Swirly AAC: First Words

A free picture communication app for toddlers. Tap a picture. Hear a word. Build a sentence.

Whether your child is non-speaking, late-talking, or just beginning to string their first words together — Swirly AAC gives them a voice.

A COMMUNICATION TOOL FOR EVERY TODDLER

Babies who learn sign language often speak earlier than those who don't. The same principle applies here. Giving a pre-verbal toddler any way to communicate doesn't slow speech down — it speeds it up. Every successful exchange teaches a child that words have power.

It works beautifully for typically developing toddlers building their first phrases. It works for children with autism, Down syndrome, childhood apraxia of speech, or any reason spoken words aren't coming yet. It was designed for both, because communication is for every child.

TWO MODES, ONE APP

Standard AAC — Symbol Grid
A bold, colorful picture grid with core vocabulary every toddler needs: feelings, food, people, actions, places, routines. Tap symbols to build a sentence, then hit Speak. Includes Visual Scene Display — tap objects inside illustrated scenes of a playground, kitchen, and bedroom. A research-backed approach for very early communicators who respond better to context than isolated symbols.

Grammar Tree — Sentence Builder
Guide your child through their first full sentences. Choose "I want" → "to eat" → "cookie" and the app speaks the whole phrase. A child who can't yet sequence words independently can still generate a real, novel sentence. Greetings, requests, observations, feelings — all here.

RECORD YOUR OWN VOICE

Tap any symbol and record mom, dad, grandma, or a sibling saying the word. Now the tablet sounds like home. Free, like everything else.

MAKE IT YOURS

Add a real photo of grandma. Hide words your child isn't ready for. Reorder the board. Add custom symbols. Everything editable in two taps from the main screen.

BUILT FOR REAL FAMILY LIFE

Fully offline — works on a plane, in the car, at grandma's house. No sign-in required. No ads, no subscriptions, no paywalls — free. Nothing leaves the device — no server, no analytics. Backup and restore — export a single file, import it anywhere.

FOR FAMILIES AND SPECIALISTS

Designed around core vocabulary principles used by speech-language pathologists in early intervention. Suitable alongside — not instead of — a qualified SLP.

Appropriate for: autism spectrum disorder (ASD), childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, selective mutism, language delay, speech delay, late talkers, pre-verbal toddlers, and typically developing toddlers from 18 months.

ABOUT SWIRLY STUDIOS

Developed by parents and educational technologists, Swirly Studios has been building free, friendly software for families since 2011 — rooted in a genuine belief that every child deserves the tools to make themselves understood. We hope Swirly AAC gives your child a little more voice, and your family a little more connection, from the very first tap.