Top 5 Ways to Teach Love and Affection Through AAC: A Valentine’s Day Guide for SLPs

Joyful mother-daughter moment with a heartfelt surprise gift.

Expressing emotions and building meaningful connections with others is an important aspect of life and communication. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play a unique role in helping individuals with complex communication needs participate in this aspect of life. 

Through the use of AAC devices and alternative communication methods, SLPs can help to ensure every individual is able to tell others how they feel and express their affection. Valentine’s Day presents the perfect opportunity to focus on teaching concepts of love, affection, and appreciation through AAC devices. 

Here’s a comprehensive guide to make these abstract concepts more concrete and accessible for your AAC users.

1. Build the Vocabulary Foundation

Before diving into activities, ensure your AAC user has access to essential vocabulary:

  • Core words: love, like, care, happy, thank you, please
  • People: family members, friends, teachers, classmates
  • Emotions: happy, excited, grateful
  • Social phrases: “I love you,” “You’re my friend,” “Thank you for being kind” “Happy Valentine’s Day”

Pro Tip: Make vocabulary selection a collaborative process! Sit down with your AAC user and program these words together, discussing their meanings and importance as you go.

Ensure your AAC user is familiar with the location of these icons by: 

  • Modeling how to navigate to the different vocabulary.
  • Practicing navigating to these words through engaging activities like “word treasure hunts”.
  • Teaching categorical organization (e.g., emotions folder, people folder) to build navigation skills.

2. Personalize the Concept of Love

Make the concept of love concrete through personal connections:

  • Create a “Love Board” featuring photos of people, activities, and things your AAC user loves. Use images from magazines or newspapers, or print out pictures, and allow your AAC user to select items they love. Practice labeling items and finding them on the device.  
  • Use repetitive phrases to describe what the user enjoys: “I love _____.” For more advanced users, encourage them to describe why they love an item:  “I love ______ because _____.”
  • Include various types of love: 
    • Family love
    • Friendship love
    • Love for activities or interests
    • Love for pets
    • Love for favorite foods or toys

3. Develop Interactive Social Activities

Smiling boy holding heart-shaped props, celebrating love and joy in a festive setting.

Enhancing learning opportunities by incorporating peers into activities:

  • Create a Valentine’s Day photo booth with props where users can see visual representations of love and affection (e.g., hearts, gifts) while taking themed pictures with their friends!
  • Organize a “Friendship Circle” where learners share one thing they appreciate about their peers in a group setting. If AAC users are seen individually, use this opportunity as a shared writing activity. Write down what the user appreciates about their family, friends, or peers, and give them the note.
  • Incorporate multi-modal learning opportunities:
    • Make Valentine’s Day cards using the AAC device to dictate messages. The user can use their device to select the color and design of the card, label art materials, select who the card is for, and create the message inside!
    • Create a “Gratitude Wall” where students can post messages about things they love. They can use their device to select what they want to say. 
    • Use role-play scenarios to practice expressing appreciation. Practice exchanging cards using phrases like “here you go,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome”.

4. Encourage Parent and Caregiver Involvement

Extend learning beyond the therapy room:

  • Create a photo-sharing system where parents can send in pictures of loved ones that can be discussed during sessions and used for labeling. Practicing producing the phrase “I love you, ___,” on the device.
  • Provide parents with key phrases to model on the AAC device at home.
  • Share social stories about showing love and kindness that families can read together.

5. Reinforce Through Daily Routines

Father and son enjoy a cozy breakfast with croissants and hot drinks.

Embed love and affection concepts into everyday activities:

  • Morning greeting routines that include expressing care for peers
  • End-of-day appreciation circles
  • “Caught Being Kind” moments where students can recognize others’ caring actions
  • Regular practice of saying “thank you” and “you’re welcome”

Implementation Tips

Here are some implementation strategies for SLPs to support AAC users in expressing love and affection:

  • Keep activities age-appropriate and engaging.
  • Use visual supports alongside the AAC device as needed.
  • Celebrate small successes and progress.
  • Document favorite activities and successful strategies for future reference or to send home to family.
  • Maintain a positive, encouraging environment that promotes emotional expression.

Remember that learning to express love and affection is a gradual process. Be patient and celebrate each step forward in your AAC users’ journey toward meaningful emotional expression.

By incorporating these strategies into your therapy sessions, you’ll help your AAC users develop essential social-emotional skills while building their confidence in expressing feelings of love and appreciation.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Talk to an SLP

Book time with an SLP to get answers to your questions and kickstart your clients communication journey.

Talk to an SLP

Book time with an SLP to get answers to your questions and kickstart your clients communication journey.