Speech Delay? Teach THIS Word to Help Your Child END Activities Without Meltdowns

Discover why “All Done” matters. This video explores how teaching this simple phrase can help children communicate when they are finished and reduce frustration during everyday activities.

Does your child throw, push things away, or become upset when they’ve had enough?

This video focuses on “All Done.” When children don't yet have the words to tell us they are finished, they may communicate through actions like pushing things away, throwing toys, walking away, or becoming frustrated. “All Done” gives them a simple way to communicate that they have had enough and don't want to continue.

A child can communicate “All Done” with a word, a gesture, a sound, or even by showing you they are finished. What matters is that they have a way to express what they need.

When children learn that they can communicate when they are finished, they begin to understand that their communication can help others know what they want.

What research tells us?

Research on early communication shows that children benefit from having simple, functional ways to communicate their needs and wants. Words such as “All Done” give children a way to communicate that they have finished an activity, rather than relying only on behaviours such as crying, pushing, or walking away.

When children learn that their communication can help them end an activity or express that they have had enough, they are developing an important foundation for functional communication.

Communication does not have to start with perfect words. It can begin with a gesture, a sound, a word attempt, or another meaningful way of showing what they need.

What activities can you do?

You can teach “All Done” through simple everyday activities and play.

Use snack time. When your child starts pushing their food away, model “All done!” and show the gesture. Keep the words simple and consistent.

Try bubbles. Blow bubbles together, then pause when your child is finished. Model “All done!” when you put the bubbles away.

Use books, puzzles, or favourite toys. When the activity naturally comes to an end, say “All done!” and show your child what happens next.

Watch for your child’s own attempts to communicate. They might push something away, walk away, close a book, use a gesture, make a sound, or say part of the word. Acknowledge the attempt and model “All done!” naturally.

Pause often. Give your child time to show you they are finished. They don't need to say the whole phrase for their communication to count.

Watch the video

In this video, we explore why “All Done” is an important early communication concept for children with speech delay or who are non-verbal. You’ll learn how to teach this simple phrase through everyday routines and play, while giving your child meaningful ways to communicate when they have had enough.

Watch below to see how simple strategies can help your child communicate “All Done” and reduce frustration when activities come to an end.