If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for the speech therapy must haves and toys. Here are a few staples I have collected over the years that have been worth their weight in gold! If you’re looking for part 1, check here!
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Today I’m going to chat with you about my speech therapy must have toys! Full disclosure on this: I don’t always carry these exact toys but I do have some type of variation. In other words, I have similar toys that can accomplish the same goals, which means you probably do as well.
In no particular order, here are a few of my speech therapy must haves when it comes to toys and why:
Critter Clinic
I found out about this toy during a CEU event and the moment I saw it, knew I needed it and immediately put it as one of my speech therapy must haves. Amazon has it listed for a ridiculous cost… however, you can get it from target for a much more affordable amount.
Why do I love it? I love Critter Clinic because you can target sooo many different goals with this toy! Looking for something to target expressive and receptive language? Critter Clinic- you can target positional words, vocabulary, requesting, answering questions, inferencing, problem solving… you name it, Critter Clinic can [probably] do it.
Looking to target articulation? Place mini objects or articulation cards in the slots! Speech therapy must have!
Learning Resources Surprise Boxes
I actually learned about this toy from a SLP on Instagram and was totally and completely influenced to buy it. I am so glad that I did! This is another versatile toy that can be used in a variety of ways and target a variety of goals. Vocabulary, answering questions, inferencing, positional words, requesting, the list goes on and on. Do it- add it to your speech therapy must haves list too!
Farm Set
I feel like this almost goes without saying… but farm sets are also expensive and can be difficult to find (with a decent amount of animals at least). My suggestion when it comes to a farm set is to build your farm from thrift stores and used toys. I have parents ask me all the time where my farm set came from; it’s a collection of animals and people I’ve collected over the years. Farm sets are important because, yep, you guessed it! They target soo many different goals. Anything from turn-taking to animal sounds, you cannot go wrong with a farm set!
Laugh and Learn Piggy Bank
Want to know what I love most about this pig? It’s easy to toddlers to use successfully. This toy actually requires quite a bit of use of coordination skills and fine motor because it requires you to drop the coin into the toy. Coins are easily accessed by opening the pig’s side and dumping them out. It also comes with animals printed on one side of the coin and a numbers on the other. PLUS here are more printable coins to make piggy even more exciting!
Ring Stackers, Puzzles, & Pop Toys
Anytime we can work on problem solving in addition to targeting our goals, it’s a go for me! That’s exactly what ring stackers, puzzles, and pop up toys can do! They require multiple motor skills for use, increase language and communication skills, and require some problem solving (making pieces fit into a puzzle, placing rings in order, and making the toys pop up. These are definitely speech therapy must haves!
Books
You knew this was coming, didn’t you? If you’ve been around for any amount of time- my number 1 resource for increase language in toddlers? Reading a book. If you’re looking for tips on reading with your toddler, check out this post! These days you will almost always find either an Usborne or Melissa and Doug poke-a-dot book in my bag.
iPad with manipulatives or toys
Finally, another speech therapy must have for me is my iPad. I carry it with me and will use it (with permission from parents) with my toddlers. My favorite apps are Super Simple (these videos can also be accessed on YouTube or Amazon Prime), Brown Bear by Eric Carle, Tiny Hands apps, and a subscription to THAT BOOK APP. I typically pair each app with an activity, book, or manipulative (farm animals, cars, puzzles, etc.). Stay in touch for a more indepth review of my favorite apps – coming soon!
Hold on a sec…
Before you go out and purchase these specific items, ask yourself a few things about the toys you currently have:
- What is my priority for the child? What do I want them to accomplish by using this toy?
- What are the specific targets I can do with this toy?
- Can I use this toy to target multiple items across multiple children and sessions?
If you can provide solid answers to each of these questions based on your toy- USE IT!
When it comes to engaging and playing with toddlers, we often have everything we need already. We just have to shift the way we are looking at the toy!
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