I love to use Facebook to post quick product finds and brief app, books, games and toys recommendations, but then they’re gone, never to be seen again. Ha! So, here they are all in one place!
App
Silly Sentences
Looking for an engaging app to help your kids practice speech sounds? “Silly sentences” is a great one to try! It targets s, z, sh, ch, l, th, and r sounds, AND provides absurd/funny sentences that contain the target sound you are working on with your kiddo. I typically have my clients read/repeat the sentence while working on producing their sounds correctly. Then I have them fix the sentence in their own words, so it makes sense (this targets language) while also working on producing the right target sounds.
Best part? The app is so funny (well, kid humor) that it doesn’t feel like a lot of work for little ones!
Get it here!
Games
This or That
This or That? Has anyone tried this game? I saw it while I was out shopping the other day and thought it’d be a great way for kids to practice social skills. For one, these questions are great conversation starters. AND, it provides opportunities to try and guess your friend’s answers based on what you know about them, which is a good social inferencing skill that many kids have difficulty with. Looks like a fun time!
Get it here!
Farm Alarm
Whoa! How adorable is this Farm Alarm game by Fat Brain Toys? The skills required for this game would be best with kids in preschool or early elementary school. Players are required to use memory and sequencing skills to win the game. Basically, you have to memorize the order of animal sounds with some “surprise” actions thrown in on occasion as well. And if you forget, it’s time for the piggy to squeal at you! Sure to get some laughs! I might just have to get this game for myself since I’m so obsessed with pigs!
Get it here!
Last Letter
I spotted this game while I was out shopping a few weeks ago and it looks like a ton of fun for grade school kiddos! Oh yea, and it looks like a great game for working on vocabulary and phonological awareness skills. In a nutshell, players have to think of a word (that starts with the last letter of the last word from the previous round) that describes a picture scene. I can see my older therapy students getting a kick out of this game. How would you use this game with your kids?
Get it here!
Books
First Words
First word books are always on my list to include as part of a baby shower gift. I have quite a few at home and at the clinic too! My 2.5-year-old still loves reading them. Besides teaching basic vocabulary, there are other things you do with word books. You can have your child label items by function or feature (Which one do you use for cleaning? Which one has feathers?) You can also have a beginning talker tell you one or two details about each picture. For example “big car,” or “red bird.” Older kids can practice making up a sentence about each picture as well. So fun! Here are some good options I have.
Toddler Tools Series
I love using books to help teach social skills and positive behaviors. The Toddler Tools Series is one of the best I’ve found out there for young kids (toddler and preschool age). I have five of these books for William, who is two years old, and I will probably order a few more before it’s all said and done.
We currently have “Mealtime,” “Listening Time,” “Manners Time” “Hands are not for Hitting” and my favorite, “Calm-down Time.” The stories are short and to the point and they give kids tools/suggestions for learning important skills. And who doesn’t love a good sturdy board book?
Check ’em out here!
Toys
Imaginetics Dino Land
Imaginetics Dino Land is another favorite travel toy! It’s great at keeping Will entertained out in public. It fits in my purse and I cart it to restaurants and waiting rooms. It also helps kids follow directions,(“put the dinosaur below the volcano”), answer questions (“where is the stegosaurus?”) and keep kids somewhat quiet (that counts as a social skill, right? Ha!)
We have the Dino Land and Puppy & Friends sets for home. I also have the train set at the clinic. Love these.
Get it here!
V-Tech Touch and Learn Desk
As of late, William has been obsessed with this V-Tech Touch and Learn Desk. It’s an interactive learning table that is a ton of fun for little ones. Often, Will goes into his playroom and works at his table by himself for a bit (yay for some mom free time!) It comes with five different and engaging desktop pages. There are also various expansion packs sold separately (we have the preschool pack) It helps kids answer questions, learn about various vocabulary concepts and phonological awareness skills.
Get the table here! And, expansion pack here.
Leapfrog’s 2-in-1 Leaptouch
I seriously love all things Leapfrog! Leapfrog’s 2-in-1 Leaptouch is a cool little number. It’s one of my son’s favorite toys and it’s packed with a lot of learning activities and games.
The main feature is that it helps teach letters and numbers in a fun and engaging way! There are also little games to play and role-playing activities a child can do like pretending to send/receive emails. Can’t beat fun and educational.
This picture is from this past spring. I was doing work on the floor because this is the best spot in the house to watch William as he plays in various areas. He grabbed his “computer” to work alongside his mama.
PlayMags
So, I discovered Play Mags on Amazon, and they are amazing. I was looking for a cheaper alternative to some of the more expensive magnet tiles out there, and this is what I found. They are worth every penny because I know Will will use these for years. I splurged for the 100 piece and figured I was actually saving myself money by purchasing a less expensive (but still quality) brand. There are so many different things you can do with Play Mags to promote speech-language skills:
- Brainstorm ideas together of something you can build. Then have your child explain to you how they think they will use the tiles to accomplish the design.
- Target shapes/colors, since there are a variety of tiles.
- Introduce a new vocabulary world like “attraction” (not related to dating) to describe how the tiles stick together.
Highly recommend!
Get the 100 piece set here. Other options here.
And, that’s it! Stay tuned for more of my favorite games and toys!
Let me know what some of your favorites are!
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