Why I Don’t Recommend Scattering Buttons Around the House (And why it’s not just “weird” to keep them in one spot—it’s intentional.)
Sometimes I get asked why all of Pharaby’s buttons are in one spot instead of spread around the house. Like “outside” by the door, “bed” by the bed, “food” by the pantry.
This is why, if all your dog’s buttons are scattered, you lose the chance for real conversations.
Yes, of course buttons can be used to request things. That’s a huge part of AIC But that’s not the only goal, or even the most important one, long-term IMO..
When you keep the buttons in one consistent location, your learner can:
* Explore words freely
* Combine buttons to express more complex thoughts
* Reference things that aren’t physically in front of them
* Have back-and-forth exchanges with you
Scattered buttons = isolated requests.
Grouped buttons = communication system.
It’s the difference between “sniffy” and “sniffy car park go” Which, yes, is a real thing she said. 😂
Language builds in layers. And just like with toddlers, consistency and access matter.
If your buttons are split up, you’re limiting your learner’s access to those layers.
So it’s not weird to have all the buttons in one place. It’s actually the best way to build something meaningful: a real voice.