My child only requests on Avaz - how to teach commenting
Your child has mastered 'I want cookie' and 'help please' on their Avaz device. But when you point to a colourful butterfly and wait hopefully, they just stare. No 'pretty!' or 'I see butterfly!' They use AAC like a vending machine - only when they need something.
You're not imagining it. Many autistic children get stuck in the request phase because requesting gets immediate results. Comments feel pointless to them. But you know commenting is how we connect, how we share joy, how we show others what matters to us.
Print, watch, or load into your AAC device.
Why requesting comes first (and comments feel impossible)
Requesting is concrete and rewarding. Say 'I want juice', get juice. The connection is clear and immediate. Comments like 'bird flying' or 'car red' don't get you anything tangible - they're social, not transactional.
For many autistic children, the social reward of sharing observations isn't obvious. Research on joint attention shows that neurotypical children naturally want to share their interests with others by 12-18 months. Autistic children often need explicit teaching to understand why we comment at all.
The structure of AAC apps can accidentally reinforce this. Most have a prominent 'I want' section, whilst commenting words are scattered across different categories. Your child learns the most efficient path to their needs.
Sensory processing differences also play a role. If your child is working hard to regulate themselves in the environment, they might not have the mental space for 'optional' communication like commenting. First survival, then social connection.
What works in the moment
- Model comments constantly yourself - Use the device to say 'I see dog' when you spot one. Don't ask them to respond. Just show that AAC is for sharing thoughts, not just getting things. This builds the neural pathway that AAC = communication, not just requesting.
- Wait 3 seconds after modelling - After you comment, pause and look expectant. Don't pressure, but give space. Many children need processing time before they realise they could add something too.
- Start with 'I see' for everything - This is the easiest comment starter. 'I see bus', 'I see rain', 'I see cat'. It's factual, not emotional, so feels safer for literal thinkers. Success here builds confidence for more complex comments.
- Respond with excitement to any comment attempt - When they finally say 'big truck', react like they just told you the most interesting thing ever. 'Yes! That truck IS big!' This social reward teaches them that comments matter to you.
- Make commenting functional - Connect comments to activities. 'I see red car' leads to drawing red cars, or finding more red things. Show them that sharing observations can lead to fun interactions, making comments feel less pointless.
- Use 'I like' for special interests - If they love trains, model 'I like trains' when you see one. Their passion provides natural motivation to share. Success with preferred topics builds skills for commenting on everything else.
- Comment on emotions and sensations - 'I see you happy', 'water cold', 'music loud'. This teaches that internal experiences can be shared too. Many autistic children don't realise their feelings are worth communicating.
- Create comment opportunities - Bring interesting objects, play peek-a-boo, blow bubbles. Give them lots to potentially comment on. The more opportunities, the more chances for success.
Teach it ahead of time
Social stories work brilliantly for commenting because they explain the 'why' that autistic children need. Create a simple story showing that comments help people understand what we notice and think. Use photos of your child successfully commenting to make it concrete.
Try this today: Make a photo story called 'I Share What I See' with pictures of your child looking at different things, then using Avaz to comment. End with everyone looking happy and interested. Read it daily for a week before expecting changes.
What NOT to do
Don't turn every comment into a question - If they say 'funny dog', resist asking 'What makes the dog funny?' Just celebrate that they shared their thought.
Don't withhold requests until they comment - This creates anxiety and can damage their trust in AAC as a reliable communication tool.
Don't expect immediate back-and-forth - Comments aren't conversations yet. One comment is success, not the start of a dialogue they must maintain.
Don't correct their grammar in comments - 'Tree pretty' is perfect communication. Grammar police kills the joy of sharing observations.
Don't make commenting mandatory - Forced comments feel like tests. Keep it optional and model-heavy instead.
Remember this
Your child isn't being difficult or limited. They're being logical - requests work, so why complicate things? Learning to comment is like learning a second language of connection. It takes time, patience, and lots of modelling. Every small attempt at sharing their world with you is huge progress. You're teaching them that their thoughts and observations matter to you. That's not just AAC skills - that's love made visible.
Parents also ask
How long does it take to teach commenting skills?
Most children start attempting comments within 2-4 weeks of consistent modelling, but meaningful commenting can take 3-6 months to develop. Every child's timeline is different, and progress often comes in bursts rather than steady increments.
Should I reduce requests to force more commenting?
Never restrict requests - they're essential communication and taking them away damages trust in AAC. Instead, add commenting opportunities alongside their existing requesting skills. Both can coexist and grow together.
What if my child only comments about their special interests?
That's actually perfect! Special interests provide the strongest motivation to communicate. Use this success to build confidence, then gradually model commenting on related topics before expanding to completely different subjects.
My child copies my comments exactly. Is this progress?
Yes, this is a crucial learning stage called 'echolalia' and shows they're understanding that comments are worth copying. Original commenting typically emerges after this copying phase, so celebrate this important step.
Which AAC words should I prioritise for commenting?
Start with 'I see' and 'I like' as they're the most versatile. Add descriptive words like 'big', 'little', 'funny', 'pretty' based on what your child notices most often in their environment.
More in AAC skills
A wrong AAC symbol, a tile that confuses your child, clinical guidance that doesn't match your therapist's advice — tell us and we'll fix it within a week. This library gets better when families push back.
We send one short new social story + printable per week, written for families of nonverbal kids. No filler.