How to make a communication book at home
A communication book keeps a bigger set of picture cards organised and portable, so your child can find and share words wherever they are. Here's how to build one yourself — no special product needed.
Gather what you need
A ring binder or display book, a few plastic wallet pages or card pages, hook-and-loop (velcro) strips or coins, scissors, a laminator (optional but recommended), and your printed cards. A small A5 binder is easy for little hands to hold.
Make a front “sentence strip”
Stick a horizontal strip of loop (soft) velcro across the front cover or first page. This is where your child builds a message by lining up cards left to right — for example “I want” + “water”.
Add velcro to your cards
Put the rough (hook) side of the velcro on the BACK of every card (“rough travels”), so cards stick to the strip and the pages.
Organise pages by category
Group cards onto pages by type — core words, food & drink, feelings, places, people. Use the same colour key as the cards (people, things, actions…). Add a tab or label so you can flip straight to what you need.
Put core words up front
Keep the most-used words (yes, no, more, help, stop, all done, want) on the first page or the front strip, so they're always within reach.
Model, then use it together
Show your child how to take a card and give it to you, or build a short message on the strip. Model it many times yourself first. Keep the book where it's needed — kitchen, car, school bag.
Grow it over time
Start small and add cards as your child's vocabulary grows. Re-print and swap cards easily from the free card builder whenever you need a new word.
Keep going
- Build communication cards — your book's pages.
- Print, cut & laminate guide — get durable cards.
- Nonverbal autism: how to help — using the book day to day.
Frequently asked questions
What size book is best?
A small A5 ring binder or display book is easy for children to hold and carry, and fits a useful number of cards per page. Bigger books hold more vocabulary but are less portable — many families keep both a small “on the go” book and a larger home set.
How should I organise the cards?
Group them by category (core words, food, feelings, places, people) and keep the most-used words at the front. Using consistent colours for each word type helps children and adults find cards faster.
Do I need special equipment?
No. A binder, plastic pages, velcro and scissors are enough. A laminator makes cards far more durable, but you can use thicker paper or clear tape instead.
Is a communication book the same as PECS?
“PECS” is a specific trademarked program. A communication book is the general idea of an organised set of picture cards a child uses to communicate — you can make and use one yourself without any branded product.
Not medical advice. This article is general information, not a substitute for professional assessment. Every child is different — always talk to a qualified professional about your individual child.