How to choose toys and games for speech therapy
Did you ever wonder how to choose mainstream toys and games for speech therapy?
My resources cupboard is full of toys that I use in my Speech Therapy sessions. These are much cheaper to buy than specialist resources and can be easily adapted to be both educational and fun.
These are my top 5 tips to help you invest in popular toys and games that can be adapted for speech therapy
1. What skills does the manufacturer claim it develops?
Usually, the box will have a reference guide that states whether they intend this toy to promote communication development, motor skills, social interaction, etc.
2. What areas of development in which your students thrive vs. what needs to be worked on?
It’s important that a toy engages the child’s strengths while helping develop other areas. If the toy is too challenging, they won’t want to use it.
3. Ask parents – what do their children like to play with already?
This one is a delicate balance between giving them something they will love to play with because it is familiar and widening the scope of their interests. What toys do they love playing with at the neighbor’s house or school?
4. What do YOU like to play with?
This is a really important one. By choosing toys and games for speech therapy that you enjoy and are excited by, you will increase the enthusiasm you bring to a session.
5. No batteries, please!
Many of the best-selling toys on the market today are computer games or battery-powered remote control-type toys. Kids love these, and of course, they are great fun, but often the learning potential is much less than some of the more traditionally designed toys that help children build their imaginations.
Let's not forget the meltdowns that ensue when the batteries die or the charge runs out! IYKYK!!!
You will be surprised at what delights you will find if you filter out all the “modern technology”. Skip by all the remote control toys and learning pads and take a close look at what is left. I can promise you will find some real quality toys hiding in between the battery chargers, batteries, and handheld devices!
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