The SOS button: urgent words one tap away in Talking Cards

Talking Cards opens as a learning board. Tap a card, hear the word, see it held up big.

The talking board tools are extras that a grown-up switches on. The SOS button is one of them. It stays hidden until you turn it on.

If you chose "Talk with pictures" when you first set up the app, SOS may already be showing. If not, here is how to add it.

The emergency board is part of the free app. You don't need to unlock anything to use it.

Press and hold the gear at the top right for 3 seconds. A short sum appears in "For grown-ups". Tap the right answer and the Parent panel opens.

Find the section called Talking board (AAC). It has five chips: Sentence strip, Quick words row, SOS button, Emergency word rail and Color by word type. Each one turns on by itself, so you can pick only the ones you want.

Tap SOS button so the chip fills in. In this picture, the Sentence strip and Quick words row are on too. You don't need them for SOS.

Tap Done. You are back on the board.

A red SOS button now sits in the top row of the board, next to the other buttons along the top.

It's worth showing your child where it is. Point to it, tap it together, and close it again. That way the button is familiar before it is ever needed.

Tap SOS. A sheet called Emergency slides up with 12 phrases:

• I need help
• I am hurt
• I feel sick
• I need the bathroom
• I am scared
• Please stop
• I cannot breathe
• I need a quiet place
• Call my parent
• Where is my family?
• Yes
• No

One tap speaks a phrase right away. There is nothing to build and no extra button to press.

See it on a larger screen

On a tablet or an unfolded phone, the phrases are laid out with more room.

At the bottom of the sheet there is a Quiet place button.

Tapping it opens the Quiet place directly. It's a quiet place to rest and breathe, with a few simple activities and a "How do I feel?" row of feelings cards.

If you would rather this button weren't on the sheet, you can turn it off. In the Parent panel, go to the Quiet place section and tap A door in SOS so it is off.

The 12 phrases are a starting point. You know which words your child needs most.

To change them, open the Parent panel and tap the Emergency board row. There you can turn the ready-made phrases on or off and add your own.

You might swap a phrase for one that fits your child better, such as a sibling's name or the word your family uses for a favorite comfort item. Short and clear works best on a small button.

Practice when things are calm. Tap a phrase together during an ordinary moment so the sheet feels familiar.

Keep the phone or tablet where your child can reach it. The SOS button can only help if the device is close by.

Let caregivers know. A grandparent, babysitter or teacher who hears "Call my parent" from the app should know what it means and what to do.