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Working on a Choice Board with Your Child at Home
A choice board lets your child show what they want by pointing to pictures or objects. Start with two clear, motivating choices at eye level, honour every choice instantly, then build up to more. It grows communication and reduces frustration — and a speech therapist can personalise it for your child.
In this answer 5 sections
A choice board turns 'I don't know what they want' into 'point and show me' — a few pictures, and your child finds their voice.
In short
A choice board is a simple set of pictures or objects that lets your child show you what they want by pointing, touching or handing you a card. You can make one at home with photos, drawings or real objects, starting with just two clear choices. It builds communication, reduces frustration, and gives your child a real say in their day.
How to work on it at home
Start small and real
- Begin with two choices your child genuinely cares about — say, banana and biscuit, or bubbles and ball.
- Use clear photos, simple drawings, or even the real objects stuck to a board or laid on a tray.
- Hold the board at your child's eye level and ask, "Which one?"
Make every choice count
- The moment your child points, looks at, or touches a picture — honour it instantly. Give them exactly what they chose, even if it's the "messier" option.
- This teaches the most powerful lesson: my choice changes what happens.
- Name it back: "You chose bubbles! Let's blow bubbles."
Build up gently
- Once two choices are easy, grow to three or four.
- Use choice boards at natural moments — snack time, play, getting dressed, choosing a story.
- Keep boards where they're needed: one near the kitchen, one near toys.
Keep it joyful
- Short bursts work best. Stop while it's still fun.
- Follow your child's interests — a board full of their favourite things invites more reaching and pointing.
When to ask for guidance
If your child shows little interest in choosing, struggles to point or look at pictures, or finds communication frustrating across the day, a speech and language therapist can tailor the board to your child and pair it with other communication tools. Bringing your homemade board to a session is a wonderful starting point.
The Pinnacle way
At Pinnacle Blooms Network, choice boards are one small piece of a child's communication journey. Our therapists weave them into speech therapy and personalise each choice board to your child's interests and stage. Developmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. under qualified clinician care — learn how in what the AbilityScore® is and how it's calculated. With 25 million+ therapy sessions and 4.95 lakh+ families served, we've seen how a few well-chosen pictures can open a whole world of communication.
Trusted sources
Guided by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) on augmentative and alternative communication, and the American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren guidance on supporting early communication at home.
Next step — book a developmental assessment to make your home choice board work even harder, or message our team on WhatsApp at +91 91001 81181.
This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
CONNECT THE ANSWER TO YOUR CHILD’S DAY
Something to notice. Something to discuss.
What to notice
Notice whether your child reaches, points or looks at a picture to choose — even a glance counts. If choosing stays difficult across many tries and days, or causes frustration, a speech therapist can adapt the board and pace.
In everyday life
Stick a two-choice board near the kitchen at snack time — and whatever your child picks, give it to them straight away so they learn their choice truly matters.
Bring your observations and questions to your child’s professional. Choose activities that suit your child’s comfort, abilities and agreed plan.
Bring your questions to a first visitQuestions families ask
How many choices should I start with on a choice board?
Begin with just two clear choices your child genuinely likes, such as banana and biscuit. Once choosing between two feels easy, grow to three or four. Starting small keeps it stress-free and successful.
What if my child doesn't point to anything?
That's okay — accept any signal at first, including a look, a touch, or reaching towards a picture. Use real objects if pictures don't yet hold their interest. If choosing stays hard across many tries, a speech and language therapist can help.
What should I use to make a choice board at home?
Anything clear and meaningful to your child — printed photos, simple drawings, or the real objects themselves stuck on a tray or board. Keep boards where choices naturally happen, like the kitchen or play area.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
References behind this answer.
- Source referenceASHA: Augmentative and Alternative Communication
- Source referenceAAP HealthyChildren: Supporting Early Communication
References are supplied with this answer. An organisation homepage offers further reading; it does not establish an independent review of this page.
Content attribution: SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network.
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General information supports a conversation with an appropriately qualified professional. Advice, goals and support depend on the individual child.