Holiday Toy List to Support Speech-Language Development
The holiday season is here and parents may be wondering which toys they can buy for their child that also support their development. The best toys to support your child’s speech and language development are traditional, timeless toys that do not make noises or talk for your child. When a toy talks to a child, parents talk less, which causes the child to be less engaged and therefore vocalize less. Ditching the batteries and getting back to the basics is key. Less is more when it comes to choosing toys that are developmentally appropriate for your child.
Here is a list of non-tech toys that are favorites amongst speech-language pathologists to boost a child’s communication and social interaction:
Traditional, timeless toys
Traditional toys are open-ended and can be used in a variety of ways to increase communication, social interactions, and play skills.
Simple, turn-taking games
Simple, turn-taking games teach children how to engage in back-and-forth interactions with others.
Books
Reading to your children is essential for developing early literacy skills and vocabulary.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Cause-and-effect toys
Cause-and-effect toys are great for beginning communicators to get them involved and engaged. The cool effects will get your child asking for “more”!
Building blocks and puzzles
Building blocks and puzzles develop early problem-solving skills. Label items in puzzles to increase your child’s vocabulary.
