Parents of nonverbal and minimally verbal children hear the same advice from every speech therapist: "Model words on the AAC board." But which words? How often? And how do you know if it's working?
Research shows that parent-implemented AAC modeling significantly increases child vocabulary use. But generic coaching — "just model more" — is not enough. Parents report feeling overwhelmed by the number of words on the board. Without structure, they tend to model the same comfortable words repeatedly.
The Underused-Word Problem
Communication boards often have 50–100+ words, but children may regularly use fewer than 20. Specific, targeted practice outperforms unstructured modeling. That's where Guided Modeling Missions come in.
How Missions Work
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TalkSeeds scans your child's board activity over the last 14 days and identifies underused words.
- 2
You receive a daily mission: "Try modeling 'help' at least 3 times during play today."
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You model the word in natural contexts — during play, meals, or daily routines.
- 4
Track progress with Modeling Mode on the tablet (automatic) or the "I modeled it" button on your phone (manual).
- 5
Missions refresh every 24 hours with a new word. No streaks, no penalties.
Smart Word Selection
TalkSeeds doesn't pick words at random. The algorithm considers:
- Board presence — only words already on the board
- Usage frequency — words tapped fewer than 5 times in 14 days
- Therapist priority — Focus Words from the SLP always take precedence
- One at a time — one mission keeps things focused and achievable
The Therapy-Home Practice Loop
When your child's SLP sets a Focus Word through the TalkSeeds portal, that word automatically becomes your next mission. The professional identifies what to work on, and TalkSeeds coaches you through the daily practice.
No more forgetting what the therapist recommended. No more guessing which words to prioritize. The guidance flows directly into your daily routine.
Designed to Avoid Burnout
No guilt. No streaks. No leaderboards.
One mission per day keeps cognitive load low. 24-hour auto-expiry means missed days don't accumulate. A fresh word each day keeps practice engaging. The goal is sustainable daily practice, not perfection.
