Top 5 Toys to Promote Language Development
Black Friday is just around the corner, and it's the perfect time to snag some amazing deals on toys that can aid in the development of children with speech delays. Children with speech delays often require toys that can stimulate their communication skills, encourage social interaction, and make learning fun. We've compiled a list of toys that are not only entertaining but also beneficial for children with speech delays:
#1 - Mr. Potato Head
Mr. Potato Head has been beloved for many generations. With its universal a-peel, the Create Your Potato Head Family toy makes a great holiday gift for toddlers, preschoolers, and kids ages 2 and up. It assists with the development of identifying body parts, identifying clothing and colors, following directions, and pretend play.
#2 - Bubble Wands
Bubbles of any kind help with the development of requesting, joint attention with others, turn-taking, and core vocabulary words like up, ready, set, go, pop, open, shut, and uh oh. These bubble wands are safely made with purified micro-filtered water. They contain zero phthalates and are kathon-free.
#3 - Farm / Barn Set
Farm and barn toy sets are great for helping identify animal names, imitating their sounds, and grasping basic concepts like in/out, on/under, next to, in front/behind, top/bottom, and on/off. They are also helpful with answering “WH” questions like who, what, when, where, why, and how.
#4 - Stacking and Nesting Cups
Children love to fit toy cups together, stack them up, or turn them over and hide things underneath. These toys are great for assisting with development of basic concepts like in/out, on/under, next to, in front/behind, top/bottom, on/off. They are also great for helping develop an understanding of sizes big and small, colors, counting skills, problem-solving skills, fine motor skills, and motor planning skills.
#5 - Books
Picture books with vibrant images and simple text are perfect for children with speech delays. Reading together can encourage communication and expand their vocabulary. Here are a few books we love to read with children.
BOOK #1: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
This book uses carrier phrases – a simple sentence used to increase a child’s sentence length. For example, “I see a ____.” It is also great for describing animals and increasing vocabulary.
BOOK #2: Melissa & Doug Old MacDonald's Farm
These pop books are interactive and keep children engaged. They can be used to work on joint attention, counting, and identifying animals and objects as well as their sounds.
BOOK #3: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
This book increases vocabulary. You can describe foods by their taste/texture (crunchy, juicy, sweet, sour), color, size, shape and category they belong in.
Happy Black Friday shopping!
If you have concerns about your child’s speech development and would like an expert opinion, please contact us at admin@greatergoodtherapy.com.