Autumn Adventures with AAC: Walking, Exploring, and Communicating Outside
Fall is one of the most inviting seasons of the year. The air feels crisper, the leaves crunch under your shoes, and the world transforms into a canvas of vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. For many families, fall is the perfect time to get outside, slow down, and enjoy nature together.
For families of children who use AAC (augmentative and alternative communication), autumn brings even more than just fun outings. It brings fresh opportunities to practice communication in real-world settings, strengthen social connections, and expand vocabulary in ways that feel natural, exciting, and meaningful.
In this blog, we’ll explore why taking AAC outdoors is so powerful, share simple fall activities to try, and provide tips to make sure every child has a voice during their autumn adventures.
Why Take AAC Outside?
Communication doesn’t stop at the classroom door (I know recently we spoke a lot about school and AAC use) or within the walls of your home—it happens everywhere. For children who rely on AAC, the outdoors offers a rich and stimulating environment that sparks curiosity and interaction.
Here are a few reasons why outdoor AAC adventures are so valuable:
Real-World Vocabulary: When you’re outside, your child encounters things they may not see every day indoors—fall leaves, acorns, pumpkins, scarecrows, animals, and more. Each of these is an opportunity to model and practice new words.
Engagement Through Senses: Fall is a sensory-rich season. Children can see bright colors, hear leaves crunching, smell wood smoke, feel cool air, and taste warm seasonal treats. Pairing AAC with these experiences makes communication more meaningful.
Natural Motivation: Kids are often more motivated to use their AAC when they’re engaged in something exciting. A walk in the park, a hayride, or picking apples becomes an adventure—one they’ll want to talk about.
Building Confidence: Using AAC in different environments shows children (and others around them) that their voice belongs everywhere—not just at home or in therapy sessions.
Fall AAC Adventure Ideas
Here are 5 practical, family-friendly activities you can do this season to spark communication while enjoying the beauty of fall.
Leaf Walk and Talk
Go for a simple walk in your neighborhood or a local park. Collect leaves of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Along the way, encourage your child to use their AAC device to:
Label colors: “red,” “yellow,” “orange,” “brown.”
Describe size: “big leaf,” “small leaf.”
Comment on textures: “smooth,” “crunchy,” “soft.”
Express feelings: “I like it,” “pretty,” “fun.”
This activity can become a scavenger hunt. Make a checklist with words like “red,” “tiny,” “long,” or “shiny,” and model how to find and comment using AAC or sign language!
Pumpkin Patch Adventures
A trip to the pumpkin patch is a classic fall outing—and it’s full of AAC opportunities. While exploring, you can model words like:
Describing: “round,” “orange,” “bumpy,” “heavy.”
Asking/choosing: “Which one?” “This one!” “That one!”
Expressing excitement: “Wow!” “Love it!” “So big!”
Making decisions: “I want small,” “Let’s get big.”
Take pictures at the patch and revisit them later with your child’s AAC device, encouraging them to retell the story of their day.
Apple Picking
If you have an orchard nearby, apple picking is a perfect fall adventure. Encourage communication while:
Requesting: “help,” “more,” “I want.”
Labeling: “red,” “green,” “apple.”
Describing: “tall tree,” “sweet apple,” “many apples.”
Sharing: “for mom,” “for me,” “give dad.”
Once you’re home, extend the fun by baking apple pie or applesauce together, using AAC to request ingredients or comment on the process.
Nature Spotting
Bring binoculars on a walk and look for animals or signs of fall. You might see squirrels gathering acorns, geese flying overhead, or piles of crunchy leaves. Model words like:
“Look!”
“Fast squirrel,” “loud bird,” “flying geese.”
“I hear it,” “I see it.”
“Fun,” “cool,” “again.”
Encourage your child to take turns noticing and commenting. Even simple two-word phrases modeled on AAC—like “see leaf” or “big tree”—are powerful steps toward communication growth.
Cozy Breaks
After exploring outdoors, take a break with a seasonal snack—hot chocolate, apple cider, or cookies. These moments are perfect for practicing requests and social exchanges:
“Want hot drink.”
“Yummy,” “delicious,” “sweet.”
“More please.”
“I like it,” “don’t like.”
These cozy moments reinforce that communication doesn’t stop when the adventure ends—it continues into everyday routines.
Tips for Parents & Caregivers
Taking AAC outdoors may feel new or even intimidating at first. Here are some strategies to help:
Always Bring the AAC
Treat the device or communication board like a jacket or water bottle—it’s essential. The more your child sees AAC being used everywhere, the more they’ll understand its importance.Model Without Pressure
Show your child how to use the device naturally. For example, if you see a pumpkin, you might press “orange” or “big” and then say it aloud. This provides a model without forcing them to respond.Follow Their Lead
Notice what excites your child. If they’re fascinated by squirrels, focus your modeling around animals and actions. If they’re more into leaves, talk about colors and textures.Celebrate Every Interaction
Whether your child makes a full sentence or taps a single word, every attempt is progress. Celebrate and encourage—even small steps matter.Revisit Experiences Later
Take photos during your outing and use them later at home. Encourage your child to “retell” the story of their adventure using their AAC device. This builds narrative skills and reinforces vocabulary.
Building Memories Through Communication
Autumn is more than just a season of pretty leaves—it’s a season of connection, family time, and growth. For children who use AAC, these outdoor adventures become powerful learning opportunities. Every crunch of a leaf, every pumpkin chosen, every apple picked is a chance to strengthen their voice and share their world with the people they love.
So this fall, grab a cozy sweater, pack up your child’s AAC device, and step outside. The crisp air, golden leaves, and seasonal traditions aren’t just beautiful—they’re invitations for communication, laughter, and memories that will last a lifetime.
If you need resources related to the tips read here, feel free to contact us! We can help!
