Stage 8 Toy List for Early Roles and Pretending with Peers from Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays
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.
Easier Jigsaw Puzzles for Transition
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.
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.
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.
RESTAURANT
Preschoolers love to play some version of ‘restaurant’ like these options:
EARLY GAMES
Teach kids with language delays to play games with an adult first and then add other kids.
Get My Free eBook
A Parent's Guide to Understanding Speech Language Development
Browse Products
Featured Product
Recent Posts
Teach Me To Talk Testimonials
Happy Therapists, Teachers, Parents & Children
"I just want to thank you for the invaluable information you’ve given me in helping my grandson to talk (which I have passed on to his parents). We’ve ve learned patience, appropriate expectations, and fun and effective strategies that we had found no where else. He is exploding with conversation! Sometimes I struggle to interpret his articulation, but all I have to do is say, “Show me”, and he’s excited to do so. He and I both want so badly to communicate with each other, and your strategies have made it so much easier and non-threatening. Once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Stacey
"My little guy is taking off like a rocket!! We’ve been working through your Autism Workbook for a few months and he has had an explosion of skills develop. YOU are AMAZING! THANK YOU!" Laura Q, Mom
"Dear Laura Mize and Team,
Thank you so much for all your hard work and publishing books! Our 17-month-old toddler suddenly exploded into speaking and imitating everybody's gestures and sounds, just a week or two after we 'completed' all activities that are listed under 11 pre-linguistic skills! Your method really works!"
Grateful customer.
"Hi Laura!
I absolutely LOVE all of your workbooks, especially your Autism Workbook. Starting with Social Games has been a game changer for many of my littles with ASD and their families. It's been the best way for them to finally connect and sustain shared attention and engagement, leading to longer social interactions, through play!"
Jodie, Dev, Therapist
"Hi Ms. Laura,
Thank you so much for the videos you have posted on your youtube channel. They are so direct, informative, and helpful. Thank you for being a resource for me to become a better therapist."
Dianne
"Gosh, I love all of your emails/podcast/website, just everything!! I work in early intervention as a behavior analyst and am learning so much from you!"
Thank you!
Hailey
"Laura,
I love your work! I am a professor of early childhood special education and a speech language pathologist! I have worked to help children learn to communicate and I know how valuable the information you share is for both early interventionists and pediatric speech language pathologists!
Thank you for systematically organizing and explaining essential steps for young children to learn and develop. You are having a great impact on our profession, the ECE profession and families!"
Sincerely,
David
"Thank you.
If this is Laura herself reading this email let me take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have put forth for us professionals. I own every manual (except the autism manual) and have watched every course on DVD. I have listened to countless podcasts. All of what I’ve come to be as an Early Intervention speech therapist was absolutely to your credit. With your resources at my side I have never needed to scramble for answers and strategies and above all the clear language I use when communicating with parents. My fun, animated affect and key phrases I use have been learned through watching your example. So….thank you! May you be blessed."
Chaya
"I just wanted to thank you so much for your incredible help! You are so kind and lovely and every time I implement something you've taught in your manuals or videos it is always a success, I cannot thank you enough. I really appreciate how specific you are in giving us examples of wording to use and how to use a toy in therapy with your videos, it is exactly what I need to properly help my little students. I also really appreciate your list of books of list of toys. I have seen my little students make significant progress thanks to you. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos, taking more of your CEU's, and reading more of your materials. From the bottom of my heart: thank you so much again!!"
Lauren
Laura thank you so much. Btw, you have transformed my therapy- I have become such a competent and strong therapist after watching probably like 350 of your videos and podcasts over the past few years. And I am a seasoned therapist with almost 25 years experience. (Yes prob 350 episodes ha!) But there was still a lot I learned from you. I have such a thorough understanding of birth to 3 development and how to properly incorporate appropriate therapeutic goals, techniques and strategies now, thanks to you. Kelly
