What Gifts Help Improve Speech and Language Development?
When my children were young, I watched the Today Show every morning between the time they got on the bus and when I had to leave for school. It was only about fifteen minutes each morning during which I ate my breakfast and took a few minutes to psych myself up for the day.
Each year in the fall the Today Show has an episode about the hottest toys for Christmas. They would bring in some of the children of the Today’s Show staff to play with the toys they were recommending. The reporters would then ask the kids what they thought about the toys, so they were kid-approved! The Today Show is a live news program, so it was always fun to see what the kids would say!
We here at Seagull Speech and Language Services are often asked by parents
“What toys do you recommend to help with our child’s speech and language development?”
The toy industry is a money-making machine. The international toy market had revenue of over 94 billion dollars in 2020. That’s a lot of puzzles, cars, and dolls!
Before we get into types of toys we feel are helpful for speech and language development, we need to take a moment to address the importance of people games. People games are simply games that require “people” to play.
When you think back to your own childhood, what were the games your parents, grandparents, and siblings played with you? As an infant and toddler games like peekaboo, chase, and the tickle monster are wonderful ways to establish the understanding of turn-taking, engagement, and eye contact.
Many young children with speech and language delays may also have delays in fine motor skills, so manipulating small objects which are included in traditional toys may be challenging for them. Playing a game of “I’m going to get you” may be a great way to build anticipation and result in the expansion of language. This interaction would look like this:
Dad: I’m gonna get you!
Child: Starts to run away, squealing in delight.
Dad: (Catches up to child and scoops him/her into his arms) Got you!
Child: (Laughing and smiling) Down!
Dad: Oh, you want down?
Child: Down.
Dad: Say, “want down”.
Child: Want down.
Dad: I want _____ (looking at child expectantly).
Child: I want down.
Since we can’t wrap up Grandma and Grandpa in a big box as a gift for our toddlers so they can play “People Games”, let's take a look at toy options for children of all ages to help support speech and language skills.
Infants: Tummy time is crucial in gross motor development. It also plays a large role in speech and language development. When an infant is able to support themselves so they can sit upright, they are able to see a whole new world. This allows them to be able to engage in more eye contact with their caregivers and play “people games” such as peek-a-boo. The toy in the link below helps promote tummy time for infants.
Toddlers: Now that toddlers are up and moving, they love to play with toys that can move along with them. Toy cars, doll strollers, and trains can be great toys to allow them to engage in sensorimotor play. While engaging in play with items that move, they can make the motor sounds in a variety of ways which encourage sound play.
Preschoolers: At this age, pretend play is a fantastic way to expand a child’s language. The Melissa & Doug toy company specializes in wooden toys, but they also have great costumes for children to use for dress-up play. My nieces and nephews absolutely love them! Your favorite preschoolers can pretend to be construction workers, chefs, or police officers!
Grade School Students: When in doubt, choose books. Giving both non-readers and readers books is always an excellent idea. I love different authors for different reasons. If you aren’t sure which books to purchase, you can see what your child’s interests are by reaching out to their teachers or their school librarian to see what books they are drawn toward.
Middle School Student: Social communication skills are a truly valuable asset for middle school students. Relationships with their best friends play an ever-growing important role in the development of their social communication skills. This book may be really enjoyable for your student
High School Student: Role-playing apps like “Among Us” have been extremely popular with high school students over the months of isolation during the height of the pandemic when everyone was learning online. Now that students are returning to face-to-face interactions, they can continue to engage in role-playing games with peers. This card game may be a great option for teenagers during their Christmas break get-togethers.
At Seagull Speech and Language Services, we feel when selecting toys to support speech and language development it’s important to recognize the importance of engagement and interaction. The best way to improve communication skills is for children to have as many communicative opportunities throughout their day as possible. Oftentimes items such as empty boxes can be just as entertaining for young children as an expensive toy.
If you have more questions about the best toys to support your child’s speech and language skills, we would love to hear from you. You can email us at awaldmann@seagullspeechservices.com.