boards used constantly beat high-tech devices used rarely.

How long does it take for a nonverbal toddler to start using core vocabulary?

There is no reliable timeline. It depends on the child's underlying diagnosis, the consistency of modeling, and other factors. Some children begin using symbols functionally within 4 to 8 weeks of consistent aided language input. Others take 6 months or more. Progress before a first independent word often looks like more reaching, more attention to the board, or fewer frustration behaviors.

Will using a picture board or AAC device prevent my child from learning to talk?

Research does not support that concern. A 2006 review in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology examined AAC intervention studies and found no suppression of natural speech development and majority increases in speech production. AAC gives children a way to communicate while the speech system develops, and cutting communication frustration may actually support speech emergence.

What is the difference between core vocabulary and sight words?

Sight words are high-frequency written words for reading instruction (the, and, a). Core vocabulary is high-frequency spoken and communicated words for functional communication. The two lists overlap somewhat but serve different purposes. For a nonverbal toddler who is not yet reading, core vocabulary for communication comes before early literacy word lists.

Should I teach my nonverbal toddler sign language instead of AAC?

Sign language and low-tech or high-tech AAC are not mutually exclusive. Many SLPs recommend a total communication approach: pair spoken words with signs and picture symbols at the same time. Signs are always available (no device needed), but they require motor memory and can be hard for partners who do not know them. AAC boards are more universally readable.

At what age should a child with no words be evaluated by a speech therapist?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends evaluation if a child has no single words by 12 to 15 months or no two-word combinations by 24 months. You do not need a pediatrician referral. In the US, you can contact your state's early intervention program directly for a free evaluation for children under age 3 under IDEA Part C.

What causes a toddler to be nonverbal and how does that affect which words to teach?

Nonverbal toddlers may have autism spectrum disorder, childhood apraxia of speech, global developmental delay, hearing loss, or other conditions, and some have no identified diagnosis. The cause matters for treatment planning but does not change the core vocabulary priority list much. Core words are high-utility across all contexts regardless of etiology. A full SLP evaluation helps tailor the approach.

How do I get my child's daycare or preschool to use the same core vocabulary system?

Consistency across settings speeds learning, so this matters. Bring a copy of your child's core word board to the school and ask that it stay reachable during the day. Many early intervention SLPs can consult with childcare staff directly as part of the IFSP. A one-page visual guide showing the top 10 words and how to model them takes about 5 minutes to make and can be posted in the classroom.

What is aided language stimulation and how do I do it at home?

Aided language stimulation (ALS) means pointing to or activating the target word on the child's communication board or device while saying it aloud, during natural activities, without requiring the child to repeat it. You model the word for them, the same way children learn spoken words by hearing adults use them in context. Aim for 10 to 20 models of each target word per day across different routines.

Does echolalia mean my child doesn't need core vocabulary support?

Echolalia (repeating words or phrases heard before) is a separate thing from functional communication. A child who echoes may be repeating without understanding or using the word on purpose. Core vocabulary support is still appropriate and often very helpful. An SLP can assess whether the child's echoed words serve a communicative function or are non-functional. See the guide on echolalia for more.

Are there specific apps that teach core vocabulary to nonverbal toddlers?

Yes. Proloquo2Go, TouchChat, LAMP Words for Life, and Snap Core First are the most widely used AAC apps and all organize around core vocabulary. They cost $200 to $300 on iOS. Free or lower-cost options include Cboard (free, web-based) and LetMeTalk (free, Android). The Little Words app focuses specifically on early core vocabulary modeling for caregivers and toddlers together.

Sources

1. ASHA, Augmentative and Alternative Communication Overview: ASHA guidance on AAC emphasizes core vocabulary as the foundation of any vocabulary system for children with complex communication needs.
2. Millar, Light & Schlosser (2006), American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 'The Impact of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on the Speech Production of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities': A review of AAC intervention studies found no suppression of natural speech and majority increases in speech production among participants.
3. American Academy of Pediatrics, Developmental Milestones: AAP milestone guidance: by 12 months most children produce 1 to 3 words; by 24 months approximately 50 words and two-word combinations.
4. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2015), Mental Disorders and Disabilities Among Low-Income Children: Earlier AAC and communication intervention produces substantially better outcomes than late-start intervention for children with developmental communication disorders.
5. Cafiero, J.M. (2001), 'The Effect of an Augmentative Communication Intervention on the Communication, Behavior, and Academic Program of an Adolescent with Autism', Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities: Children learn core words faster when caregivers model consistently across the day in natural contexts rather than in structured drills.
6. Medicaid.gov, Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT): Speech-generating devices are often covered by Medicaid for children with documented communication disorders under EPSDT provisions.
7. ASHA, AAC Apps and Software: AAC apps such as Proloquo2Go and TouchChat cost in the range of $200 to $300 on iOS platforms.
8. U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Part C: Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: IDEA Part C requires early intervention services for children under 3 with developmental delays and mandates delivery in natural environments such as the home.
9. Wetherby, A. & Prizant, B. (2002), Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales (CSBS) Developmental Profile: SLPs use measures including lexical diversity, communication acts per minute, and symbol combinations to track early AAC progress.