Toys and Language Learning

Favorite Summer Toy for Early Speech & Language Development: The Water Table {Blog Hop & GIVEAWAY!}

May 30, 2014 by Katie 45 Comments

I am THRILLED to be partnering up with some fantastic therapy bloggers this week to bring you valuable recommendations and information AND provide you a chance to WIN a gift card to Amazon so you can purchase a new summer toy for the child(ren) in YOUR life! Here’s how it works: Each of the participating bloggers, who are physical therapists, occupational therapists or speech-language pathologists, will be sharing the developmental benefits of their favorite summer toy with us. HOP around and {Read More}

Filed Under: Blog Hops, Toys and Language Learning

Ultimate Gift Guide Round-Up for Speech, Language, Social and Sensory Development! {& Gift Ideas for the SLPs in Your Life Too!}

December 9, 2013 by Katie 1 Comment

With the holidays here, the last couple weeks I have shared three posts for you with my gift ideas to help with speech & language skills. However some of my fellow SLP friends (And one of my Occupational therapy friends!) have ALSO shared their gift ideas for speech, language, social and sensory development! I wanted to provide you all with ALL these AMAZING gift guides in ONE PLACE for your shopping convenience…so here they are! In addition…since so many of {Read More}

Filed Under: Books and Literacy Activities, Games, Gift Ideas, Toys and Language Learning

15+ Stocking Stuffer Ideas to Expand Speech & Language Development {Birth to Five}

December 2, 2013 by Katie 1 Comment

With Christmas just around the corner, we are all thinking about what to get our little ones. I don’t know about you but I find stocking stuffers to be a bit challenging! Kids don’t always love getting socks and underwear in there and I don’t want to fill them up with candy either! So I thought I would expand on my list of 25+ Gift Ideas to Expand Speech (& Language) Skills in young children with some socking stuffer ideas that {Read More}

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Toys and Language Learning

Melissa & Doug Terrific 25 List and Giveaway! {And My Top Picks for Speech & Language}

November 20, 2013 by Katie Leave a Comment

On Monday I shared my tips for selecting quality toys this holiday season to expand your child’s speech & language development. In that post, I also shared some of my favorite toy brands, including Melissa & Doug. In fact, several of my 25 Best Gift suggestions to expand speech and language skills are made by Melissa & Doug. So when I heard they were doing a “25 Days of Terrific 25” Giveaway on their Facebook page to celebrate their Terrific 25 Gift List (the “best {Read More}

Filed Under: Giveaways, Toys and Language Learning

25+ Best Gifts To Expand Your Child’s Speech Development {Birth to Five}

November 19, 2013 by Katie 9 Comments

I am often asked as an SLP what types of toys and gifts I would recommend to help expand speech and language development in young children. If you have been a reader for a while, you probably already know that I am huge supporter of PLAY and the use of open ended toys as well as providing multi sensory learning and play experiences for our little ones. Yesterday, I shared my Tips for Selecting Quality Toys this Holiday Season and {Read More}

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Holiday Gift Ideas, Toys and Language Learning

Tips for Selecting Quality Toys this Holiday Season {to Expand Your Child’s Speech & Language Development}

November 18, 2013 by Katie 10 Comments

With the holidays here the shopping has commenced. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends are busy trying to find good, quality toys to give as gifts to the children in their lives. As a pediatric speech language pathologist, I happen to be very passionate about this subject. I am a firm believer that PLAY is at the core of our children’s overall development, especially when it comes to speech and language development. Play is the work of children and much {Read More}

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Holiday Gift Ideas, Toys and Language Learning

10 Tips for Selecting Toys for Your Speech Delayed Child {Friendship Circle}

June 25, 2013 by Katie 1 Comment

I’m over at the Friendship Circle Blog today sharing my 10 tips for selecting toys for your speech delayed chid. I get asked ALL THE TIME about what toys are the best for speech and language development. In one word: SIMPLE! Here is a little sneak peak of what I am sharing over there…. 1. Ditch the Batteries My first recommendation, is to skip the batteries. If the toy requires batteries, you probably don’t want it. OR…if it takes batteries, {Read More}

Filed Under: The Friendship Circle Blog, Toys and Language Learning

Why EVERY Child Should Have a Baby Doll

November 25, 2012 by Katie 2 Comments

If you’ve been following my blog for nay length of time, you know how passionate I am about children’s toys . I have written many posts on on the subject of toys and language learning and have more in the works. So, I was BEYOND excited when my friend Christie from MamaOT, a pediatric occupational therapist, contacted me about collaborating on a post all about the importance of baby dolls in children’s development. Especially in respect to boys having dolls. Together {Read More}

Filed Under: Collaborative Posts, Toys and Language Learning

What Your Toddler REALLY Needs to Learn {HINT: You Don’t Need Any of Those “Educational Toys”}

June 25, 2012 by Katie 18 Comments

Have you been to a toddler’s birthday party recently? Have you been there to watch the birthday boy or girl open the presents? (Ok…let’s face it….often it’s the parents opening the presents…but I digress…) If so…You have probably seen them. The bright, talking, light up, toys that move and sing. “Activity tables” and “books” and pull toys…even stacking toys, rattles, teethers, and balls….all that are hard, plastic, and make noise. Yes, even the teethers are “educational.” Aren’t teethers supposed to {Read More}

Filed Under: Parenting, Toys and Language Learning

Buckaroo-Great for Reinforcement, Language, and Articulation

June 12, 2012 by Katie 2 Comments

I’ve written many posts about the different toys and games that I recommend for both parents and SLPs to use to work on speech and language skills both in therapy sessions and in the home. One of the games that I have gotten a TON of use out over the years is Buckaroo. That is, until he stopped working! That was a sad, sad day my friends. Especially for my little friends who loved playing. So you can imagine my {Read More}

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Games, Language Enrichment Activities for Parents, Therapy Ideas and Activities, Therapy Materials and Product Recomendations, Toys and Language Learning

One of Our Favorite “Toys” on a Rainy Day

March 26, 2012 by Katie 6 Comments

All of a sudden…it’s raining. After a very dry winter, spring has finally brought us rain! I actually LOVE LOVE LOVE rain. I always have. I am an odd one who gets all excited when I wake up to clouds and gloom. Except that this time the rain has come and ruined our plans two weekends in a row. Sigh. Last weekend we made use of the rain and got a TON of spring cleaning done around the house (did {Read More}

Filed Under: Parenting, Play, Toys and Language Learning

Top Toys & How They Can Support Speech & Language Development (Part Four)

February 28, 2012 by Katie 4 Comments

Welcome to the final of my Top Toys series! To read more about why I am doing this series, please check out Part One HERE. You can also check out part two HERE and part three HERE. I am writing these posts to help parents pick good, quality toys for their infants, toddlers and preschoolers that can be used to help support speech and language development. As I share with you my personal top picks for toys for infants, toddlers {Read More}

Filed Under: How to Help Your Child Talk, Language Enrichment Activities for Parents, Play, Therapy Ideas and Activities, Therapy Materials and Product Recomendations, Toys and Language Learning