How Visual Supports Help Children Communicate

At Each Speech Pear Plum (ESPP), we often use visual supports in therapy sessions. You might notice pictures, symbols, gestures, or visual schedules during activities.

Visual supports are tools that help children understand information and communicate more easily by making language visible.

For many children, spoken language can be difficult to process because it happens quickly and then disappears. Visual supports stay in place, giving children something they can see and refer back to while they are understanding or communicating.

Why Visual Supports Can Be Helpful

Visual supports can help children:

• understand what is happening next

• follow routines and transitions

• learn new words and concepts

• express their needs and ideas

• feel more confident and regulated

Because visuals stay in place, children can look at them as many times as they need. This can make communication feel more predictable and easier to understand.

Visual Schedules

A visual schedule shows a sequence of activities using pictures or symbols. These help children understand the order of events and what will happen next.

For example, a therapy session schedule might show:

Play → Puzzle → Book → Goodbye

At home, a visual schedule might look like:

Get dressed → Breakfast → Brush teeth → School

Seeing the routine visually helps children prepare for transitions and understand what is coming next.

First/Then Boards

A first/then board is a simple visual support that shows what needs to happen first and what will happen afterwards.

For example:

First → Pack away toys

Then → Play outside

Or in therapy:

First → Practice sounds

Then → Turn of the game

First/then boards help children understand expectations and can make transitions easier, particularly when moving from a less preferred activity to a preferred one.

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)

Some children use AAC to support their communication. AAC includes tools such as communication boards, picture symbols, or speech-generating devices.

AAC helps children communicate their thoughts, needs, and ideas, especially if spoken language is still developing.

For example, a child might:

• point to a picture of “drink” to ask for water

• select “more bubbles” on a communication device during play

• use pictures to choose between “apple” or “banana”

AAC provides children with another way to express themselves while their speech and language skills continue to develop.

Importantly, AAC does not stop children from talking. Research shows that AAC often supports and encourages language development.

Check out our "Why We Introduce AAC Early (And Why it Helps, Not Hinders)" Blog to learn more.

Gestures and Modelling

Visual communication also includes gestures and modelling.

Gestures are simple movements that help support understanding and communication.

For example:

• pointing to an object while naming it

• showing a child where to sit or what to do next

• using a hand gesture for “come here” or “stop”

Modelling means demonstrating how communication works.

For example:

• pointing to a picture while saying the word

• showing a child how to use a communication board

• modelling language during play, such as saying “The car goes fast!”

These visual cues help children connect words, actions, and meaning.

Cued Articulation

Another visual support sometimes used in speech therapy is Cued Articulation.

Cued Articulation uses specific hand gestures to represent speech sounds. Each speech sound has a corresponding gesture that helps children understand how the sound is produced.

For example:

• a gesture showing air flowing forward can represent sounds like /s/

• a quick tapping motion can represent a short sound like /t/

• a gesture near the throat can represent a back voiced sound such as /g/

When the therapist uses the gesture while saying the sound, it provides children with an extra cue to help them remember and produce the sound.

This can help children see, feel, and understand how speech sounds are made, supporting speech sound learning.

Sentence Strips

Another visual support we often use in therapy is sentence strips.

Sentence strips provide a visual structure to help children build and say longer sentences. They often include pictures or symbols that represent different parts of a sentence.

For example, a sentence strip might show:

I → want → the → ball

or

The → dog → is → running → fast

During play, a therapist might support a child to build a sentence such as:

I → want → bubbles

or

The → train → is → fast

By seeing the structure of the sentence visually, children can better understand how words fit together. Sentence strips can help children organise their thoughts, build longer sentences, and feel more confident expressing their ideas.

Over time, as children become more familiar with these patterns, they begin to use the sentence structures independently in conversation.

Supporting Communication Through Visuals

Visual supports can make communication clearer, more predictable, and easier to process for many children.

They can support understanding, help children express their ideas, and make everyday routines feel more manageable.

At ESPP, we often incorporate visual supports into play, therapy activities, and daily routines to support children as they develop their communication skills.

Sometimes small changes, such as adding pictures, gestures, or simple visual structures, can make a big difference in helping children understand, participate, and communicate more confidently.

For more information or to book an assessment, visit Each Speech Pear Plum or contact us directly. We’re here to support your child’s journey to better communication, ensuring they have the most fun along the way.