By: Lindsay Barret M.S., CF-SLP
The best part about language is that it’s everywhere! The following list of toys and games are excellent to use when promoting language:
Cause & Effect Toys
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- Ring stack
- Jack in the box
- Marble run
- Shape sorter
What do these toys facilitate?
Single words and short phrases: “Open”, “close”, “put in”, “put on”, “up”, “down”, “push”, “ready, set, go!”, “you go”, “I go”, “my turn”, and “your turn”
Vocabulary: colors, shapes
Problem-solving skills
Puzzles
What do puzzles facilitate?
Introducing vocabulary (animals, food, clothing, tools, sports, colors, shapes, modes of transportation)
Basic concepts: numbers, sizes
Turn-taking: “you go”, “I go”, “my turn”, “your turn”
Matching skills
Dollhouses
What does a dollhouse facilitate?
Pronouns, vocabulary: (household items, furniture), categories, verbs, adjectives, sequencing, prepositions,
Pretend Play Skills
Kitchen & Food Sets
What can this facilitate?
Verbs, nouns: (appliances/utensils), categories, adjectives, sequential terms, pretend play skills
Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head
What can this facilitate?
Clothing items, adjectives, pronouns, body parts, functions of objects (What do we wear on our head? What helps us see?), size concepts, pretend play skills
Play-Doh or Legos
What can this facilitate?
Anything you’re able to create! Let your imagination and inner artist run wild!
Nouns: (clothing, animals, tools, shapes, modes of transportation) adjectives, verbs, pretend play skills
Hedbanz
What can this facilitate?
Functions of objects, nouns: (animals, food, clothing, instruments), verbs, formulating questions
Language is all around us! It’s important to flood children with language input and model language for them for produce. It’s also helpful to encourage children to communicate when using the above toys by keeping toys out of reach or keeping containers of toys closed. This way, they must make their needs and wants known to engage in play.
Lastly, incorporating repetitive songs into your routine and allowing children to “fill in the blank” during play is a fun way to encourage speech and language.
Grab a toy off the shelf and help your child find their voice!