Choice board

A choice board is a simple visual tool with two or more pictures, photos or words on it. Your child chooses by pointing to a picture or handing it over. The choice might be a snack, a toy, an activity or the reward after a task. It gives a child who has few words, or who finds open questions hard, a clear way to say what they want. Choice boards are a low-tech kind of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), a group of tools that includes picture boards.

Choice is a common part of applied behavior analysis (ABA). The ethics code for behavior analysts asks them to support each client's right to decide for themselves. The American Academy of Pediatrics also advises letting young children choose among acceptable options. Studies rarely test choice boards by name, so the evidence comes from broader work on choice, AAC and visual supports.

At snack time, the board might show apple slices, crackers and yogurt, and your child touches the crackers. Only show options you really have right now, since that builds your child's trust in the board. Start with a few pictures, because the number of options can change how well choice works. Match the pictures to what your child understands. A choice board can also pair with a first-then board, where your child picks the "then."

• How many choices: Ask your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) how many pictures to start with, and when to add more.
• The right pictures: Ask whether photos, drawings or words suit your child best.
• Other communication tools: Ask how the board fits with tools like picture exchange and your child's speech therapy plan.