A Bean guide for families

AAC for toddlers, one familiar moment at a time.

By Gorse Bush Studios · October 9, 2026

Bean is a picture communication app designed for early communicators, approximately 18 months to 5 years. Here is a practical introduction to the app for parents and caregivers.

What does AAC mean?

AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication. It includes ways people express themselves alongside, or instead of, speech. Bean is one software option: tapping a picture speaks a word, using a system voice or a recording you have made.

Age alone does not determine the right communication tool. A speech-language pathologist with AAC experience can help your family consider your child’s access needs and choose suitable vocabulary. Bean does not assess or treat speech or language conditions.

Explore a familiar routine

Start by looking through a category that fits something you already do together, such as Food & Drink at snack time or Toys during play. Tap a tile to hear its word. You can explore the board together without turning every tap into a test or requiring your child to repeat the spoken word.

Make the board recognizable

Add a picture of the actual cup, toy, or familiar person your family talks about. Touch and hold a tile to change its picture or save it to Favorites. Custom groups let you keep relevant words together for a routine. Follow the picture communication walkthrough.

Adjust access and motion

In Settings, use Tiles Across to choose between 2 and 10 columns. Fewer columns make larger pictures; the available screen space and text size may reduce the number shown. Bean uses fixed pages with Previous and Next controls. Animate Words and Touch & Focus offer additional choices for motion and repeated taps.

Choose how words sound

Use an installed system voice or record your own voice for individual words. Immediate speech is the default. Build Sentences in Settings lets a user collect words before choosing Speak. Choose the mode that fits how your family uses the app.