The clinic is full to the brim with toys and resources, but still we like to purchase new things when we see them! Here is our (current) list of Top Ten Toys for speech therapy (0-6 yrs). You will notice some old favourites and some newcomers to our list.
1. Tips Ahoy! by Melissa & Doug
This is a great game for 4 yrs and over. You need to balance wooden pirate pieces on a ship and then move a bumpy or calm sea card across the water. See how many pirates can stay on!
How do we use it? Motivation for different articulation goals, ‘p’ or ‘r’ (pirate) or ‘s’ (seas) phoneme goals.
2. Animal Hospital by Parents
This box has 6 animals that can be put in a cage and locked with a different key. Key colours match door colours. There are also some vet instruments included.
How do we use it? Animal sounds, imaginative play, phoneme ‘k’ (key) or (sick).
3. Mix and Match Flower Garden by Just Like Home – Toys R Us
Six flower stems can be planted in a plastic planter pot. The petals and leaves can be changed around. Why not add some plastic insects and pair of gardening gloves to your play?
How do we use it? Verbs (dig, put), Location words (in,out), Phonemes fl (flower) or l (leaf), imaginative play and garden vocabulary.
4. Whose Nose? by ELC
Six animal cards with missing noses. Reach into the bag and pull out a nose to fit onto the correct card.
Great for 2 years and up.
How do we use it? Animal sounds/signs, Phoneme n, s (nose).
5. Pop it in the Post by ELC
Six ‘envelopes’ with matching stamps and letters to be posted. The envelope has an animal to be matched to the stamps and letters. All kinds of ways to play this game with and without the dice. Opening and closing the postbox is very exciting!
How do we use it? Matching, Location (on, in), Phonemes p (post), n (in,on), l (letter) st (stamp).
6. Chipper Chat by Superduper Inc.
There is a whole range of different Chipper Chat kits. We have the Artic Chipper Chat which has sound loaded scenes for k,g,l,f,s,sh,ch,r and more. Most children adore using the magic wand to pick up the magnetic coins!
How we use it – Articulation goals, phonological awareness (initial sounds) and motivation.
7. DK My First Animals
There are about 12 animals in this set. Each one is on stiff cardboard with a touchy/feely patch. The cards are large for little hands and can take a lot of rough treatment. Great for posting games with toddlers.
How we use them – animal sounds and names. Imitation skills.
8. Birthday Cake (or Cut-Up Fruit)
There are many cut and play versions of this birthday cake available. All of them have velcro pieces to stick the cake together and holes to insert the candles. You can use them with children 2 years and older.
How we use it – Imitation skills (blowing out candles, cutting and sticking pieces), Phoneme k (cake, candle, cut), action songs (happy birthday).
9. Zingo Bingo
Zingo Bingo has a few different versions now – numbers, sight words, CVC words and early vocabulary. Most children 3 years and up enjoy using the magic ‘machine’ where the tiles pop out ready to be matched to a bingo card.
How we use it – Phonological awareness, early matching and some articulation targets.
10. Mr Potato Head by Hasbro
What can we say? One of the best tools for those working in early intervention.
Happy playtime! Let us know your favourites!