teachmetotalk.com

My Big Announcement…

Laura — Wed, 28 May 2025 17:55:25 +0000

I’ve waited a very long time for this…

It’s actually a dream 29 years in the making!

I am thrilled to announce that my daughter, Macy Mize Usher, will be joining me officially at teachmetotalk!

She’s been hanging around unofficially for a while now…

When she was 7, her darling drawing of a little boy and little girl inspired teachmetotalk’s first logo.

There she is on my first B-roll sitting on my lap as we wrapped the video shoot for my premiere DVD back in 2008.

She accompanied me during therapy visits from the time she was 2 until she left for college. Many of my little friends liked her way more than me!

Anytime I could justify pulling her out of school, she traveled with me and could be spotted hanging around the sign-in table at conferences. This was an event in 2013 in Louisiana…

Here we are at KSHA (Kentucky’s annual Speech, Language, and Hearing Association’s convention for speech-language pathologists) in 2017 when she was studying to be a speech-language pathologist at the University of Kentucky, and probably too humble (and – embarrassed!) to tell her friends in her undergrad program that her mother would be speaking…

During those years, she was mortified when she would arrive at a practicum site and see one of my therapy manuals on her supervisor’s desk.

Last week, one of her current client’s mothers sent her a text when she followed her on social media and figured out that I’m her mom. That’s just how I like it… I’m Macy’s mom, one of my favorite titles ever!

As I’ve joked before, even when she was in grad school, she could never listen to my podcast without falling asleep. I sure hope she’s over that now since this summer, she’ll be joining me as my co-host!

Like most proud parents when their child grows up and joins the family business, I’d like to take credit for all she’s become, but the truth is, Macy’s been blazing her own path for quite a while.

I’m so happy I was finally able to lure her away from a position she loves as speech-language pathologist for University of Kentucky with UK Pediatric Therapies and their autism diagnostics team with UK’s Developmental Peds Multi-disciplinary Autism Assessment Clinic.

She’ll be bringing that wealth of experience along with all her new ideas, her own philosophies and opinions (which sometimes don’t quite line up with mine!), and a bonafide breath of fresh air as we begin the next generation of teachmetotalk.com which I’m calling Teach Me To Talk: Take Two!

Now she’ll also be able to devote more time to creating content for her own darling YouTube channel, Hey Macy! which hit 2 million views in her first 2 years!

At her insistence, teachmetotalk will finally be back on social media. She’s taking the reins on all that so I can get back to doing what I like most — writing! We have so many wonderful projects lined up including a website reboot, updated versions of my therapy manuals, and new courses galore.

Her goal is for us to be back on the road with live courses again this fall, even though she’s expecting her second child (my 5th grandbaby!) Thanksgiving week. Realistically, that phase of the dream may have to wait until 2026, but she’s very determined, so we’ll see…

As I first mentioned on the dedication page of one of my therapy manuals when she was about 14, if she keeps this up, she’s going to work me right out of a job.

That’s the plan, anyway!

But not for the next 20 years…

We’re both so grateful to God for this blessing.

Please join me in welcoming her!

The post My Big Announcement… appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

Speech Therapy Toy Picks for 2024 for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays

Laura — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 18:46:11 +0000

This year I’ve found some wonderful NEW choices for speech therapy toy picks for 2024 for toddlers and preschoolers with language delays.

I’ve included some of the toys that made the cut this year in my Stages of Play Podcast series (currently ongoing!), but these are NEW additions and I’ll be adding them to my Best Toys for Speech Therapy List. Please check out that list too! It’s grouped by developmental age range and has loads of fantastic information for you to help you choose the right toys and make your work – and their play – easier and more fun for the both of you.

In this post, I’m listing individual toys along with a few ideas to get you started teaching language, both at home and in clinical settings.

You’ll also find Amazon links to each toy to streamline your shopping. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn a small commission from these purchases. It’s a great way to support our work at teachmetotalk.com – especially if you’re looking to add to your toy inventory or shop for children for the holidays.

Happy Shopping!

Santa Wobbler

I LOVE this cute wobbler toy for our youngest friends in speech therapy. It’s perfect for babies who are working on tummy time, using their hands and playing purposefully, and it’s a good choice for teaching the beginning levels of cause and effect and intentionality when a child is beginning to play. If you’d like other Christmas themed toys, check out this list.

Lollipop Drum

Music toys are always fun for toddlers, and I love this lollipop drum set. I teach early imitation with this all… the… time.

If you’re looking for more of a music set, here’s a good option too. My favorite thing to do with this is to have a parade – even if it’s just mom, a kid, and me.

iPlay Cars

I found these cars a couple of months ago and they have become one of my all-time favorite toys! They’re so easy for little hands to push — great for teaching functional play and cause and effect! For language, I like working on lots of play sounds – vehicle sounds like a motor sound, beep beep, crash, boom, and screeching brakes as well as the animal sounds for each car. Another obvious language goal is using the classic verbal routine… “Ready Set Go!”

Community Helper Blocks

This Montessori inspired block set is like my favorite set of blocks on this list, but instead of farm animals, the blocks include cars, trucks, and people making it a fantastic choice for expanding a child’s vocabulary and play skills.

Melissa and Doug Barn Puzzle

I love this half puzzle/half shape sorter toy. It’s a great step for kids who aren’t doing puzzles yet. For minimally verbal kids, work on animal sounds. For receptive language, target animal names as in “Show me the pig.” or “Find the one that says ‘oink.’ ”

Talking Cactus

I usually detest voice-activated toys because they usually don’t work, but this one does! It’s tacky for sure, and I don’t care for the packaged songs, BUT it detects and repeats a child’s vocalizations pretty well — if the child is close enough to the microphone. Hearing their own voices can be very reinforcing for many quiet toddlers.

Bilbo

This is a fabulous choice for inside gross motor play. One of my favorite quotes a darling 3 year old said to me when he played with this toy the first time was … “This is so fun!” What an endorsement! Use it between other “sit down” activities to help a child regulate and get to his “just right place” for listening and learning. Play “Row Row Your Boat” by taking a child’s hands as he sits in the Bilbo and rock him as you sing the song. Most toddlers love to be dumped out and you can create a verbal routine by counting to build anticipation as you say something like, “1..2..3…Dump!” or “Dump…you…. out!”

Toddler Scavenger Hunt

I LOVE working on receptive language when toddlers think it’s a game. These cards make working on following directions very “game-like’ and will be a winner for sure. Use it to target simple one or two-step (or more!) commands. Examples are… “Find a book. Point to a picture or word.” and “Can you find a chair? Sit on it and sing a song.” It’s a great way to teach parents how to play these kinds of listening games at home. It’s like an easier version of Brain Quest cards … which I also love! I use them to help slow busy preschoolers down to listen and follow directions. The card sets below are for 2’s, 3’s, and 4- 5.

Imitation Board Book

The SLP author of this darling book emailed me to tell me that my levels of imitation from Building Verbal Imitation in Toddlers was the inspiration for this super cute way to target teaching a child to imitate. I love it and I know you will too!

Basketball Hoop

If you work in an office setting and don’t have a toddler basketball goal, order this one now! I have used mine for every kind of a child from helping busy toddlers learn to complete (and stay with me!) during a beginning play routine, for verbal routines… “1, 2, 3… Shoot!”… and for a vital part of an obstacle course for older toddlers and preschoolers. Pair it with a slide and/or tunnel and you have a inside “sensory gym” of your own, great for our most active friends who need to move regardless of the weather! So many moms I’ve worked with have found a way to squeeze these into their homes to bring outside play indoors for the winter.

Crayons and Coloring Book for Toddlers

If you have a young child who likes art and drawing — or needs to learn to like it — this is a super beginning set. My daughter, also an SLP, found this for her little boy and I love it so much, I’ve bought a set to use too. The pictures are not busy and easily recognizable by toddlers who are learning language. It’s a wonderful preschool readiness activity.

Fisher Price Garage

This is such a reasonably priced classic toy that provides endless play opportunities for toddlers for many years. Use it for teaching every level of language from play sounds (all those car noises – even filling up with gas!), to early words, to short phrases. It’s always a big hit with both boys and girls. At the time of this post, it’s 30% for Black Friday on Amazon.

Kitchen Play Sets

This versatile set is fun for toddlers of all developmental levels. Toddlers are captivated by learning to cut the food themselves. I love the dress-up component when a child first begins to pretend. Target all kinds of words and play routines with this set — which comes in a box for easy transport and clean up.

Or SPLURGE and buy a play kitchen that’s not too visually overstimulating for a home or an office. I love this one. It’s been in my Save for Later cart since we moved to our new office.

Need more ideas? Check out my Ultimate Toy List for Speech Therapy with Toddlers.

The post Speech Therapy Toy Picks for 2024 for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

Stage 8 Toy List for Early Roles and Pretending with Peers from Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays

Laura — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:41:18 +0000

Here’s the toy list for recommended toys for Stage 8: Early Role Play and Pretending with Peers and New Events from Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays from #473.

Developmental Age Range: 36 – 48 months

Our primary focuses for play here at Stage 8 are helping kids learn to…

Include more steps so thata child can continue to expand play routines.
Take on new roles during play including events they haven’t directly participated in like being a fire fighter
Talk for dolls/characters during play routines
Direct play by telling others what to do and changing the storyline
Become more symbolic by using an object to represent another object
Continue to improve fine motor play

Here’s a list of links followed by descriptions of the toys. Click the blue link to go to Amazon to read more about and purchase the toy.

As an Amazon affiliate, we receive a tiny commission from your purchase, and it’s a great way to support our work!

PUZZLES

Preschoolers are now ready for jigsaw puzzles. Here are some excellent puzzles to help 3’s learn to complete traditional jigsaw puzzles — an important visual perceptual skill and fine motor skill that prepares a child for reading and writing. For puzzles with lots of pieces, don’t dump the whole thing out! Take only 2 or 3 pieces out and then help a child see how to put them back into the puzzle. Gradually take out more pieces to help a child learn how to complete more of the puzzle. Teach a child to use the visual cues from the packaging/box to help him look for ‘clues’ to complete the puzzle.

This I Spy Preschool Game contains 1 easy jigsaw piece per game piece, so it’s a great way to help a child learn the concept of pushing the pieces together. Watch strategies for using this toy in therapy at Stage 8 in podcast #473.

Melissa and Doug Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles

Watch strategies for using puzzles toy in therapy at Stage 8 in podcast #473.

Melissa and Doug Puzzle Set

Easier Jigsaw Puzzles for Transition

Melissa and Doug Cube Puzzles

REPLICA TOY SETS

Kids are this stage of play are ready for smaller toy sets that represent larger items. These toys are fantastic for longer sequences of pretend play.

Watch strategies for using this toy in therapy at Stage 8 in podcast #473.

BLOCKS

At this stage, children learn to build 3D structures to supplement their play. Kids can go big with this activity and use the larger blocks for houses, tunnels, forts, and roads. Or they can think small, and use smaller blocks for making pens for animals or houses for their small characters. Watch strategies for using this toy in therapy at Stage 8 in podcast #473.

Cardboard Blocks

Block Set

DRESS UP

Early role play is easier with costumes! Provide a variety of options for toddlers who don’t want to put on the whole costume (due to preference or tactile defensiveness) with vests, sunglasses, shoes, hats, and smaller accessories. Watch strategies for using this toy in therapy at Stage 8 in podcast #473.

Dress Up Vest Set

Dress Up Hats

Princess Dress Up Set

Doctor/Vet Dress Up

Fire Fighter

BIRTHDAY PARTY

Preschoolers love to play birthday party and props make it more fun! Add birthday hats, horns, and balloons along with a cake and pretend presents. Here are some ideas…

Watch strategies for using this toy in therapy at Stage 8 in podcast #473.

Birthday Cake

Tea Party Set

Play Doh Birthday Set

Counting Surprise Party

RESTAURANT

Preschoolers love to play some version of ‘restaurant’ like these options:

Ice Cream Shop

EARLY GAMES

Teach kids with language delays to play games with an adult first and then add other kids.

Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel

Let’s Go Fishin’

Jumping Jack Rabbit Game

The post Stage 8 Toy List for Early Roles and Pretending with Peers from Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

Stage 7 Toy List for New Jobs and New Events from Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays

Laura — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 15:45:49 +0000

Here’s the toy list for recommended toys for Stage 7: New Jobs and New Events from Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays from podcast #472.

Our primary focuses for play here at Stage 7 are helping kids learn to…

Include more steps so that they continue to expand their play routines.
Take on a specific role in play
Talk to dolls/characters during play routines
Organize or gather toys for play
Become more symbolic by using an object to represent another object
Continue to improve fine motor play

Here’s a list of links followed by descriptions of the toys. Click the blue link to go to Amazon to read more about and purchase the toy.

As an Amazon affiliate, we receive a tiny commission from your purchase, and it’s a great way to support our work!

WOODEN PUZZLES

Kids are now ready for more complexity with inset puzzles (matching black and white picture to color picture or matching the piece by shape only with no picture) and for very simple jigsaw puzzles. Target words like “match” and “same.” Teach them how to look for connecting pieces by talking out loud as you put the puzzle together such as, “I see the elephant’s leg, but where’s his foot? Let’s find his foot.” Get the handout for #472 for sample scripts as you teach while you play.

Melissa and Doug Magnetic Puzzles

No pictures are under the puzzle to match so that a child relies on looking at the shape, a more difficult cognitive skill

Wooden Construction Puzzles … Early JigSaw puzzles with a limited number of pieces

Ladder Puzzles… graded 6 puzzle set from 3 to 8 pieces

TOYS TO PRACTICE FINE MOTOR CONTROL

Magnetic Bird Feeding Game (I called it a woodpecker on the podcast!) is a fun way to practice controlling little hands! Your language targets are prepositional
phrases with “in” and “out.”

Stringing Beads is a classic activity for teaching fine motor coorindation and sequencing. Practice remembering 3 items to find and string. Larger bead sets are usually best to start.

Animals Set Stringing Beads

Community Helper Beads

Community Helper Blocks for New Roles/New Events

Graduated Blocks and other blocks are a great way to practice stacking.

TOYS WITH KEYS

Toys with Keys provide a super fun way to target fine motor skills and the perfect opportunity to practice asking and answering questions like, ”What key opens this door?” “Where’s the key?” “Who is hiding in there?” “What’s ___ doing?” and begin to ask “Why?” questions.

B Animal Hospital

B Garage with Keys

Melissa and Doug House with keys

Melissa & Doug Toy Keys and Cars Wooden Rescue Vehicles and Garage

BABY DOLL ACCESSORIES

Dolls and characters are a great investment and will be fun for a long time! Add larger accessories like a stroller, a high chair, or a doll bed to promote additional options for new jobs and new events as well as sequencing more actions. At stage 7, a child begins to talk to a doll as a playmate and these activities are perfect for helping a child learn to do that. Most toddlers will like giving commands like, “Sit down baby.” or “Eat this cookie baby.” Or “Baby. Time to go. Bye bye baby.” Get more ideas in podcast #472.

Baby Doll Stroller

Baby Doll Crib

Baby Doll Set with High Chair

HOUSE SET and ADD ON ACTIVITIES

Think about vocabulary development as you take out the pieces and name them in preparation to play. You can work on asking/answering questions as you ask “What’s that?” and “Where does it go?” to set up your house. Look for sets with lots of options for targeting “ing” words — cooking, taking a bath, eating, and playground activities like swinging, climbing, sliding, etc. Help a child learn to include 3 or more actions or steps with the characters. Keep thinking… “What’s the next thing this character could do?” and encourage a child with that action. House sets and add on toys like the swimming pool provide lots of opportunities to help a child begin to pretend a new event with a new role.

Peppa House

Fisher Price Little People House

Play Ground

Pool

ANIMALS

We’ve talked about farm animals in the last few stages, but now let’s expand a child’s interest with zoo animals, dinosaurs, and bugs — all toddler and preschool favorites! Add a few accessories like a safari truck or tractor or barn left over from your farm and you’ll have lots for the animals to do. Make a cage for your animals with black yarn and a box from Amazon.

Find out more ideas for using these toys in podcast #472. Watch the free video on YouTube!

The post Stage 7 Toy List for New Jobs and New Events from Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

Stage 6 Toy List for Expanding Play Routines

Laura — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:04:57 +0000

Here’s the toy list for recommended toys for Stage 6: Expanding Play Ruotines in Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays.

Remember… The only way babies learn what words mean (and to talk!) is by hearing you model whatever their goals are. For example, here at Stage 6 which is 24 to 30 months developmentally, kids use short phrases frequently, add ‘ing’ verbs, use early pronouns, begin to use plural and possessive /s/, and several other things. As you play, pick one or two key language goals to work on and model phrases with those targets many, many times as you play together. Examples are listed for each recommended toy and you can watch demonstrations of how to use the toy in podcast #471.

Our primary focuses for play here at Stage 6 are helping kids learn to…

Include several steps in play during more elaborate play routines.
Help a child learn to organize/group toys
Keep our other kinds of fine motor play moving along

Here’s a list of links followed by descriptions of the toys. Click the short link to get to Amazon to read more about the toy.

WOODEN PUZZLES

Wooden puzzles will be popular with children until they are 4, maybe longer. At this stage, kids can do up to 10 pieces in a wooden, inset puzzle. Choose puzzles with different themes to work on teaching new words and vocabulary development. Watch the podcast for ideas for using these puzzles in speech therapy. Get the handout for #471 for sample scripts as you teach while you play.

Battat Construction Puzzle https://amzn.to/4by7uDs

Chunky Puzzle Safari https://amzn.to/3HV3TBV

Vehicle Puzzle https://amzn.to/42yMgkR

Pet Puzzle https://amzn.to/3UDSCx7

Ocean Puzzle https://amzn.to/3SF1j7O

Barn Puzzle https://amzn.to/3w9fOJs

Farm Puzzle https://amzn.to/3STqXXU

Baby Shark Puzzle https://amzn.to/3STqXXU

PLEASE WATCH PODCAST #471 FOR IDEAS FOR USING THESE TOYS DURING THERAPY

TOY MICROWAVE

This toy is so versatile and will be fun for preschoolers too. It’s great for helping a child learn to combine actions and sequence a longer play routine. Add steps to help them learn to slow down and stay with you — a challenge in this stage! For language, target phrases. You may try an anchor phrase which means that you keep one word the same and then change the other word such as: Cook apple, cook waffle, cook fish, cook cookie, etc. You may also use it for gestalt language learners with a key phrase like “Time to ____.” I like teaching verbs this way… time to cook, time to open, time to shut, time to cut, time to blow, time to eat, etc.

https://amzn.to/3UCVQRy

TOY SINK

Water play is always a big hit with toddlers and preschoolers! Like the microwave, this toy will be appealing for a long time so it’s a great investment. Think about teaching play and language combinations. Turn water on and wash dish. Wash dish and put it away. Remember – a child at this stage of play can’t combine more than 2 simple actions yet, so don’t make it too hard! Also target word combinations using expansion. For example, a child says, “Plate” and you add a word to make it a phrase such as “Wash plate.” or “Plate all done.”

https://amzn.to/48kBW0S

TOY BATHTUB

This toy is also a great investment and will be fun for a long time! I’ve used lots of variations from the Dollar store version to this one – you get what you pay for! Sometimes the pump is too hard and that’s okay because a child will need you and you can ask him to request with a phrase… Help me, more please, more water, need water, water on (remember that’s on older target!) etc. Phrase combination options are endless! For example: Wash baby, wash arm, wash hair, wash belly, wash toes… Focus on combining actions too, but don’t make it too complicated with too many steps. Target 2 actions now If you are losing kid, it’s too hard! Make it simpler.

https://amzn.to/48iUdeW

PLAYGROUND

Look for sets with options for targeting “ing” words — swinging, climbing, sliding, etc. Help a child learn to include 3 or more actions or steps with the characters at the playground. Keep thinking… “What’s the next thing this child could do?” and encourage that action.

https://amzn.to/3wemN47

FARM PLAY

Barns, animals, and tractors are so much fun for toddlers and the possibilities for play and language are endless! We’re working on combinatons with actions. You can make one animal do lots of things (run, eat, sleep, climb, fly, etc.) or you can make several animals do the same thing (the cow, pig, and horse all eat from the trough). Target other language goals like ‘ing’ verbs, plurals, and pronouns.

MELISSA AND DOUG BARN

https://amzn.to/49jZu7G

https://amzn.to/3SWOjvC

https://amzn.to/3UEWXQF

GARAGES

Expand the steps for vehicle play by giving the vehicles a destination and more action options with a garage, race track, or train track. Use the same goals… more steps and more phrases!

https://amzn.to/42Df1g1

https://amzn.to/3SV1QE8

CHEAPER OPTION

https://amzn.to/3I03y0y

POTATO HEADS

One more classic toy that we haven’t talked about is perfect for this stage when a child can sequence more than a couple of actions. There are lots of pieces so you have lots of language targets — especially BODY PART + in. Try requesting the next piece if this is new with a 3 word phrase… I want ____… or make it simpler with ___ please. If a child isn’t interested or this seems hard for him, try deconstruction. You put the pieces in and then let him take them out.

https://amzn.to/3OH7xTJ

https://amzn.to/3SBSgEL

The post Stage 6 Toy List for Expanding Play Routines appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

Stage 5 Toy List

Laura — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:40:07 +0000

Here’s the toy list for recommended toys for Stage 5: Combining Play Actions in Familiar Routines in Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays.

Remember… The only way babies learn what words mean (and to talk!) is by hearing you say the same key words over and over. As you play, pick one or two key words per toy and repeat those words many times each time you play. Examples are listed for each recommended toy and you can watch demonstrations of how to use the toy in podcast #470.

Our primary focuses for play here at Stage 5 are helping kids learn to…

Use two related toys together
Combine play actions with toys
Pretend activities that they see caregivers complete like cooking, cleaning, shaving, cutting grass, etc.
Continue fine motor/cognitive development

Here’s a list of links followed by descriptions of the toys. In case you’re wondering… Where are the pictures?… Amazon has changed the way links are available for posting by affiliates. I liked the old way better too!

Melissa and Doug Jumbo Puzzles https://amzn.to/3SCiKHs, https://amzn.to/3I08Vgx, https://amzn.to/3w0o2DN

Melissa and Doug Sorting Barn https://amzn.to/42sqBe4

Spike the Hedgehog https://amzn.to/3w6mF6n

Picnic Basket https://amzn.to/3OoSWMw

Little People School Bus https://amzn.to/49gJvql

Little People Fire Truck https://amzn.to/3SE3r0V

Tractor and Trailor Set https://amzn.to/3vZcGjv

Push & Pop Bulldozer https://amzn.to/3ubXnDx

Baby Doll Sets https://amzn.to/4bgD9sR, https://amzn.to/3vYKxcg, https://amzn.to/48RNA4s

Counting Surprise Party https://amzn.to/48V308e

Peekaboo Learning Farm https://amzn.to/3SEpFjb

JUMBO KNOB PUZZLES

We introduced puzzles way back in Stage 2…when we first began to talk about those 4 big cognitive skills all toddlers are learning…

Object permanence
Cause and effect
Means to an end
Problem solving

PUZZLES TARGET PROBLEM SOLVING… AND WE’LL SEE A NICE ADVANCEMENT IN NOT ONLY A CHILD’S FINE MOTOR SKILLS HERE, BUT COGNITIVE (OR THINKING AND LEARNING) SKILLS.

If a child isn’t interested in puzzles, try DECONSTUCTION first. This means you’ll disassemble the puzzle.

Watch the video for ideas for using puzzles in therapy.

Melissa and Doug Jumbo Puzzles https://amzn.to/3SCiKHs, https://amzn.to/3I08Vgx, https://amzn.to/3w0o2DN

Melissa and Doug Sorting Barn https://amzn.to/42sqBe4

SPIKE THE HEDGEHOG

Here’s a great fine motor toy with extended practice which builds attention to task. Of course, you’ll want to teach colors, but kids may not be ready to name colors for a while. Just focus on exposure. For language, you’ll naturally want to practice “Color word + in,” but that’s not the best language target for this stage for phrases. Try “I” or child’s name + push or even holistic phrases like, “I do it, “ or “I did it.” If child can’t do it or isn’t interested, try deconstruction first. Instead of putting the pegs in Spike, get a container and let a child take his pegs out. Watch the video for a full explanation.

Spike the Hedgehog https://amzn.to/3w6mF6n

PICNIC BASKET

This cute set is a transition toy for kids who still prefer toys like shape sorters, but we’re moving on to include another play focus which is pretending to do a familiar person’s activities like cooking, cleaning, and feeding a baby doll. The focus here is combining actions. Remember the goal is 2 actions — not 4 or 5! Try things like: Put food on plate and hand it to you. Pretend to pour in cup and take a drink. Remember the progression we mentioned earlier – first kids learn to pretend with objects on himself, then an adult, and then a doll or character. Watch the video for a full discussion.

Picnic Basket https://amzn.to/3OoSWMw

When teaching a child to combine play actions is a bit more challenging, try simpler options like this:

LITTLE PEOPLE SCHOOL BUS

What toddler isn’t fascinated with a school bus? It’s a universal theme – like trains and cars. Target our play goal of combining two steps like:

Put the person in the bus. Take the person out of the bus. Say something like, “Go girl. Sit down. Bye bye girl.”

Put the person in the bus and then push the bus as you say, “Boy in. Go bus! Bye bye boy!”

Or put the person on the bus and close the door. “Ride the bus. Close the door.”

Or drive the bus then take the people out as you say, “Go bus! The kids ride the bus. Errr! Stop! We’re here. Time to get out.”

Little People School Bus https://amzn.to/49gJvql

TRACTOR SET

Work on teaching combinations like this as you model very simple language. Don’t overtalk so that a child can focus on combining actions like:

Put the man in the tractor and drive as you say “Go Daddy!”

Get the tractor and hook the trailer… “Hook tractor.”

Put one animal in the tractor and drive… “Bye bye cow.”

Put 2 animals in the tractor… “Sit down sheep. Sit down pig.”

Of course you can sing Old MacDonald to sequence words/sounds.

Tractor and Trailor Set https://amzn.to/3vZcGjv

FIRE TRUCK SET

Try these simple actions:

Put the person in truck and push as you say, “Go fire truck!”

Put the fire fighter in the truck and spray water as you say, “I spray. Spray water. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Put both people in the truck as you say, “Let’s go! Sit down! Come on!” or “Get in!”

Little People Fire Truck https://amzn.to/3SE3r0V

Push & Pop Bulldozer

Unlike the popper toys or other walking toys that are just one-step actions, COMBINATIONS are built in to this play. It’s great to use a toy like this for busy kids who need to move as you work and play together. I love the move – sit – move – sit structure for therapy. Play with a sit down toy and then get up and play a social game or with a toy while we’re moving around. Look for toys that can provide that move around piece too. This is a great choice!

Push & Pop Bulldozer https://amzn.to/3ubXnDx

Baby Doll Sets

I love doll play for both little girls and little boys. Dolls provide lots of opportunities for combining actions and for using objects on another person or doll. Buy a new set if you don’t have good accessories, but what I usually do with families is raid their kitchen and bathroom for things we can use to assemble a set which includes a cup, bowl, spoon, bottles, hairbrush, toothbrush, blanket, diaper, lotion, and band aids… SO FUN for pretending! Work on combining actions in play. For example, when a child is brushing his hair with the hairbrush, after a little bit, direct it to you or the doll. Say… “Oooohhhh… brush my hair!” or “Look… baby’s hair. Let’s brush baby’s hair.” LASTLY —- ADD A BABY DOLL STROLLER FOR A GREAT MOVE AROUND OPTION FOR THIS STAGE…

For language, when a child uses a single word, expand it. He says “Baby” you say “Baby + what baby is doing.” It’s best to narrate what child is doing like… EAT BABY, BRUSH HAIR, BRUSH TEETH, NIGHT NIGHT BABY or “cold baby.” For you SLPs… remember evidence-based practice is NOT to model telegraphic speech. Use grammatically correct phrases. So instead of saying, “Baby cold,” you should say…. “The baby is cold.” Don’t stress out if you still find yourself using some telegraphic models, but just know what best practice is.

Baby Doll Sets https://amzn.to/4bgD9sR, https://amzn.to/3vYKxcg, https://amzn.to/48RNA4s

COUNTING SURPRISE PARTY

This adorable set of two-piece present boxes with objects inside capitalizes on a toddler’s interest for opening/closing containers. It’s fantastic for helping kids learn to name items… primarily at the single word level, but you can target practically any goal in therapy with this set including grouping/sorting and matching. I also like this set for targeting holistic phrases for gestalt language learners like… “It’s a ____.” This strategy also works well for kids with motor planning issues because you’re teaching them to fill-in-the-blank with the anchor phrase as a facilitating strategy. Watch the video for a full explanation! There’s a similar toy that you may like too — The Peekaboo Learning Farm with little barns that hold a farm animal. It’s perfect for kids who are working on imitating play sounds.

Counting Surprise Party https://amzn.to/48V308e

Peekaboo Learning Farm https://amzn.to/3SEpFjb

The post Stage 5 Toy List appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

STAGE 4… Early Symbolic Play TOY LIST

Laura — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 19:31:41 +0000

Here’s the toy list for recommended toys for Stage 4: Early Symbolic Play in Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays.

Our primary focuses for play here at Stage 4 are helping kids learn to…

Use tools
Use very familiar objects appropriately for early pretending

Here’s the list of Amazon links for each toy. Amazon recently changed how affiliates can display images on websites. For now, the short links are available.

Xylophone https://amzn.to/41hC9Qw

Xylophone Ball Combo https://amzn.to/48gSF5R

Turtle Tapper https://amzn.to/3TiymR1

Melissa and Doug Peg and Hammer https://amzn.to/473eF3a

Battat Ball and Hammer Toy https://amzn.to/473fwRq

Melissa and Doug Wooden Ball and Hammer https://amzn.to/47T4qQ4

Melissa and Doug Housework Set https://amzn.to/3TkqZZm

Leap Frog Vacuum https://amzn.to/48du2H1

TOYS WITH TOOLS

All music toys are great options, and here are my favorites for therapy.

Lollipop Drum https://amzn.to/47TnvkW

This is excellent for teaching a child to imitate your actions — beating the drum with the stick! Order more mallets if you’re working with more than one child or if turn taking evokes meltdowns! I love this toy for late talkers who are not imitating words yet. Begin with play sounds – paired with an action like, “Boom boom boom!” or “Bang bang bang!” for loud playing and “Tap tap tap” for soft playing. Other keys words to teach are… drum, stick, music, LOUD, and soft.

Extra Mallets https://amzn.to/48bZCot

Xylophone

Xylophone https://amzn.to/41hC9Qw

A xylophone is another great music toy which requires a tool — and gives a different “effect” than a drum. Here are two great options – a traditional one with sticks and a xylophone/ball and hammer toy combo. Both are great for teaching tool use and imitation! Target verbal routines and play sounds such as, “Tap tap tap” or “Boom boom boom” and “Whee!”

Peg and Hammer Toy

Obviously, hammers are a tool, but look for a child to understand that he’s using the hammer to accomplish a goal – not just bang on different surfaces! For this toy, a child hammers the pegs, but they don’t go all the way through in this Turtle Tapper toy. I like this feature so that you don’t lose the pegs. Kids who are in this stage of play can do this for a long time! They’re practicing eye hand coordination too. I’m including the more traditional version of this toy as well in case a child you’re working with LIKES hammering the pegs all the way through and then starting over! BUT the newer versions of this toy have bigger holes so the pegs fly through the holes with only a slight tap — which is great for kids with motor challenges, but not so great for kids who need to learn to persist through a tap or 2 to get the peg through the hole.

BALL AND HAMMER TOYS

The Battat Ball and Hammer toy just might be my favorite toy of all times. I include it in every list because it works for most kids, even if they’re not at Stage 4 yet and long past Stage 4! As we discussed in course # 465 , you can use this toy as a screener to determine what stage of play a child is in. If he’s in Stage 4 or above, he’ll use the hammer to pound the balls. If he’s still at Stage 3, a child will put the ball in the holes, but push the balls down with his hands. In stage 2, he will look at the ball, swat at it, mouth it, but he will need assistance to get the ball in the hole. At Stage 1, he just mouths the ball.

I used to work on turn taking a lot with this toy, but it’s still pretty unrealistic for kids at this level because they’re still using adults as helpers and cheerleaders. If a child doesn’t want to share the hammer with you, use a hammer from another toy so you can play together!

There are lots of potential key words to target for language in addition to ball and hammer! It’s great for teaching prepositions like in, out, down, up. I use it often with verbal routines with holistic phrases like, “I got it, I do it, Do it again, etc.”

HOUSEWORK TOYS

At this stage of play, toddlers are just beginning to pretend using very familiar routines they see everyday — taking a bath, eating, sleeping, and HOUSEWORK. In this earliest stage of pretending, they need life-like props. These toys are great options…

Model actions as you play together with the housework toys. I like singing songs to do this like, “This is the way we sweep the floor, sweep the floor, sweep the floor. This is the way we sleep the floor early in the morning.”

Electronic options can be fun too — even better if you can use the toy without the annoying music! I like this version that actually vacuums up the coins.

Please watch the podcast for ideas for using the toys at this stage, especially my idea for early pretending with The Pretend with Me Backpack. Assemble your items for teaching a child to begin to pretend to do very simple and familiar activities like eating, sleeping, and taking a bath. Check out the show for ideas!

The post STAGE 4… Early Symbolic Play TOY LIST appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

Speech Therapy Toy Picks for 2024 for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays

Laura — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 15:57:17 +0000

This year I’ve found some wonderful NEW choices for speech therapy toy picks for 2024 for toddlers and preschoolers with language delays.

In this post, I’m listing individual toys along with a few ideas to get you started teaching language, both at home and in clinical settings.

Happy Shopping!

Santa Wobbler

Lollipop Drum

Music toys are always fun for toddlers, and I love this lollipop drum set. I teach early imitation with this all… the… time.

If you’re looking for more of a music set, here’s a good option too. My favorite thing to do with this is to have a parade – even if it’s just mom, a kid, and me.

iPlay Cars

Community Helper Blocks

Melissa and Doug Barn Puzzle

Talking Cactus

Bilbo

Toddler Scavenger Hunt

Imitation Board Book

Basketball Hoop

Crayons and Coloring Book for Toddlers

Fisher Price Garage

Kitchen Play Sets

Or SPLURGE and buy a play kitchen that’s not too visually overstimulating for a home or an office. I love this one. It’s been in my Save for Later cart since we moved to our new office.

Need more ideas? Check out my Ultimate Toy List for Speech Therapy with Toddlers.

The post Speech Therapy Toy Picks for 2024 for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

Stage 3: Beginning Functional Play Recommended Toys

Laura — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 14:43:19 +0000

Here’s the toy list for recommended toys for Stage 3: Beginning Functional Play.

Since children in this stage are learning to understand simple commands, we can work that into our therapy sessions with Stage 3 toys. Watch the podcast for specific instructions for using the toys! Stage 3: Beginning Functional Play.

I like to think about teaching very familiar one-step directions in this stage. Here are examples with fantastic toy options:

“Put it on!”

RING STACKERS

“Put it in!”

SHAPE SORTERS

B Toys Shape Sorter https://amzn.to/48e4GK9

Sound Shape Sorter (not shown) https://amzn.to/3PoEF1N

Ball Dispenser (not shown) https://amzn.to/3ZoR1Mj

Piggy Bank https://amzn.to/3EESKU9

Blocks with Balls https://amzn.to/3t3zzk2

“Push it down!”

Inchworm https://amzn.to/3RnjIXJ

iPush Cars https://amzn.to/46cgiLK

Phlat Ball https://amzn.to/44ZzueF

Caterpillar Pull Balls https://amzn.to/3PFPDS7

Pop Beads https://amzn.to/3LpYc0E

Pop Up Toy https://amzn.to/3LpYBQI

The post Stage 3: Beginning Functional Play Recommended Toys appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

STAGE 2… NONFUNCTIONAL PLAY TOY LIST

Laura — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 21:46:49 +0000

Here’s the toy list for recommended toys for Stage 2: Nonfunctional Play.

Amazon Links for Recommended Toys shown in video:

Montessori Ball Box https://amzn.to/3qXz0YJ Soft Baby Doll https://amzn.to/44MNY1c

Snail String Pull String Toy https://amzn.to/44EUHdP

Spinner Toys https://amzn.to/3sOJIBi

Spinning Top https://amzn.to/45KK2zo

Push Cars https://amzn.to/3Z7n4A5, , https://amzn.to/3P6Qxpj

Nesting Cups https://amzn.to/3Pe8wdc

Montessori Rattle Set https://amzn.to/3qXz0YJ

Vibrating Teether https://amzn.to/3LcgXEX

Good Night Moon Soft Book https://amzn.to/3r8uqa4

Pull String Teether https://amzn.to/48kWDLF

Toys to Teach Object Permanence

MONTESSORI BALL BOX

Here’s my favorite toy for this stage and the best toy I’ve ever found specifically for object permanence. It’s a Montessori Box with balls – there’s a hole in the top for baby to drop the ball in and …. the ball comes right out. For your key word, go with ball! Repeat it many times – high frequency modeling – “Here’s the ball. It’s your ball. Ball. Where’s the ball go? Look…there’s a hole – a hole for your ball. The ball goes in. Ball… in! Ball!”

Montessori Ball Box https://amzn.to/3qXz0YJ

SOFT BABY DOLL

A very traditional way of teaching object permanence is by covering up a toy with a blanket. For this stage, I love this soft baby doll. Cover the doll with a blanket/wash cloth to see if a child will uncover the doll demonstrating that they understand object permanence. If can’t – try something they can see through like a scarf from the tissue box from Stage 1. Baby is your key word. Say something like, “Baby! See the baby? Let’s hide the baby. Ohhh… cover up baby. Where’s baby? Baby! Baby!” Play over and over until a child is uncovering the baby on his/her own.

Soft Baby Doll https://amzn.to/44MNY1c

ELECTRONIC TOYS if a child needs more help learning object permanence

As a rule, I don’t use lots of electronic toys in therapy unless a child needs it for a specific reason like here – when a child need more of cue to begin to try to remove the cover. Show a child the toy, activate the toy to play the sounds or lights, and then place the cover over the toy while it’s playing so the child can see or hear the toy even when it’s covered. Help a child uncover the toy if he/she doesn’t try to do it on their own. Point and even tug the cover to encourage a child to try to remove the cloth.

Toys to Teach Means – End

SNAIL STRING TOY

Any kind of string toy works for this stage, but I love this one! Toddlers learn to pull the string and watch the toy move.
What do you want to use for your key word? I’d go with “go” or “pull” as you model playing with the toy. Set the string out – point at it first and say…“Ooooh… look! There’s the string! I pull! Pull! Pull! I pull.” Over time talk about the toy too – but the concept you’re teaching is means to an end, so it makes sense to me that we should talk about that too. I also love this toy because it doubles as a shape sorter with 2 levels of difficulty.

Snail String Pull String Toy https://amzn.to/44EUHdP

BATTAT BUS

This is my favorite pull toy because the people spin when the bus moves… great incentive to teach a child to look at the object he’s pulling! I use the same verbal routines for “pull” and “go” and add “spin” or “whee” here too!

PULL PUPPY

I wanted this toy for the course, but it wouldn’t arrive in time. I love this puppy and I know kids will too! Use animal sounds for dogs as you play – “Woof Woof!” and of course, stick your tongue out and pant!

Toys to Teach Cause and Effect

SPINNER TOYS

You can find lots of versions of this toy – but I like this one. Got a bumble bee on it so you can also add – zzzz or sing Bringing Home my Baby Bumble Bee. Stick anywhere – bathtub is a great spot. This toy is ideal for using a Verbal Routine like Ready… Set… Go or 1 2 3 Spin! Stop it – do it again.

Spinner Toys https://amzn.to/3sOJIBi

PUSH CARS

I love these easy push cars for Stage 2 – and will certainly be fun for a long time. You will probably have to help a child activate the car for a long time, but that’s okay. The goal here is for them to recognize that you push the animal – even if they need help to do it. Key word is probably car. And be sure you’re teaching a child what to do – So you’ll say something like, “Look! My car! See the car! My car can go. Watch the car… Push! Ready… set… go. Go car!” Create anticipation with your voice. Be super consistent – over time pause after you say “Ready Set” to see if a child will begin to fill in “Go!”

Push Cars https://amzn.to/3Z7n4A5, , https://amzn.to/3P6Qxpj

SPINNING TOP

This toy from Bright Starts is an easy push toy for kids in Stage 2. It’s a simple motion to activate the top, but kids may need a little help for a while. Of course your key word is…. “Push! Watch me… I….PUSH! Wheeeee!” Model it several times, then give a child an opportunity. I work on turn taking with this toy because the turns are super fast. Take it in your lap to help a child understand it’s your turn. Then move it toward them for their turn. Instead of saying – my turn/your turn I use “I push – You push” or our names “Laura can push….____ can push.

Toys to Teach Simple Problem Solving

NESTING CUPS

Here’s a super versatile classic toy. Kids are learning about how things work together – how they fit and the beginnings of “fill and dump” play. I use several different early play routines including stacking, nesting, and because there are holes in the bottom of the cups, you can use them for water play. When you stack them up, use your key word for ‘up up up” and then of course, show a child how to knock them down… as you use a verbal routine like… 1… 2… 3… boom! Or even something like “ They all… fall… dooooown!” For nesting, try “Goes in!… Goes in!” For key word for water play is always… “Whee!” But you’ll probably say something like, “Water… let’s get some water… see the water… fill it up…. Whee!!!!”

Nesting Cups https://amzn.to/3Pe8wdc

CONTAINER PLAY

Montessori Rattle Set

This set includes several different toys with a bell (something to hear), car (something with movable parts), rattle (something to shake/hear), and discs (for holding and practicing transfer from hand to hand). When you’re playing, name the item and add a comment. For example, say something like, “Look! It’s a car! Car. See the wheels on the car. Watch. The wheels can go! Whee!” as you spin the wheels or roll the car. Give it to the child to see if he will try to push the car too.

Montessori Rattle Set https://amzn.to/3qXz0YJ

Vibrating Teething Toy

This teether provides something to mouth and feel as it moves during container play. Say something like, “Look! Grapes! (label the teether’s shape). Oooohhhh! It moves! Feel it move! Wow!”

Vibrating Teether https://amzn.to/3LcgXEX

Good Night Moon soft book

This book is something to feel and look at during container play with lots of different textures and pictures. Point and label each picture as the child looks at the book. Model other early actions like patting the book.

Good Night Moon Soft Book https://amzn.to/3r8uqa4

Pull Teether

Here’s another cool teething toy with something to pull and mouth. Show a child how to pull the strings. Say something like, “Pull! I pull! Pull!” Give the child the toy and help her hold it and begin to try to pull.

Pull String Teether https://amzn.to/48kWDLF

The post STAGE 2… NONFUNCTIONAL PLAY TOY LIST appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

STAGE ONE… EXPLORATORY PLAY… TOY LIST

Laura — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 19:07:12 +0000

In January 2024, Amazon changed the way affiliates post links. For now, we’re stuck with the short links.

Fabric Balls

Here’s a wonderful first ball for holding, grasping, and exploring while using both hands to develop motor coordination. It’s a great choice for tummy time because the ball rolls and encourages movement, but it’s easy to grasp. Your key word here is, of course, ball! Say the word “ball” many times as you talk about how the ball looks and feels as the child explores the ball. For example, “Here’s the ball. Ball. Wow! Look! Ball! You are holding the ball. Ball! Oooh… this part feels soft. Ball! Mmmm… you put the ball in your mouth. Ball.”

FABRIC BALL https://amzn.to/45oyIJ4

Spinning Drum

This simple spinning drum is very easy to spin and mesmerizing for children to watch as they begin to learn how to activate toys. For your key words, try something like “Go” or “Whee” as the child spins the wheel.

SPINNING DRUM https://amzn.to/3ORofyM

Mirror Puzzle

The knobbed puzzle is a great surprise as babies uncover the mirror and recognize and smile at themselves. Mirror toys are a fantastic tool to use during Stage 1. Help a baby learn to grab the knob and push it over to reveal the mirror. Say something like, “Get it! Oooohhhhh…. Look! Who is that? Ahhh… it’s (baby’s name).”

MIRROR PUZZLE https://amzn.to/3socVmr

Tissue Box

This tissue box comes with crinkly papers perfect for teaching babies to listen as they play. As a child grabs each piece, the texture provides important tactile feedback to their little hands. Even though most babies learn nouns (names for people, places, and things) first, you can choose verbs during play routines. For key words, you might choose “pull” as a baby learns to grab the tissues out of the box as you exaggeratedly say something like, “Puuuuuuuull that tissue out.” You might even choose a word like “Listen! Do you hear that? Listen!” as you crinkle the tissues yourself to help a baby attend to the new sound.

TISSUE BOX https://amzn.to/3EciZ46, https://amzn.to/47Oj6QI

Penguin Wobbler

This classic toy helps increase eye-hand coordination and muscle strength. It’s just the right size for their little hands to push and nudge again and again. Babies in the earliest stages of language development like listening to you use sound effects as you play together. For this toy, say something like, “Whoa! Whoa! Push it! Whoa!” or another silly sound as your child pushes the wobble toy. Be sure you’re pointing to the wobbler to help your child learn to follow your point with his eyes – which happens officially in the next stage of play, but we always want to set the stage for what’s to come.

PENGUIN WOBBLER https://amzn.to/45BMwj2

SANTA WOBBLER https://amzn.to/3EaNLdq

Earliest Shape Sorter

I love this toy for later in this stage as a baby begins to learn to put things in and pour things out. Filling and dumping, as well as, figuring out where things fit are primary play activities for children until they’re 3. This beginning toy introduces them early problem solving as the learn to push shapes through the slots, but without the frustration! While colors and shape words are the natural targets for this toy, children in this stage won’t be ready to learn academic words like these for quite a while. Try describing how the toys works and using plenty of exclamatory words that attract a baby’s attention by saying something like, “Oooooh…. try that one! Push it in! Oooohhh… in! Woo-hoo! You did it!”

SHAPE SORTER https://amzn.to/3PaW1QX

Rain Stick Rattle

This easy to grip rattle gives children something to look at and listen to as they turn it over, shake it, or roll it around. Say something like, “Wow… Look! Let’s roll! Roll… Wow!” Encourage mobility as you help a child learn to reach, scoot, or roll to begin the play routine again.

RAIN STICK RATTLE https://amzn.to/45kPwAF

Container Play

My favorite idea for children is Stage 1 to promote exploratory play is container play. Your primary goal at this level is for the toddler to do new things with toys and familiar objects. For this you’ll need a container like a large bowl, bucket, or even an empty baby wipe box if you can find it! Gather a variety of 10 or so interesting items. Make sure to provide as much variety as possible. For example, you could include a bell (something to hear), a teething toy that vibrates (something to feel as it moves), a toy car (something with parts that move), two or three blocks (something to bang or push around), a Sophie giraffe (something interesting to chew, look at, and grasp), a soft doll (something to look at and pat), a Bendy ball (something to chew, grasp, shake and roll), and a set of small nesting cups (something to handle and fit together).

Sit down on the floor and shake the container to capture your child’s interest. Say something like, “Oh… get ready! Here’s something fun! See?” When the child is close to you, show him the items in the container. Put your hand in and shuffle the items around and then pull out an item. Perform a simple action or two like shaking, rolling, banging on the floor, etc. Talk about what you’re doing using super simple language such as, “Blocks! One block. Two blocks. Bang! Bang! Bang!” Give the child the item and watch his response. If he needs assistance, take his hands and help him perform a new action with the item as you talk about what he’s doing. Model various reactions as you explore items with your sounds, words, tone of voice, and facial expressions.

CONTAINER PLAY https://amzn.to/45nM8VJ

Rolling Mirror Toy

As we said before, mirror toys are always a great idea for any child who is in Stage 1. This one also combines a movement challenge since the mirror will roll away and the child is motivated to try to move toward his own reflection. As you’re playing together, tap the mirror to help a child look at himself. Say something like, “Look! Look! See! Who is that baby? That’s ____. I see ____. Look it’s _____.”

ROLLING MIRROR https://amzn.to/44q3Jv9

Soft Dolls

Boys and girls alike learn so much from playing with baby dolls from body parts to early pretending, but this in this stage of play, a soft cloth baby doll can be something comforting to look at, hold, manipulate, and mouth. Your key word here will probably be “baby.” Talk about what your child is paying attention to on the baby such as, “Baby! I see your baby’s mouth. Look! Baby’s mouth. Baby.”

SOFT DOLLS

https://amzn.to/3YQ1OhX

https://amzn.to/3E8oocg

https://amzn.to/3E9fOtJ

Wooden Rattles

These wooden rattles help a child learn to hold, shake, grasp, and transfer toys from hand to hand. As a child is looking at the bell rattle, say something like, “Wow! Listen! I hear a bell!” then ring the bell or as a child is holding a rattle say something like, “Shake – shake – shake! You can shake that rattle. Shake – shake!”

WOODEN RATTLES https://amzn.to/3P9pjzk

Links

Plastic link toys are ideal for helping little ones learn to use their hands and they’re also safe to chew! Join links together and hook them to a stroller or car seat so the child has something to reach for and hold. Say something like, “See! Look at those links! Hook – hook! We hooked those links together.” Or “Whoa! I can pull this link! Watch – pull!”

PLASTIC LINKS https://amzn.to/460GokX

Here’s a set and it looks like a great value if you need most of these toys. This would make a great gift for a child who is in this stage!

Excellent Book Choices for Stage 1

The post STAGE ONE… EXPLORATORY PLAY… TOY LIST appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

Speech Therapy for Autism in Toddlers

Laura — Wed, 17 May 2023 18:54:35 +0000

We have lots of new moms and dads who have joined our daily email group, so I’m getting lots of emails with questions about The Autism Workbook and speech therapy for toddlers with autism. I thought I’d answer those here in case you have those questions too!

Read a few parent and professional testimonials at the bottom of this post if you’d like some firsthand reviews.

Is this book appropriate to use for kids who have not yet been diagnosed with autism? YES! In this manual I’m sharing what YOU need to know in order to work with toddlers and preschoolers with autism – those formally diagnosed, as well as toddlers and preschoolers who have signs of autism but are not yet diagnosed with anything beyond language delay, and even children who have a few “quirks” or characteristics of autism that need to be addressed.

Is the treatment manual written for parents as well as therapists? YES! The book is written for parents and professionals who work with very young children with autism, including speech-language pathologists (like me!), occupational therapists, early interventionists, teachers, and ABA therapists. I get tons of email from ABA therapists who love my resources because my strategies are rooted in science they use, yet play-based and developmentally appropriate for their youngest clients.

I’m already working with a child. Can I use this approach for a child who has been in therapy for a while? YES! My hope is that you’ll take the ideas in The Autism Workbook to help you get started or to help you start over if you’re stuck! If you’re working with a young child with autism who hasn’t made significant progress, chances are, you’re working on the wrong things! Let me help you get back on track!

What’s included? In this 230-page treatment manual, you’ll find seven core or “big picture” focus areas that will be included in the treatment plan for nearly every child who demonstrates markers for autism. Next, you’ll find five additional special considerations for children who are struggling to master the core components presented in the first section. This will be your “back up plan” when a child needs a more specialized intervention to make progress with language development.

I’m using the word “plan” here very intentionally. As you probably already know, many traditional speech therapy techniques are not appropriate (meaning… they flat out don’t work) for kids with autism simply because of the nature of autism. Until you understand the differences kids with autism have as they learn language, you won’t be as ready or equipped to develop an effective plan. And if you don’t have a plan, you know what happens… nothing!

My mission is to make sure that doesn’t happen to you!

I’ll teach you how to plan!

In this manual, I’ve tried to make designing treatment plans as easy as possible – not only for busy therapists, but for parents who want to know EXACTLY what to do to work with their own children at home. As it turns out, this also benefits therapists who can use this information for parent education – especially now for teletherapy sessions.

At the heart of this process is asking and answering the right questions about a child.

For each of the focus areas, you’ll find a one-page summary and a list of questions to help you determine if the focus listed in each chapter is right for your particular child. Like my other treatment manuals, I’ve summed up this information in a “chart” that’s so simple to share and explain. This one is called the Autism Workbook Worksheet and I know it will be tremendously helpful for you as you select your overall goals and share the information with parents – or with a child’s therapists or team!

This information can be super important for parents who know in their gut that a child isn’t making the progress he could be because the interventions and approach aren’t a good fit for their particular child. It happens… even when excellent therapists have the best of intentions.

As a parent, you can help change that dynamic by providing a new direction for your child’s therapists. Some of the best ideas I’ve ever learned about working with children with autism have come from parents who taught me a new strategy.

For example, in 2011, a mom began implementing structured teaching (Focus 11 in The Autism Workbook) with her child because a psychologist mentioned it to her as a potential treatment option. I am forever grateful she asked me about using TEACCH that day! I had to go home and research on my own so I could be caught up to her for the next visit. It opened up a whole new realm of treatment ideas for me for children like hers – a busy, busy little guy who wouldn’t stay with people or play with toys long enough to learn anything!

But the question I get most at teachmetotalk.com is, “Where do I start?”

Wondering how to get started can feel insurmountable and overwhelming. Parents may want to quit before they even begin. Therapists end up doing their “same ole’ things,” even if they’re resulting in very little success with a child.

I don’t want that to happen to you.

I’ll teach you what to do!

In the book, I explain what to do and how to do it so that you feel empowered as you put together a plan for a child! As therapists and parents, we need ideas (and lots of them!) to help us know where to begin and then to keep us on track and moving forward.

Does that sound like something you could use?

Me too!

That’s why I wrote it!

Like the other therapy manuals I’ve written, it always begins with me reading and reading and reading so that I can get better and better at what I do.

Thankfully, I get to pass that along and help other people who are also out there looking for a better way to help a child they love.

Order your copy today

Laura

“I purchased the book on autism and have watched the #400s series podcasts. Laura Mize has been more effective in teaching autistic tendencies, than many professors, shadowing professions, and the 100s of books, articles and classes or videos, or live workshop speakers, have been at teaching effective practices for a child with ASD. Some of the many lessons she has taught, which I will now use, to be a more effective Interventionist, include but are not limited to: red flags, typical behaviors, self-stimulating behaviors, not taking away toys, rather showing child to play with toy appropriately. She gives examples of child’s actions, “inappropriate,” explains the reason for: why the child is engaging in these behaviors and how they can be replaced with more appropriate, effective functional and age-appropriate skills.” Contact form – teachmetotalk.com

“Good Morning Laura,
I received your book (The Autism Workbook) yesterday and it is absolutely amazing! As I evaluate young children (0-3) for developmental delays and write plans for them with their parents, there are a ton of ideas that are ready to use. Others that reinforce what I have been doing, and saying, all along. Thank you so, so much for writing this incredible book and pulling everything together in one place!” F, Michigan

“Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, experience, and guidance.
I’m a parent who bought the autism workbook and it’s the only clear resource I found to make a change in my son. I’m really thankful to Ms. Laura for helping out people like us all over the world.” Mom from YouTube

“I just want to tell how fortunate I feel to have found your website and you!! I became a special instructor in EI almost a year ago and I started with hardly any applicable training. I felt so lost and confused as how to help the kids I work with learn how to use words and play. Honestly, I didn’t even understand the importance of play, although I always played with my kids. But, once I started to watch your podcasts and get some of your manuals I felt a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and that I could finally teach these kids and their families something of value from a real therapist and based on research!. Thank you so much for seeing the need to help other EI service providers and providing a forum to share your knowledge and years of valuable experience. I’m sure you get a lot of these emails every week if not every day, but I wanted to make I could add to those notes of gratitude!! THANK YOU again!!” Therapist

Watch a podcast …DISCUSSING AUTISM WITH PARENTS… PART 1… #437 $10 CEU FOR 1.5 HOURS CREDIT

The post Speech Therapy for Autism in Toddlers appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

Give a Child Words

Laura — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 05:27:33 +0000

“Uh uh uh!” your child says as she reaches toward the counter.

Instantly, you know what she wants. You reply with…

“Banana!”

Your little girl smiles in confirmation and moves her little hand toward you as you hold the banana and begin to peel.

Again you say, “Banana!”

She begins to bounce in anticipation.

You respond… “I… want…. the…. (longer pause to build anticipation) banana.”

She copies you…

“Nuh nuh.”

Her first attempt for the word banana.

I love this strategy!

The official terminology is linguistic mapping, but most of us speech-language pathologists who work with late talking toddlers and their parents call it “Giving a child words” or “Modeling” which means that you’ll say what you think a late talking child wants to say, but can’t.

It’s a powerful tool for parents of children who are just beginning to talk and imitate single words.

It’s even more powerful when you pair it with the messages your child is trying to send with his gestures or facial expressions.

Watch for your child’s cues. When a child grunts, reaches, tugs, leads, grimaces, or does anything to communicate a message nonverbally, provide the words.

In my practice, I’ve found that it’s most effective for parents (and therapists!) who are over-talkers. Confession time… just so you know, overtalking continues to be the #1 issue I STILL need to change about myself during therapy.

Sometimes, in our effort to help a child who’s not talking yet, we talk waaaaay more than we should.

When I was a younger therapist, I’d do it to fill the air with something besides s..i..l..e..n..c..e as I worked with a little one who barely made a sound during an hour-long visit. I felt the eyes of a momma who so eagerly wanted her baby to talk and I became anxious as I too waited for those words.

But instead of leaving a space for that child to fill, I’d jump in when I should have simplified and paused.

Many times, just giving a child words and then waiting works better than any other thing we could try to help a child begin to talk.

So today, try this.

Give your child words.

When he’s frustrated because he can’t operate a toy, say, “Help! Help me! Help Momma. Help.”

If she’s holding up her arms for you to pick her up, say, “Up!” or “Pick me up!”

When she’s lunging for your water bottle for the fourth time, say, “Water! More water!”

Say what a child would say if they could talk and then just wait.

Wait for a child to begin to imitate.

In case you’re wondering, you should go ahead and give them what they want, even if they don’t say the word.

Model the word they should say at least a few times. My guideline is saying the target word 3 to 5 times, but if a child is super frustrated after just two times, don’t continue to withhold what they want and risk losing a child’s pleasant participation. Beyond that, I think it’s just plain mean to provoke a child who can’t talk to tears or tantrums, and we never want to be mean-spirited! Give them the item as you continue to model the word.

Over time, a toddler who is developmentally ready to talk will begin to respond to this technique.

You’ll begin to hear more word attempts.

So start today.

Anytime you see your late talker doing something to let you know he’s trying to communicate with you, give him the words.

Don’t forget about using thei strategy beyond requesting. Give a child words whenever he’s dysregulated and doesn’t know how to respond.

For example:

If he’s throwing his food on the floor, model “All done!”

When he’s crying because his older brother is trying to take his toy, say, “Mine!”

As he points toward the neighbor’s barking dog, say, “Look! The dog!” or even “Woof Woof!”

If he’s holding up his hand or turning away when you’re offering her a toy or food she doesn’t want, say, “No momma.”

Give late talkers the words they need.

Pretty soon, they should start giving them back!

If this strategy is not effective after a few weeks, then you’ll need to work on helping a child learn to imitate easier vocalizations first, or perhaps, learn how to imitate body movements and actions with toys and objects. You can read more about that treatment strategy here.

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Sorting Hearts for Valentine’s Day for Toddlers

Laura — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 14:41:29 +0000

Today I want to share an activity that has been one of the most loved activities for Valentine’s Day for lots of young children.

Using a new tool, like tongs, measuring spoons, or a small scoop, will make this play routine just interesting and challenging enough for many, many busy toddlers to sit and focus their attention.

If a child has motor delays AND a low frustration tolerance, this activity may be too challenging, but for many other toddlers, it’s an excellent task for improving participation, attention, and task completion – all cognitive skills that help very young children learn language (along with everything else!)

Some of my little friends with autism love it because sorting and organizing are their strengths.

Here are the step- by- step instructions. I can’t wait to see how it works for you!

SORT OBJECTS USING TOOLS

Materials:

A set of 12 small objects for sorting: For a Valentine’s Day theme, buy 12 small, heart-shaped stones, erasers, or a similar item from the dollar store. For a winter theme, try cotton balls.

A container: Find a container with 12 or so openings such as a muffin pan, an ice cube tray, or an empty egg carton. A separate flat container, such as a plate or tray, may be useful for placing the objects on as they are manipulated with tongs.

A tool: Provide some kind of tool for the child to use. Child-sized tongs (I recommend Learning Resources Easy Grip Tweezers available on Amazon) are ideal, but not necessary. A larger spoon, a measuring spoon (1/4 cup size), or any smaller scoop are good options.

Set Up: Choose the same number of objects as openings for one-to- one sorting. For example, if the egg carton has 12 slots, pick 12 objects for sorting.

Primary Goal: The child will place one item in one slot with less assistance over time to build attention, task completion, motor, and cognitive skills (one-to-one correspondence).

Secondary Goals: If you’re working with a child during this activity, you’ll also target joint attention since you’ll want him to include you. A child will also be improving motor planning and visual perceptual skills.

Instructions: Set out the container and tray of objects with the tongs. Rather than telling the child what to do, use the tongs to pick up an object and show the child how to place it in one spot in the container. As you model placing each item in one spot, say something simple to narrate your actions such as, “Look! It’s a heart! See? The heart goes in here.” Grab another heart with the tongs and place it another slot saying something similar such as, “Look! Another heart. Where does this one go? Right here. Heart in.”

Give the child the tongs and say something very simple such as, “Heart in.” Provide cues like pointing if the child seems unsure of what to do.

Many toddlers will need physical assistance to achieve initial success with this task. Praise the child when he places a heart in an opening.

Quickly point to the tray so that the child selects another heart to sort. If he doesn’t, provide assistance to help him pick up the next heart for sorting.

It’s usually not a good idea to require that the child verbally request a new object to sort. We can lose a child’s attention because he may not be developmentally ready to talk during this kind of focused fine motor activity.

Troubleshooting Tips: If a child becomes overly frustrated with learning to use the tongs, try an ice cream scooper or another spoon for transferring the objects to the container. If that modification is unsuccessful, allow the child to place the objects into the slots with his hands. Over time, reintroduce the tool.

Moving Toward Independent Play: Once a child has mastered this task, help him learn to play independently by setting up this activity and then leaving him for a few minutes to sort on his own. I usually do this activity during a session with mom and then send it home in a large Zip-lock bag for continued practice and carry-over at home.

More Practice: Offer different versions of this activity for children who need additional motor practice with tools and for children who enjoy this task. Provide a different tool the next time you do the activity or switch out your materials. If you begin with hearts for Valentine’s Day, try cotton balls (like snow balls!) for winter. If you’re in a warmer climate, try small rocks or seashells.

Happy sorting!!

Need some therapy ideas that hold the attention of little ones with autism? Check out my therapy manual The Autism Workbook. These activities and strategies will WORK to help kids with autism learn to understand and use words.

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Cute Peer Activity for Valentine’s Day

Laura — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 13:27:52 +0000

I love this cute activity for Valentine’s Day! It takes some prep time, but it’s been worth it for me – especially for small groups of toddlers or even for home visits with families with several children.

PICTURES OF FRIENDS

Materials:

Tape pictures of the children on a piece of poster board. Cover the pictures with a heart doily or another flap of heart-shaped paper to “hide” the picture.

Activity Variations:

Gather the children in a group or circle. Present the poster and sing the song below. Reveal a new picture as you sing each child’s name. After singing each verse, point to the picture and ask, “Who’s that? It’s ____!” Young children often love to “yell” as a way to respond to a question posed to the group. Model this louder tone to encourage toddlers to participate.

Give each child a turn to lift a heart to reveal a picture. A child can select a picture before the song begins and then the group will sing that child’s name in the song.

How to Play:

Introduce the activity by saying, “I have a surprise for you. Do you want to see?”

Sing the following song to the “Do You Know the Muffin Man?” tune:

“Do you know my Valentine? My valentine? My Valentine?

Do you know my Valentine? His/her name is _______________.”

Encourage all the children to look at and point to each child who is named.

Key Words: Names of friends, heart, open, see, friend

Potential Goals:

Receptive Language

Learn peers’ names.
Follow one-step directions during a game.

Expressive Language

Using gestures to communicate by purposeful pointing.
Imitate or spontaneously use signs, words, or phrases to name items or answer a question.
Produce words during a verbal routine or song.

Cognition

Identify pictures of familiar people.
Sequence actions within a group game.

Social

Identify familiar people, peers, or family members.
Take turns during game.

Sensory

Participate in movement activities.
Exhibit impulse control while waiting for a turn.

Fine Motor

Open flaps.
Isolate index finger to point to a picture.

Expand the Game:

You can also easily incorporate other language goals into this game by changing your own prompt or question for the child.

Yes/No Questions

If you’re working on answering yes/no questions, you can say, “Is this ____?” If you want the child to answer yes, say the correct name. If you want the child to say no, say the wrong name. Sometimes including a ridiculous choice like “Is this Daddy?” or “Is this Elmo?” will entice a child to answer “No!” rather than using another peer’s name.

Gender Pronouns

Target gender pronouns by asking a child, “Who’s that? Is it her?” or “Is it him?” Point to the correct peer and model, “It’s her/him.” Encourage a child to imitate gender pronouns. Remember before you work on gender pronouns, kids have to understand the concepts of boy vs. girl. Teach using those words by pointing to a picture or a child and saying, “Who’s this? Is she a girl or a boy?” Add a new component to the game by writing a child’s name on the heart or flap for an emergent literacy activity. Exposure to a written name is the only purpose for this activity.

Pre-Literacy Skills

It is not developmentally appropriate for toddlers and young preschoolers who are struggling with language to recognize their written names and should not be addressed as a formal goal, but if a child is hyperlexic (as seen in ASD), then you could use this visual strength as an avenue for targeting other language goals. Otherwise, think of using written names during this activity as targeting pre-literacy skills with exposure.

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Valentine’s Day Song for Toddlers

Laura — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 05:44:07 +0000

Do you have any cute Valentine’s Day songs for toddlers?

Here’s my favorite…

Sing it to the tune of “Muffin Man,” with these words:

“Do you know my Valentine?

My valentine?

My Valentine?

Do you know my Valentine?

His/her name is _______________.”

So cute!!

Teach the song to moms, teachers, and other caregivers this week as a fun and easy activity for Valentine’s Day.

I’ve helped lots of children learn to say their own names with this little song. Use the variation below to teach names for siblings or classmates.

Group Variations:

Choose one child to stand in the middle of the group to be the Valentine.

Hold hands and walk around in a circle as you sing – like Ring Around the Rosies – naming the child who is in the middle.

Let each child have a turn being the Valentine.

Kids also think it’s hysterical when the ADULT is in the middle. Try this with mom in the center and practice the one word mothers want to hear their late talkers say… Mama!

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Valentine’s Day Song for Toddlers

Laura — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 05:16:07 +0000

I have a great use for those heart-shaped boxes of Valentine’s Day candy – especially if you’re working with a small group of toddlers – or even a child with his mom and a sibling!

Sit on the floor in a circle.

Introduce the activity by showing everyone the heart-shaped box and saying something related to hearts and/or Valentine’s Day to match the child’s developmental level. For a child who is minimally verbal, I say something like, “Look! What’s that? It’s a heart! See… heart! We have hearts for Valentine’s Day. Let’s play a game with this heart.”

Pass the heart around the group as you sing this song to the tune of “Frère Jacques” or “Are You Sleeping?”

“Pass the heart, pass the heart, all around, all around.

Valentines are coming.

To our town. To our town.”

At the end of the song, ask, “Who has the heart?” Have everyone point and say the person’s name who is holding the heart. Encourage the child to say “Me!” or his/her own name.

Passing the heart to other children and watching it make its way around the circle also targets joint attention and participation – a few buzz words to include in your documentation for therapists!

In case you’re wondering… some years, I decide that “Valentines” is a mouthful for any toddler and stick to singing “Hearts are coming.” Some years, I lapse back to using the name for the holiday, especially if my current little friends go to daycare and preschool and will hear the word “Valentine.”

Regardless, this little song is a fun way to introduce a holiday-themed social activity!

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One of my favorites…Valentine’s Day for Toddlers

Laura — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 05:10:49 +0000

Today I decided I’d post some cute Valentine’s Day activities for toddlers for all of you last minute planners out there!

My all-time best Valentine’s Day activity is buying a variety of children’s Valentine sets in popular themes (This year’s picks were Frozen, Sponge Bob, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, puppies, and Cars. Previous hits have been Dora, Elmo, Disney Princesses and any animal-themed card.)

I use the cards in sessions the following ways depending on a child’s interests and goals:

Place the cards in a paper bag (so the child can’t see) and let him reach into the bag and select one card at a time making a big, big deal about what he’s going to get, who it is, etc… Use your facial expressions, voice and words to build anticipation. Create some verbal routines like “Shake, shake, shake” as you shake the bag before the child picks a card.

Using the bag, teach the word or sign for “OPEN!” Teaching a child to say “OPEN!” loudly (yes, screaming it!) is fun for bossy toddlers and almost cajoles some of our friends into imitating a word before they even realize what’s happening. If a child approximates anything near the word “open,” even “oh” or “uh,” reward his effort and open the bag! Remember, we’re not going for perfection with a late talker!

You can also use this activity to teach requesting words such as “more” or “please” IF you make the turns really quick, but only if a child LOVES what’s on the card – otherwise this activity may not be motivating enough for many of our little friends. If a child doesn’t seem to want to request, focus on the verbal routines you can create and then let them pick the card before they lose interest.

When you’re talking about the cards, think beyond labeling! I LOVE to have toddlers follow a direction with the card such as pat ____, kiss ____, hug ______, tickle ____, etc… Or try directions such as “Give ____ to Mommy” or “Put ___ in your pocket” or everyone’s favorite, “Sit on _____.”

Don’t wait for Easter…. Hide your Valentine’s Day cards in various places for a child to look for and find. Use a Valentine’s Day themed bucket to collect the cards. If you don’t have a bucket, any kind of bag will be fine – an old purse, a paper bag, a backpack, anything. Toddlers aren’t that picky when it comes to this kind of play routine!

Cut a slit in the lid of a Valentine’s Day bucket so the child can slide the card in the hole AFTER you’ve done something else with the card. For some kids, picking a card, briefly talking about it and then running across the room to stuff the card in the bucket is enough. In this kind of game, the goal is to pay enough attention to you to learn to complete a repetitive task that involves movement. What a feat for some of our friends!

Toddlers and preschoolers who are a little more mature may like to draw on the cards and then put them in the envelopes. You can play “mail” with the cards too. If you don’t have a toy mail box, make one from a shoe box and call it the “mailbox.” For a few years I used a white box with lots of stamps and stickers I placed on the outside. Most young children love any game that involves “stuff it in, dump it out.” Teach prepositions in, out, off, on, under, up, down EASILY with this kind of game.

Here are some links to videos from previous years with fabulous and EASY ideas to implement for this week with your little friends or your own little sweetheart.

Make an “I Love” Book & Ideas for Pictures/Flashcards

Valentine’s Day Sensory Boxes

Enjoy this week with your little lovies!!

Laura

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Heart Shaped Lacing Boards for Toddlers

Laura — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 05:06:19 +0000

In planning therapy for the next few weeks, I’m thinking about a couple of my little friends who have mild motor delays in addition to super short attention spans.

Here’s an activity I’m pulling out for them and I thought I’d pass along to you too.

It’s seasonal, for Valentine’s Day, and if you’ve followed me for a while, you know how I love holiday activities to spice things up for therapy.

For this activity, you’ll be making an easy heart-shaped lacing board you’ll be able to use again and again, or as I like to do, give to the child for practice at home. You can also make other shapes – as shown in the picture.

LACING HEARTS

Materials: Find cardboard in approximately 8 ½ x 11 sized pieces. Red construction paper or scrapbook paper will be needed to cover the heart. Buy shoelaces, ribbons, or thick strings for lacing. Obtain a hole punch.

Set Up: Cut out a single heart from the sheet of cardboard. Glue the paper to cover each heart. Punch holes an inch or so apart around the edges of the heart for lacing. Insert one end of the shoelace into a hole and tie a knot to prevent the string from coming through the hole.

Primary Goal: The child will lace the heart by pushing the string into one hole and pulling it through from the other side to build attention, task completion, and fine motor skills.

Secondary Goals: If you’re working with a child during this activity, you’ll also target joint attention since you’ll want him to include you. A child will also be improving motor planning and visual perceptual skills.

Instructions: Show the child the heart. Rather than telling the child what to do, hold the heart in one hand and the string in the other hand. Show a child how to place the end of the string into the hole and pull it through the other side. As you lace the heart, say something simple to narrate your actions such as, “Look! I put the string in one hole and I pull it through! Watch! In! Pull!” Repeat a couple of times or until the child seems to want a turn.

Give the child a heart and help him hold the heart and string correctly. Say something simple such as, “Put it in.” Create a verbal routine by saying, “Pull!” as he pulls the string through the other side. Provide cues like pointing if the child seems unsure of what to do.

Many toddlers will need physical assistance to learn to complete this task. Praise the child when he places the string in the hole and as he pulls the string through the hole.

Initially, a child may only be able to lace a few holes before he wants to move on to a new activity.

Gradually increase the number of holes you encourage him to lace. Saying, “Do one more,” often extends a child’s willingness to try. It’s usually not a good idea to require a child to talk while he’s focusing on learning complex fine motor tasks like this one. We can lose a child’s attention to the activity because he may not be developmentally ready to talk as he works toward mastering a new skill that requires focused concentration.

Troubleshooting Tips: If a child doesn’t seem to be learning to lace correctly, provide more physical assistance. If physical assistance seems to overly frustrate the child, model the task with another heart and provide additional visual and verbal cues. A child may accept physical assistance more readily for another person such as Daddy, a favorite older sibling, or grandmother. Try a new person to see if this change helps. Complete the part of the task that seems most difficult for the child and let him do the easier part. For example, if he can pull the string through the hole, place the string in the hole for him and then let him pull.

Moving Toward Independent Play: Once a child has mastered this task, make him more independent by giving him the hearts to lace on his own. Lacing activities can be a great diversion and are a super activity for long car rides and other times when the child is forced to wait or is confined.

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Valentine’s Day Books and Speech Therapy Ideas for Toddlers

Laura — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 18:26:35 +0000

Here are some sweet little books for your youngest Valentines this year, along with a few ideas perfect to use for speech therapy with late talking toddlers and preschoolers.

Little Blue Truck’s Valentine

https://amzn.to/4bpZdRU

I love all things related to Little Blue Truck and use these books year round. In this book, Little Blue delivers valentines to all his barnyard friends. For therapy activities, read the book together a few times (always more than once!) and then carry-over the theme with farm animal play. It’s even better if you can find a truck to add to your collection! The truck doesn’t even have to be blue — just a truck!

For nonverbal or minimally verbal toddlers, stick to play sounds and model the animal and truck noises from the book as you play with the farm animals together.

For an additional activity, match the animals to the pages in the book. To introduce this activity, set out your farm animals one at a time. Name each one and make its sound as you point to the corresponding page in the book and say something like, “Ooooh look! I have animals just like our book. See! Here’s a… pig! Pig! Look here’s the pig (pointing to the pig in the book). Oink oink! That’s what pig says? The pig says oink oink! Pig!” Encourage a child to imitate the animal sound or any other play sound you make like “Beep!” for Little Blue.

If kids can already identify farm animals, show them a page from the book and ask them to find the correct toy animal. Keep it light and fun saying something like, “Wow! Look! What’s that? It’s a ____ (expectantly waiting for them to fill in the blank and say the animal name.)” After a few seconds, say the animal’s name if a child doesn’t. Then say something like, “Yes! It’s a _____. I see a horse. You find the horse! Where’s the horse?”

For older toddlers, make hearts by cutting them out from pink, red, and white paper and then if a child enjoys early art projects, decorate the hearts with any toddler-friendly material like stickers, coloring with washable markers or crayons, or a glue stick and scraps of tissue paper or wrapping paper. Re-enact the book by delivering the cards to animals.

Create a Little Blue Truck Valentine’s Day sensory bin by filling a plastic container with a filler material like dry beans, rice, pasta, sand, or even dirt! Hide the animals along with a few hearts in the filler. Encourage the child to find each animal and put it in the truck. Talk about the animal names and sounds as you dig and find them together. Add more fun and things to talk about with tools like spoons or shovels for kids to dig/dump the filler material.

If you’d like more ways to teach a child to imitate, you can find step-by-step directions in my therapy manual Building Verbal Imitation Skills in Toddlers.

Where is Baby’s Valentine?

https://amzn.to/3w7mk3s

What a perfect way to introduce and reinforce a gesture/word for asking “Where” and for early prepositions and location words with this darling book for Valentine’s Day!

Read the book together several times. Exaggerate the gesture for “Where’s” each time you read that word by holding both hands out with palms open as if you’re asking, “Where?”

For minimally verbal kids and kids who are learning to imitate, you can also model the word “Boo!” every time you open a flap. The repetitiveness and predictability will provide lots of structure (with the novelty of a new book!) to help them learn this cute, social peek-a-boo routine.

For an activity, hide something around the room similar to locations from the book for a child to find. If you have something heart-related, use that! If not, make a large heart, use a heart-shaped candy box, or I’ve used anything from a favorite pillow to a baby doll. Place the object in the location (use ones from the book like behind the chair, under the blanket, etc.) Model big gesture for “Where’s the ______?” as you ask each question. Help a child locate the item with cues like pointing or taking the child to the object. This is a great activity to work on participation/joint attention and following directions.

Encourage children to use the gesture to ask the question for “Where’s the ____?” each time you’re looking for the object. Use hand-over-hand assistance to help a child perform the gesture if he doesn’t imitate after several models.

Kids may also imitate the preposition/location word if that’s your goal. If not, choose a verbal response that’s appropriate. Pick a target word and repeat it each time you find the object. Some children may name the object you’re locating such as, “Pillow!” or “Baby!” For a verbal child who’s beginning to work on phrases or a child who’s echolalic and you’re enticing them to say anything functionally, you might try a holistic phrase such as, “I did it!” or “There it is!” when she locates the object.

Older toddlers and preschoolers may enjoy hiding the object themselves while you close your eyes. Ask “Where’s the ___?” several times using your gesture. Look for the object in several locations really hamming it up before you find it.

You can also target yes/no responses with big gestures and words as you’re reading the book and hiding objects.

Find more ideas for teaching prepositions and every other language goal for toddlers and preschoolers through 48 months in my therapy manual Teach Me To Talk: The Therapy Manual.

What Does Baby Love?

https://amzn.to/49kskEi

This is a fantastic book for teaching early imitation with familiar, fun actions and vocalizations for a child to copy. Model the actions as you read the book such as tickling the baby, patting the drum, panting like a dog, or saying “bubble” or “pop.” Encourage a child to imitate too. Read the book together OFTEN. If a child isn’t imitating yet, it means you haven’t read the book enough for them to learn the routine. Don’t give up! It may take several days/weeks of reading the book together and modeling the actions before a child will begin to participate.

If you’re working with a child who isn’t talking or imitating yet and you’ve tried lots of ideas, maybe something else is missing. Get my therapy manual Let’s Talk About Talking to help you discover the missing piece.

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Best Books for Speech Therapy for Toddlers

Laura — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 17:05:40 +0000

In my week of making lists, I wanted to add a post with recommendations for the best books for speech therapy for toddlers.

If you need specific therapy ideas, I’ve devoted 3 entire podcasts to this topic and you can find those here:

Making Books Better Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Here’s the list of books — along with potential goals to help you plan how to use the books to target language skills in toddlers with language delays.

Please keep in mind that many of the books I’m including are picture books meaning there’s no storyline, but the pictures are engaging and perfect for building a busy toddler’s attention, sharing an experience together (to target joint attention), learning how to link meaning with words, and finally, naming pictures. Some books are listed under multiple goals — which is even better! I’ve included a few more books that I love and use mostly for “just reading” to help a child learn to listen to a whole story at the bottom of the list.

This information is discussed in detail in podcast #415.

Demonstrate awareness and enjoyment of books measured by attending/listening with joint attention, not mouthing book immediately, righting the picture, and turning pages.

Little Blue Truck

See Touch Feel Books by Roger Priddy

Point at pictures for awareness (not accuracy – that’s coming up!)

Bright Baby Board Books by Roger Priddy

To teach pointing…

Press Here

Poke A Dot

Introduce sliding books for kids who need practice isolating their index fingers to point.

For more specific strategies for helping children learn to point, watch this video.

Slide and Find

Brown Bear Sliding Version

Cheerios books – to target pincer grasp

Complete simple actions with books.

Watch the show for more specific ideas, but in this phase, you’re modeling an action for a child to imitate such as kissing a baby, patting a puppy, knocking on a door, etc.

Roger Priddy Bright Baby

Follow the directions in the book for imitating actions:

Pat the Bunny

Repeat One Action for the Entire Book

Never Feed a Shark

Modify Books like Moo Baa La La La

Song-Themed Books

5 Little Monkeys

To teach a child to imitate using Peer Modeling:

Shake a Leg

Elmo Says

From Head to Toe – Eric Carle

Identify familiar pictures on request.

(We’ll do much more about targeting receptive language with books in the next developmental range in show #416!)

Bright Baby Board Books

In my podcast #416 Making Books Better for Toddlers with Language Delays Part Two, I demonstrated strategies for the following goals with specific books for speech therapy sessions and recommend to parents. Here’s that list for you. For detailed instructions for using these books to meet the following 6 early literacy goals for kids with language delays who are in the 18 to 36 month developmental period, please watch show #416!

Goal #1… Identify familiar pictures on request.

A child will point to the picture you name as you say, “Show me the ___,” “Where’s the ____?” “Find the ____.” or “I see the ___. You find the ____.”

Begin with simple picture books and when a child is ready, increase your complexity. (more about that in show #417!)

Roger Priddy Books

SPANISH EDITION

Here’s the book I use for making “sets” of objects to match with pictures. See details in show # 416.

Not the same book sound book as I used in the podcast, but very similar:

Goal 2: Match pictures to objects

Select a book with familiar objects and find an object (try for one per page) so that the child can match the object to the picture.

Goal 1: Child will imitate play sounds and exclamatory words while reading books.

Goal 2: Child will imitate familiar words during verbal routines using books.

Goal 6: Child will name pictures.

Select counting books with familiar words and instead of counting the objects name them sequentially. For example, on a page of 3 dogs, you’ll say, “Dog. Dog… (expectant waiting for the child to fill in “dog.”)

In my podcast #417 Making Books Better for Late Talking Toddlers (18 to 36 months), I demonstrated strategies for the following goals with specific books I use in therapy sessions and recommend to parents. Here’s that list for you. For detailed instructions for using these books to meet the following 6 early literacy goals for kids with language delays who are in the 18 to 36 month developmental period, please watch show #417.

Previous books lists for 415 (part 1 of this series) and 416 (part 2 of this series)

Identify pictures of familiar actions or verbs.

Go Dog Go

Open the Barn Door

Mrs. Wishy Washy

Spot Goes to the Park

Pat the Bunny

Maisy Goes to Preschool

What Are They Doing?

First 100 Words

2. Identify pictures of first location words or prepositions.

Dear Zoo

Big Red Barn

3. Find 2 pictures on request as a prequisite for following two-part commands.

100 First Words Book

Baby ABC

Troubleshooting Ideas:

ACTIVE BOOK – younger – Eric Carle

Active Book – older- Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

Make any book active just by giving a job on every page

Design activities around personal preferences to help with attention/participation/and general listening.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

Priddy Pop Up

4. Identify objects by function.

100 First Words

The Going to Bed Book

Llama Llama

5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

5. Answer yes/no questions

6. Teach negation “not”

GREAT BOOKS TO HELP BUILD A CHILD’S ABILITY TO LISTEN TO AN ENTIRE STORY!

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Christmas Themed Toys for Toddlers with Language Delays

Laura — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 14:52:49 +0000

Anytime we introduce “theme” toys during therapy time or any time, we’re automatically increasing novelty (becuase it’s new!) which usually drives interest and participation for toddlers.

In case you’re looking for a few new holiday items to add to your rotation, here are my favorites from the last few years!

As an Amazon affiliate, we earn a **tiny** commission from your purchases. If you’re planning to buy anyway, it’s a great way to support our work!

I love, love, love this cute plush Santa set. It’s not the best for therapists to use since it’s plush and not quick to sanitize, but if you’re a parent, I bet you’ll love it too! The house provides a built in play routine – taking the characters out and then putting them back in. The handle makes it fun for toddlers to carry around … a favorite activity for sure! I like working on clothing items with this toy (hat and boots are easy to teach with this set!), in addition to names of the characters, and of course, in/out.

I love this set too – a Christmas choo choo! I have lots of additional pieces to this set I’ve collected through the years, but this one is a great starter set. Key words of course are choo choo, Santa, reindeer, elf, in, out, go, push.

I don’t have this tree, but it’s close to the one I’ve used — and now passed along to my sweet grandbaby this Christmas! With this tree, you’ll be focusing on vocabulary expansion with new nouns for the ornaments, plus the verbs push and pull, and of course, on and off.

Poke A Dot books are fantastic for teaching and practicing pointing as well as maintaining attention to pictures for our little ones who are too busy for books! I have lots of these and I’m adding the Christmas version to my inventory now that I’ve seen it in my research for this list! More books below…

Here’s are two more options for a Christmas trees. If you don’t have time for the real DIY version (as in you go buy and cut out all the ornaments), these options look pretty good! My homemade versions are always a hit with toddlers. I love this one because it has velcro spots for the ornaments. The snow men will be a nice extension for January or for families who don’t celebrate Christmas.

An Advent calendar is similar to this activity. Hide the ornaments in the pockets… always a fun play routine. Watch a video with a similar calendar for therapy ideas.

If you’re in to wind-up toys like me, here’s a darling Christmas set. You can assess a lot with a wind up toy! Read more here…

I love my Fisher Price nativity set for older toddlers and preschoolers. Match the characters/animals to a book as you read or reenact the story. Great for Christian families, faith-based programs, and therapists like me

My favorite Christmas books are listed here too. You can work on anything with books…. attention/participation, receptive language (Find the ____), naming games where the child points to the picture and you name it, imitating actions with pictures (Kiss Santa!), and of course, vocabulary expansion as a child names the pictures. One of my favorite things to do with books is to gather objects that look similar to the pictures for matching or reenacting the story…. such a great language expansion activity!

I made a video about this one!

AND… this puzzle that I’ve loved since 2016… but it’s no longer available on Amazon. Listing it here in case you can find it somewhere else… it’s worth it! I use it for teaching a child to imitate actions as described in this video.

The post Christmas Themed Toys for Toddlers with Language Delays appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

Ultimate Toy List for Speech Therapy for Toddlers with Language Delays

Laura — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:53:24 +0000

Buying toys is just about one of my favorite things to do any day of the year. During the holidays, I can hardly resist!

Today I want to share my Ultimate Therapy Toy Guide with a few new favorites in a post I’m calling The Best Toys for Speech Therapy for Toddlers with Autism and Language Delays.

I’m grouping the toys by developmental language range (not necessarily age!) along with a very brief summary of each category with a simple description for how you could use the toy to teach language, both at home and in clinical settings.

You’ll also find Amazon links to each toy to streamline your shopping. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn a tiny commission from these purchases. It’s a great way to support my work at teachmetotalk.com – especially if you’re looking to add to your toy inventory!

Happy Shopping!

Best Toys for Speech Therapy for Toddlers for Autism and Language Delays

12 Months & Under

Kids who are functioning in the 9 to 12 month developmental range are learning to play with toys like cause and effect toys (push the button toys), simple problem solving toys like shape sorters and beginning puzzles, and early constructive toys like blocks. Children may be working on consistently alerting to and responding to events in their environment as well as sensory exploration. Kids in this range are not using very many gestures or words and are just learning to understand very simple commands while they’re playing like “Give it to me” and “Put it in.” If that’s what a child is working on, here are some great toy options.

Excellent Toys for Teaching Object Permanence

A child must learn that objects exist even when you can’t see them. This concept sets the stage for understanding and using words as labels. Until a child learns to hold a mental picture in his mind of an object – evidenced by looking for something he can’t see – he won’t be able to link real objects with their names or labels.

Montessori Ball Box

https://amzn.to/4fgX1xD

Excellent Toys for Teaching Cause and Effect

With these toys, we want kids to learn, I have to “do something to get something.” It’s an important cognitive and language milestone kids reach before they learn to talk. Provide opportunities for children to play with these toys with you and alone.

Spinning drum…. child reaches out and spins drum – easy to operate with a big non-electronic effect!

https://amzn.to/3O6lXMk

Piano… I love this simple piano for teaching cause and effect!

https://amzn.to/4hRWQL1

Pop N Pals – classic toy to teach cause and effect with 4 different motor movements to activate the toy

https://amzn.to/3URTTQx

Mirror Roll Away…. best for babies who aren’t mobile yet. The mirror rolls away as a child touches it — creating a reason to move!

https://amzn.to/44q3Jv9

Press & Glow Spinner… teaches children cause and effect with an easy to push spinning toy

https://amzn.to/4fq77w2

Push and Pop Bulldozer… Classic stand up push toy for new walkers

https://amzn.to/40OkAJV

Drip Drop Cups …. teaches cause and effect as babies fill the cups and watch the water drip out the bottom during bath time or play time

https://amzn.to/4fpojC5

Music Toys for Cause and Effect

When toddlers have significant developmental delays or sensory differences, I do use the extra “umph” by providing toys with lights/sounds to help a child learn to attend to the toy and participate in play routines.

First Drum

https://amzn.to/3O7jZLO

Bongos… easy to operate bongos with lights and music

https://amzn.to/3YLlKTQ

Farmyard Cube… activates easily helping a baby learn cause and effect

https://amzn.to/3AFZjY0

Excellent Toys for Teaching Simple Problem Solving

Tissue Box …. child learns to pull and brightly colored tissues come out!

Soft Tissue Box

https://amzn.to/40Np0k2

Solid Tissue Box — Eric Carle themed

https://amzn.to/48MIhE6

Earliest puzzle… no choices – child fits circle into opening and gets the bonus of seeing herself in the mirror! …

https://amzn.to/3Z7mfsN

Great first shape sorter… child can get shape in 2 ways… excellent for babies and children with fine motor delays

https://amzn.to/40Loxie

Montessori Box with 2 options to help kids learn to discriminate shapes and size by teaching trial and error

https://amzn.to/4hSKlyy

Basic Nesting Cups…. sized for little hands! Child learns about size and fitting objects together

https://amzn.to/4fJhcnN

Block Sets

https://amzn.to/3AwdzTl

EASY Push Cars… My favorite car for toddlers! So easy to operate… push and go!

https://amzn.to/3USF68c

Poke a Dot Books…. Best books for teaching pointing! There are several versions to find something that captures a child’s attention.

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https://amzn.to/4fNCSPp

Bubbles are always a favorite throughout childhood. I love no-spill bubbles so you can focus on the fun without the mess. If a child is developmentally ready to talk, begin with words to teach him to ask for what he wants, or as an SLP would say, to request. The most obvious word to try is “bubble,” but if he can’t say that, it’s perfectly fine to teach him a general word to use for requests like “more” or “please.” Some therapists discourage those as early words, but read here why I STILL think teaching these all-purpose requesting words are a good idea for late talking toddlers: 10 Reasons I Still Teach The Sign for “More” First

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https://amzn.to/3YLDqi5

12 – 18 Months

Kids who are functioning in the 12 – 18 month developmental range are continuing to play with toys from the previous period such as cause and effect toys (push the button toys), simple problem solving toys like shape sorters and puzzles, and constructive toys like blocks. In this stage, toddlers begin to follow commands during play such as “Where’s the dog?” and “Hit the ball with the hammer.” It’s an exciting time for expressive language development too… gestures (like waving and pointing) and first words emerge! During play toddlers are learning “functional object use” meaning that they focus on learning what things do… you roll, throw, and catch a ball, push a toy car, build with blocks, put a hat on your head, look at pictures in a book, use a cup to give the baby doll a drink, etc. Imitation is how toddlers learn best so be sure to show them how to play with toys. Talk as you play together emphasizing key words to help a child understand and then say the new word. If that’s what a child is working on, here are some great toy options.

A great farm set – This is a classic toy for toddlers and preschoolers with lots to do and tons of target word options! I own all 3 of these barns and use them all!

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https://amzn.to/3ULVxTF

https://amzn.to/3Otsz7T

First Baby Doll Sets

Babies are also a universal play theme for young children — both boys and girls. Here are my favorites with lots of accessories to increase your target word possibilities…

https://amzn.to/3YLD3UJ

https://amzn.to/4fDEN9y

Baby Doll Accessory Set

https://amzn.to/3AHI60j

RING STACKERS

https://amzn.to/4hOZkcT

https://amzn.to/3CuBvHi

https://amzn.to/3Z4PoVc

BUS

New walkers are fascinated with this spinning bus. Work on sound effects like “Whee” or a verbal routine like “Ready Set Go” as a child pulls the bus.

https://amzn.to/3YRH1Lk

NESTING BLOCKS

Nesting Blocks with Plastic Animals teach about size/order as well as animal sounds and names. I also work on prepositions/location words with these toys like in, out, up, down, on and off. My most favorite set of blocks is this darling one from Djeco. It is pricier than plain ole wooden blocks, but your possibilities for using this toy are unlimited! The blocks are so cute and graduated for stacking by size and have a rounded opening for a “door.” The set comes with several darling plastic animals for you to place in the “house.”

I have so many cute play routines for this toy, but in the beginning I tell the child we’re going to stack the blocks and I teach the word “build” or “up” as we’re stacking the blocks on top (“On top” is a good one too!) When several blocks are stacked, we choose an animal to go inside the opening of the block and, as I mentioned previously, I call this a “house.”

If a child is working on receptive language, I’ll teach him to learn the animal names and follow directions by holding 2 animals and asking, “Where’s the dog?” Once he’s chosen the correct animal, let the child put it in one of houses. Or model “up up up” as you make the animal climb up to find his house. You can knock on the door, which toddlers love, and you’re teaching them to imitate an action.

When a child is more verbal, you can try to elicit animal sounds or names. In case I haven’t said this clearly enough, the sillier you are, the better, when you’re teaching animal noises and other fun play sounds. Usually when you let go and really get in to playing by loudly modeling animal noises or doing ridiculous things with the animals, the better the child’s attention and participation will be! Once the blocks are stacked, or anytime you feel like you’re losing the child’s attention with blocks, ask him to knock over the tower. I love anything with “fall down” as the gag, because toddlers love it and I can get them to do it over and over again. Target words I teach with this toy are: block, up, push, uh-oh, fall down, knock knock (on the “doors” when animals are in the blocks), animal names, animal sounds, and names of objects on the blocks. You can also target size words with this set by teaching a child with directions like, “Let’s find the big one,” or “That one is little” as you’re stacking and playing.

https://amzn.to/3Z8H8Ut

https://amzn.to/3O5XXcj

https://amzn.to/40LtPdC

Shape Sorters

Shape sorters are also a classic toy. I love the versions that also make noise to hook a child’s attention!

https://amzn.to/48X5tzS

https://amzn.to/4fsN6VI

Ball and Hammer Toy

If I could only have 1 toy for therapy, this would be it… my favorite ball and hammer toy! Teach exclamatory words like “Boom! Boom!” and “Yay!” I teach the words ball and push with this toy. Prepositions are a natural target too – in, down, out. Many kids will try to match the balls to the hole openings.

https://amzn.to/48QYZ5t

https://amzn.to/3Z3Bu5V

https://amzn.to/3AGO5m6

GREAT quiet activity for toddlers… long car rides, planes, etc. Prep a child first by playing together with the book to show her how to complete the interactive pages…

https://amzn.to/4hPqUqA

Race Track

All car toys can be tons of fun for toddlers, but I love a good race track! Kids will try to imitate the car noise, “Vroom, vroom,” or a raspberry car sound or any other goofy car sound you make! Other targets are “Ready, set, go!” especially if you’ve introduced that phrase or word with other toys and are trying to generalize that word. When a child LOVES this toy, I do use it for requesting. You can start with a general word, but I try to teach words like “car” or “truck” since the toy is motivating and the turns are very quick.

https://amzn.to/3Cs383H

https://amzn.to/3ACRF0H

Easy Puzzles

Beginner puzzles – not too many options and big knobs to guide little hands!

https://amzn.to/3UPmar3

https://amzn.to/3AJzI0q

https://amzn.to/4fJPKGs

Combine your barn/farm theme with puzzle pieces…

https://amzn.to/4fr8xXo

Tot Tube Great for kids with short attention spans! Put almost any small toy in and watch it slide through the tunnel and pop out!

https://amzn.to/3UQt1k7

18 to 24 Months

Kids who are functioning in the 18 – 24 month developmental range are continuing to play with toys from the previous period and continue to master cause and effect toys, simple problem solving toys like shape sorters and puzzles, and constructive toys like blocks. In this stage, toddlers follow commands to identify objects during play such as “Where’s the dog?” and to complete tasks like “The cow is so tired. Put him in the barn to go to sleep.” During play toddlers continue to perfect “functional object use” and are expanding the kinds of things they do with toys including early pretending as a child begins to use one toy to represent something else during play based on familiar, everyday
activities they perform. For example, a child may place a block to his ear and pretend to talk on the phone or use a drum stick as a spoon to feed a baby doll. Imitation is still how toddlers learn best so be sure to show them how to play with toys. Talk as you play together emphasizing key words to help a child understand and then say the new word. Children typically experience a language explosion during this developmental range so include toys that teach new words, and not just nouns or labels for objects! Be sure to introduce verbs/action words, prepositions/location words, and early possessives/pronouns. If that’s what a child is working on, here are some great toy options.

Mr. Potato Head

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https://amzn.to/4fsJ13O

https://amzn.to/4hGufYO

https://amzn.to/3VkXreD

Mr. Potato Head is fantastic for any toddler! It’s a basic vocabulary building activity since you can target body parts and basic clothing items such as hats and shoes. There are sets with purses and earrings and other “themed” sets related to holidays and children’s characters. Get the giant 2.5 size gallon ziplock bags so you can keep all of your accessories together. I would definitely use this during parent-child playtime only so your pieces don’t get lost.

Housework activities are of high interest to toddlers and a great way to teach imitation!

https://amzn.to/3CuGqYM

Baby Doll Sets

Baby Doll Sets are another high interest toy for boys and girls. It’s perfect for teaching functional object use (brush the baby’s hair, give her a drink, etc.) as well as early pretending.

https://amzn.to/3O6ApUq

I love to use baby bathtubs for a “bumped” up doll play experience. Don’t get your hopes up too high for the shower! It’s a drip-drop but so fun for toddlers!

https://amzn.to/4fsUEI5

Phlat Ball

The Plat ball is a toy for older children, but I use it with toddlers all the time! It’s a ball that can be pushed flat and then pops open. Toddlers need help to learn to push the ball flat, and their little fingers can get caught in the edges, so save this toy for play with a parent or older child. The directions on the package talk about throwing the ball and letting it pop open in the air, but I use it on the floor. It’s a great toy for sensory-seekers and kids who crave deep pressure. I also use it for turn-taking practice since the turns are fast and fun, even if you’re not the one who gets to push the ball. There are so many words you can teach with this toy, but the ones I use most are: ball, push, pop, mine, more, please, roll, kick, stuck, uh-oh, surprise, scary (“not scary”).

https://amzn.to/3Z3FPpJ

https://amzn.to/3Z4BTot

Ball Poppers

Another favorite ball toy… but don’t let the child chew on the foam balls! Hog Wild makes this toy in a variety of animals… cow, dinosaur, unicorn, even a Christmas line. Set up a verbal routine like “Ready Set Go!” or “Push and Pop!” for a child to fill in the last word. Great activity for kids who need to move to stay regulated. Use this toy between other sit down play routines.

https://amzn.to/3CpLZaN

https://amzn.to/3Cs6Ryd

https://amzn.to/4exl4au

24 Months to 36 Months

When kids are in the 24 month developmental range, they’re talking! Not only with single words – but short phrases begin to dominate a child’s speech. Vocabulary development continues to be a focus so that what a child says becomes longer and longer and more and more complex. Play sets become much more appropriate and can be used to teach TONS of new words!

A great barn if you’re looking for a bump up from Fisher Price!

https://amzn.to/4foaDaz

If one of your little friends loves latches but not playing with toys, this barn helps blend those activities and hooks his attention with something he loves.

https://amzn.to/3AHj0Pa

Cars and Trucks

Vehicles will always be fun, but this set is great because of the magnets!

https://amzn.to/4fqN7tr

House

With a play house, help a child learn to pretend first by doing things he already does in his everyday life – eat, take a bath, go to bed, etc…

https://amzn.to/3YNx6qb

While it’s fun to use this toy as an animal hospital, I usually use plastic characters or other small toys (like cars or balls) to hide inside the doors to teach object identification and new nouns.

https://amzn.to/3AI9iMw

More Toys with Keys

https://amzn.to/3URLKeO

https://amzn.to/3CrNbKJ

Another Fun Ball Toy – an excellent choice for a child who is obsessed with numbers. Use his preferred interest to help him connect with you and share a play routine.

https://amzn.to/4hRNI9d

Kitchen Play is always a wonderful opportunity for language development. Here are my favorite kitchen toys:

https://amzn.to/3O8dTKZ

https://amzn.to/3AKO5BB

https://amzn.to/3YOYvZ5

This pretend microwave is always a big hit!

https://amzn.to/3AKctDn

Super fun water play for toddlers as you’re teaching a child to pretend!

https://amzn.to/48POMWO

https://amzn.to/4fO35NS

Easy Wooden Puzzles

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https://amzn.to/3Z45Ipn

https://amzn.to/48SQPK0

https://amzn.to/3UTrNEx

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In previous posts I’ve admitted this, and I’ll share it here too…I own an embarrassing number of toddler puzzles, but they are “gold” when it comes to targeting language. The best puzzles for toddlers have wooden pegs or tiny knobs for easy handling by little fingers. Each picture is one individual piece that comes out separately. Wooden puzzles are cheap ($3-$10) and most toddlers love to do them. You can find puzzles with any kind of theme – farm animals, zoo animals, vehicles, food, bath time, toys, etc… I’ve linked several here so you can be sure you’re looking for VARIETY! Don’t buy more than a couple for each theme! Stay away from puzzles with ABCs, colors, and numbers until your child is really talking. Stick to puzzles with words a child needs to expand his vocabulary with new words.

Of course you can teach a child to say new words with puzzles, but many times a toddler isn’t quite ready for this during early sessions. What should you do then? Puzzles are great for targeting an earlier skill – building receptive language or what a child understands. You’re teaching a child to learn new words as you label the piece as you place it in the puzzle, but there are several better ways to target comprehension with puzzles. You can hold up 2 different pieces and say, “Get the ___.” Or place several pieces on floor and ask him, “Where’s the ___.”

You can also target receptive language during clean up time with puzzles. After you’ve named the pieces as he’s putting the piece in, tell him which piece to get to clean up the puzzle. Expand receptive language more by asking him tougher questions, “Which one says moo?” “Which one flies?” Which one goes in the water?” “Which one do you wear on your feet?”

One more IMPORTANT tip… DON’T INSIST THAT THE CHILD DO THE WHOLE PUZZLE BEFORE YOU PUT IT AWAY.

When you do this, you are CONTRIBUTING to all sort of undesirable behavior!! No wonder he cries or throws or whatever else he does that you don’t like… if he can’t sit still that long, he can’t sit still that long! It’s up to YOU to make it fun enough so that a child wants to stay! If he does 2 pieces today, that’s okay. He may do 3 tomorrow and 4 the next day. Take it at each child’s pace! I promise this is a better “no tears” way : )

Playdoh!

I love Play-Doh! Use a set with accessories for more vocabulary-building opportunities!

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https://amzn.to/4fNMVUU

https://amzn.to/4fK1CrY

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Fantastic gross motor options for toddlers who need to move, move, move!

Bowling Sets are tons of fun for first games with peers!

https://amzn.to/4ewDDve

Train Sets

Trains are another universally-appreciated toy! I love all the Thomas stuff that’s so hard to find now, but this set is always a winner and it’s portable!

https://amzn.to/3CCjtCJ

Blocks for Hiding Various Objects for Naming Activities

For decades I owned a set of open/close Tupperware blocks that finally look too worn to use! This set has become my replacement! Great for hiding various small toys for naming and keeping a child’s interest when they want to move on quickly.

https://amzn.to/3Z5FMtl

More Advanced Play Set with blocks

https://amzn.to/40QbxIf

36 Months and Beyond

Play really “bumps up” to a new developmental level when we provide realistic props to support developing imaginations and language skills. Be sure to add extra sequences (or steps to play), new vocabulary across word categories (not just nouns, but verbs, prepositions, descriptive words, and pronouns), new relationships (or roles in play), and new toys to enhance pretending. Watch this podcast for a full explanation of these factors.

These tiles are super for open-ended constructive play. If a child is “stuck” on blocks or legos, introduce these!

https://amzn.to/40MhEgT

Excellent set/props for more advanced pretending!

https://amzn.to/3Z79xu7

Dress up!

Look for simple costumes for simple on/off to begin.

https://amzn.to/40OnE8U

https://amzn.to/3CpYxyN

https://amzn.to/4fwYmAI

https://amzn.to/4hPoGY1

Restaurant (pizza, ice cream shop, hot chocolate stand)

https://amzn.to/3YLWvR7

https://amzn.to/3AKO5BB

https://amzn.to/3APON0j

https://amzn.to/3Z8Quj3

Play doh sets continue to be lots of fun for preschoolers and provide language-rich teaching opportunities.

https://amzn.to/3O9TGEQ

The post Ultimate Toy List for Speech Therapy for Toddlers with Language Delays appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

Start Here for Help!

Laura — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 06:09:38 +0000

As speech-language pathologists and parents, when a toddler is not talking yet, we rush in to try to help them learn to say new words and pronounce them clearly. When these first attempts don’t work, we become frustrated, sometimes very frustrated, with the lack of progress. This is the point where I usually meet parents – and even therapists – at a point of frustration. They’re out there looking for a way to do things better or faster and they find this website, my videos on youtube, or my podcast.

That’s the purpose of this post, to help you find a way to help your own late talker – or, if you’re a therapist like me, a whole caseload of toddlers with language delays!

Anytime you’re working on changing something, you need a plan!

Not only a plan, but a good plan!

Early in my career, I recognized the need for a consistent way of designing my own treatment plans to make sure that I addressed every aspect of helping a child learn to communicate – especially those things that may not be as easy to identify as “he’s not saying any words.”

To keep myself on track, I developed a hierarchy or a plan for how to look at a child’s communication skills in a continuum knowing that everything a child learns is building a strong foundation for what comes next. I started sharing this hierarchy when I launched my website teachmetotalk in 2008 and began publishing my DVDs and therapy manuals. In 2010, I began teaching this hierarchy to therapists throughout the United States and did that for many years. Nowdays, I just do that on YouTube!

Today I want to briefly share that hierarchy with you and then show you how to apply this method or treatment plan using a specific activity.

Remember – what you’re doing, the specific activity, is not that important. You can use this method for ANY toy and everyday activity. The important thing is learning the 4 big areas you should be looking at and in what order to make the most impact for working with a toddler with language delays.

The four areas are:

Social & Interactive Skills

Receptive Language

Expressive Language

Speech Intelligibility

Let me briefly explain each area and tell you why it’s important for language development.

Social & interactive skills are the foundation for communicating.

Every time we communicate, it involves at least 2 people. Actually, this 1 on 1 interaction is the reason language evolved in the first place. We don’t need to know how to talk to do many of the solitary things we do every day, but as soon as another person enters the picture, communication becomes necessary. The first piece of that is realizing another person is there and then learning to enjoy that interaction. Social engagement begins very early in a baby’s life – on day one! Over the first several weeks and months, a baby shows evidence that he likes being with other people and seeks out others for the purpose of interacting. Those skills continue to grow and develop over a child’s first year.

However, sometimes a baby who has been social early on begins to withdraw. He or she begins to avoid interaction and tune other people out – especially people outside her own family. Or it may be more subtle – a child used to smile and giggle and be super engaged, but then it shifts a little. He becomes more interested in toys or screens than people. He or she doesn’t learn to consistently respond to their names or pay attention as people talk to them. She doesn’t look at things when you point to them. The child has scattered eye contact so that it may difficult to get them to look at you and maintain that connection. They look like they’re always busy with something else or not listening as you talk to them.

Let’s contrast this with toddlers who have typically developing social skills. They do respond to their names. They watch you often as you talk to them. They seek out other people to help them and try to communicate with facial expressions and their own body movements, even before they can talk.

When a child is not naturally social and interactive, he’s at a real disadvantage for learning to communicate because that foundational piece is missing. If a child you’re working with or your own child doesn’t frequently connect with you and a variety of other people, then this is the area where you should begin your plan. You’ll work to help a child learn to like (or at least tolerate) interacting with others. Without this piece, communication skills will not move forward. Social interaction and engagement should be your first goal.

I recommend AND USE the treatment approach in Teach Me to Play WITH You first with all kids and families who need help with social interaction ideas. I can teach you to do it too. Read more…

In case you’re wondering, throughout my career, I have also use these strategies with toddlers and preschoolers who have markers for autism, but make so much progress (especially with social interaction) that they do not get the diagnosis of autism. I get emails from parents who have bought my manuals and followed my work who tell me the same thing about their child. While I can never make a bold claim without seeing a specific child, please know that this is possible. When you implement the right strategies, things change.

Children with significant social delays or differences that don’t resolve as you focus on interaction will very likely go on to be diagnosed with autism. Understanding the underlying differences in how kids with autism learn language is critical. My treatment manual The Autism Workbook will help you pinpoint focus areas you need to strengthen and help you design a treatment plan for a toddler or preschooler with characteristics of autism or an official diagnosis. Read more… There’s an entire podcast series about working with toddlers and preschoolers with autism using these methods. Here’s that page.

Receptive Language

The next big area for language development is receptive language or how a child understands the words he hears. Babies and toddlers must first learn to understand words before they use those words to talk and communicate.

The best and most practical way to judge a child’s receptive language skills are by looking at how well he follow directions during familiar, everyday routines such as “Go get your shoes,” “Bring me the cup,” or “Let’s go take a bath.” Toddlers with typically developing language skills are completing these kinds of routine requests by the time they are 15 to 18 months old.

For therapists, there should also be evidence of a child’s ability to follow commands during sessions. If mom says, “He understands everything,” but I can’t get him to do anything for me during therapy, there’s a problem! You’ll want to tease that out. Is a parent overestimating a child’s comprehension skills? Many times, parents attribute a child’s lack of compliance to behavioral or personality issues like “He’s stubborn” or “She’s lazy,” but most of the time, that’s not the case. Even the most strong-willed toddlers with normal receptive language skills follow many different requests during everyday routines at home, especially when there’s something in it for them!

Receptive language is heavily dependent upon a child’s cognition – or how he thinks, learns, plans, and remembers. Toddlers with cognitive delays will always have difficulty learning language. You’ll know to expect those challenges and adapt your teaching strategies to meet a child’s needs in this area. Your goal here will be teaching a child to understand new words and new concepts, not to say those words just yet.

If a child does not understand language well enough to consistently follow directions, you’ve found your first (or next) goal! Teach a child to understand more words first and to follow simple commands. Here’s why and it’s pretty obvious when you think about it… and I’ve said it before, but I’ll repeat it so you can remember…

Toddlers must first understand words before they can use words to communicate.

It’s highly unproductive to spend time trying to teach a toddler to say new words when he doesn’t understand those words. Any child who is 18 months old and can’t follow simple directions during familiar daily routines will be diagnosed with a moderate receptive language delay. Children who are 2 and aren’t following simple directions in everyday routines are at risk for significant receptive language delays. You’ll have to address this area first before you teach them to say more words.

My best receptive language resources are Teach Me To Talk: The Therapy Manual for specific goals/milestones and activities from under 12 months to 48 months and Let’s Talk About Talking, a comprehensive speech therapy manual to help you determine why a child isn’t talking and what skills you need to strengthen to get a child there! Both manuals are excellent starting places for both parents and professionals who want specific things to work on at home.

Expressive Language

The 3rd area for language development is expressive language or how a child uses words – or even gestures or pictures – to communicate his own needs and his own ideas with others. Parents and therapists think about expressive language as the “talking” piece.

Before kids can talk, they need to be able to vocalize or use their little voices purposefully. Sometimes toddlers with speech disorders aren’t able to control their vocalizations. Everything is still very reflexive – like crying or even noises with sneezing or coughing. This has to become volitional – where a child understands that he can use his voice and imitate the sound you’ve made.

When babies first begin to babble and vocalize, the sounds are pretty random. Late talkers will continue to do that too. They may even jabber and use lots of jargon. The problem is that they haven’t learned to link meaning with those sounds yet. They don’t understand the direct imitation piece – meaning you say a word and then they say a word.

Verbal imitation is a big part of learning how to talk. It’s often a piece that’s missing too. But we can’t begin teaching a child to imitate with words – it comes at a much earlier developmental level. We first teach a child to imitate using actions with objects and with body movements. In typically developing toddlers, this process evolves over several months in the last half of the first year. It can take much longer in toddlers with developmental delays.

If a child you’re working with isn’t using very many words (but is socially engaged and does follow directions), then look at his or her verbal imitation skills. That is your (next) starting point. My best resource for teaching a child to imitate is Buidling Verbal Imitation in Toddlers. (This is a popular podcast series too. Find out information about that here. I have been so excited about teaching this material to parents and professionals on YouTube!)

You may also consider introducing strategies like sign language or picture systems or if this is likely to be a long-term issue, another kind of AAC device – a speech generating device or an app that speaks for the child when he selects the correct picture message until he’s developmentally ready to talk. Watch a podcast on getting started with AAC.

Speech Intelligibility

The last big area is speech intelligibility or how well you can understand a child as he talks. Of course, being understood is a big part of communicating! Speech-language pathologists think about this area as articulation – or getting the right sounds in the right places. Remember too that ALL toddlers can be difficult to understand when you’re an unfamiliar listener. Even parents may struggle to understand everything a child tries to say. The norms are pretty generous in this area. Parents may understand only about half of what a 24 month old says and closer to 75% by 2 ½ and then 90% by age 3.

A child’s speech may be hard to understand for several reasons. Sometimes they’re just using jargon or jabbering which means there are only a few true words included. Those kids understand that they should talk – they just don’t have the vocabulary yet to say what they want to say. This could be an expressive problem, but it’s usually an indicator of a receptive language problem after the second birthday.

Kids may have specific sound errors which prevent them from being understood. It may go beyond just not being able to pronounce a certain sound yet. There are often error patterns – a child speaks only using vowels or he may be able to include a few consonant sounds at the beginning or some words and never the ending sounds. Or he may shorten words and omit entire syllables. Or there may be no pattern in his errors at all. His speech sound errors are inconsistent – he may say a word fine one time and then never again or every time he tries to say a word, it sounds a little different.

There are several diagnoses associated with poor speech intelligibility. But we wouldn’t address this as the main focus for a child with delayed language until the other areas are firmly established. When a child is developmentally ready, I use the methods I explain in FUNctional Phonology which outlines how to deterimine if a child is ready to work on articulation (or getting all the right sounds in all the right places) and how to prioritize your goals. It’s a developmental approach with lots of word lists, tricks and activities for toddlers rather than older kids. I outline lots of this method in this podcast series. Read more here.

Sometimes we can pinpoint the reason a child is having difficulty developing speech. When there are issues like I described earlier – inconsistent speech errors, not using very many consonant sounds in words, substituting even vowel sounds in words (which is pretty rare after 2), difficulty combining syllables to make longer words, phrases and sentences, and especiallly when a child’s speech sounds monotone or robotic, we suspect apraxia. Apraxia is not formally diagnosed in toddlers without lots of “ruling out” other issues first. I caution parents not to read a list and assume their child has apraxia because it can be a super tricky diagnosis to confirm, even for seasoned SLPs. However, apraxia is very common in children with autism; research says over 60% of kids with autism also have apraxia. Apraxia can also “stand alone” and be the sole reason a child is not communicating. In either case, the treatment plan we use is completely different from most language-based approaches. I outline this research-based method in The Apraxia Workbooks 1 & 2. Read more about that here.

Each of these 4 areas is an important part of language development.

When we don’t address a toddler’s specific areas of weakness, it could be the reason why progress in learning to talk is much slower – even when a child is already in therapy.

If you’re working with a child who is over 2 and you have no idea why he’s not talking, I strongly recommend Let’s Talk About Talking. This comprehensive therapy plan leads you through the 11 skills a child must master before he begins to talk. Every single issue that becomes the skill-based “reason” a child is not talking, even with a diagnosis like autism or a medical diagnosis like cerebral palsy or Down syndrome, can be linked back to one of these 11 skills. If a child is a “mystery” to you, this book will help you determine what skills are missing AND provide the treatment ideas to get you headed in the right direction. I start with this list with every child I’ve seen in the last 7 or 8 years and that’s what I’d do for you too if you were coming to see me. Read more. I’ve also done a whole series of podcasts about these skills. Watch the entire series for FREE! Here’s the link to that page.

I hope this post helped you understand more about what may be going on with a child who is not talking. For therapists… this is how I explain each area of language development to parents. For more help deciding which products would be best for each issue that prevents a child from learning to talk, you can also read this post.

Thanks so much for reading this lengthy post to the end! You’re a person after this writer’s heart.

With gratefulness –

Laura

teachmetotalk.com

The post Start Here for Help! appeared first on teachmetotalk.com.

teachmetotalk.com

My Big Announcement…

Speech Therapy Toy Picks for 2024 for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays

Santa Wobbler

Lollipop Drum

iPlay Cars

Community Helper Blocks

Melissa and Doug Barn Puzzle

Talking Cactus

Bilbo

Toddler Scavenger Hunt

Imitation Board Book

Basketball Hoop

Crayons and Coloring Book for Toddlers

Fisher Price Garage

Kitchen Play Sets

Stage 8 Toy List for Early Roles and Pretending with Peers from Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays

PUZZLES

REPLICA TOY SETS

BLOCKS

DRESS UP

BIRTHDAY PARTY

RESTAURANT

EARLY GAMES

Stage 7 Toy List for New Jobs and New Events from Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays

WOODEN PUZZLES

TOYS TO PRACTICE FINE MOTOR CONTROL

TOYS WITH KEYS

BABY DOLL ACCESSORIES

HOUSE SET and ADD ON ACTIVITIES

ANIMALS

Stage 6 Toy List for Expanding Play Routines

WOODEN PUZZLES

PLEASE WATCH PODCAST #471 FOR IDEAS FOR USING THESE TOYS DURING THERAPY

TOY MICROWAVE

TOY SINK

TOY BATHTUB

PLAYGROUND

FARM PLAY

MELISSA AND DOUG BARN

GARAGES

POTATO HEADS

Stage 5 Toy List

JUMBO KNOB PUZZLES

SPIKE THE HEDGEHOG

PICNIC BASKET

LITTLE PEOPLE SCHOOL BUS

Little People School Bus https://amzn.to/49gJvql

TRACTOR SET

FIRE TRUCK SET

Push & Pop Bulldozer

Baby Doll Sets

COUNTING SURPRISE PARTY

STAGE 4… Early Symbolic Play TOY LIST

TOYS WITH TOOLS

Lollipop Drum https://amzn.to/47TnvkW

Xylophone

Peg and Hammer Toy

BALL AND HAMMER TOYS

HOUSEWORK TOYS

Speech Therapy Toy Picks for 2024 for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays

Santa Wobbler

Lollipop Drum

iPlay Cars

Community Helper Blocks

Melissa and Doug Barn Puzzle

Talking Cactus

Bilbo

Toddler Scavenger Hunt

Imitation Board Book

Basketball Hoop

Crayons and Coloring Book for Toddlers

Fisher Price Garage

Kitchen Play Sets

Stage 3: Beginning Functional Play Recommended Toys

“Put it on!”

RING STACKERS

Spin Again

Traditional Wooden Ring Stacker

Large Ring Stacker