For young children with speech and language disorders, play-based speech therapy can dramatically improve communication and social skills, helping them build a solid foundation and intrinsic motivation for language development.
Using play as a teaching tool makes therapy sessions enjoyable and engaging, encouraging children to communicate in a natural, fun environment. Toys are essential in facilitating these play-based activities, making it critical to select the right ones for maximum effectiveness. Each child will be motivated by different toys, so it is important to build off of your learners interests while incorporating toys that build cognitive skills.
It is important to remember that all forms of play are valid and don’t need to be changed, but guided to help support learning and language development. In this guide, we’ll explore the benefits of play-based speech therapy and provide recommendations for toys that can support the speech and language development of early language learners and AAC users.
Importance of Play-Based Speech Therapy
Play-based speech therapy integrates the natural tendency of children to play with strategic therapy interventions, making it a pivotal approach in enhancing communication skills in early language learners. This method not only keeps children engaged but also creates a welcoming environment conducive to learning.
We can build trust with children by following their lead during play and joining in when able. Focus on the interaction during play by making yourself a fun part of the experience to expand social engagement and build natural language development.
Benefits of Incorporating Play into Speech Therapy
- Enhanced Motivation and Engagement: Children are more likely to participate actively and with increased sustained attention when therapy activities are fun and interactive.
- Natural Learning Environment: Play provides a less structured approach, allowing children to explore language and speech through scenarios that feel natural rather than clinical. It allows the child to take the lead, while the clinician follows and builds targets into preferred activities.
- Improved Retention: Information learned through play is typically retained more effectively due to the meaningful context.
How Play Enhances Communication Skills and Language Development
When children are involved in play, they are more likely to engage in joint attention, express their wants, work on problem solving, and participate with peers or adults , all of which support the use of speech and language. This repeated practice during play sessions helps:
- Expand Vocabulary: Children can learn new words and concepts tailored to their interests and the toys they are engaging with when given appropriate models.
- Boost Cognitive Development: Through guided play, children practice problem solving, reasoning, emotional recognition, and spatial awareness.
- Enhance Social Communication: Play activities encourage children to express their ideas, listen and respond to others, and engage in turn taking.
Leveraging play in speech therapy not only aligns with the natural learning style of children but also supports the development of foundational communication skills in a fun, engaging manner that resonates with young learners.
Speak to an SLP
Speak to an SLP
Criteria for Selecting Toys for Speech Therapy
Selecting the right toys for play-based speech therapy involves understanding both the educational and developmental needs of children. These toys should not only capture the interest of your client or student but also support their speech and language development goals. Here are some key features and considerations to keep in mind when choosing appropriate toys for speech therapy.
Features to Consider in Toys for Speech Therapy
The most effective toys for speech therapy are those that:
- Encourage Interaction: Depending on the developmental level and interests of your learner, toys should have more flexibility than just simple, repetitive actions. They need to stimulate imagination, turn taking, and conversational exchange.
- Promote Turn-Taking: Games and toys that have multiple parts or involve multiple players can help teach the social use of language, such as waiting, sharing, and cooperative play.
- Foster Creativity and Storytelling: Items that allow children to create different outcomes each time, like building blocks or character figurines, can encourage narrative skills and critical thinking. Open ended toys allow the child to direct the play and the clinician to join in.
- Include Auditory and Visual Elements: For sensory seekers, toys that produce sounds or include colorful, engaging visuals can maintain a child’s attention longer.
Importance of Development and Engagement Levels
- Developmentally-Appropriate: Ensure the toys match the child’s developmental stage to keep them challenged but not frustrated. Consider their play level and types of play that will be beneficial for them, such as relational or exploratory play. Toys should be complex enough to promote learning but simple enough to not intimidate or discourage the child.
- Engagement Factor: Toys should be fun and engaging to ensure children are motivated to play. Consider the individual interests of the child—whether they enjoy sensory activities, pretend play, or problem-solving tasks.
- Safety: Always consider the safety of the toy, especially for younger children. This includes non-toxic materials, age-appropriate small parts, and sturdiness.
Using these criteria, speech-language pathologists and families can choose toys that not only entertain but also build speech and communication skills in a natural, playful context. This approach ensures that each therapy session is not only beneficial but also enjoyable for the child, facilitating better engagement and learning outcomes.
Recommended Toys for Speech Therapy
Introducing toys into play-based speech therapy for early language learners can dramatically enhance the learning experience, making it both fun and educational. Whether you are working on spoken language development or communication through an AAC device, here are five toys specifically chosen for their ability to foster language development and communication skills in young children:
1. Blocks
What They’re Good For: Blocks are versatile tools that help develop fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and problem-solving abilities. They are also excellent for practicing language skills such as vocabulary related to shapes, sizes, and spatial relationships. Children can request pieces, and practice using action vocabulary and descriptive language. Blocks are an open-ended toy, in that they allow for imaginative, self-directed play that the therapist can join in on! Play can be repetitive for early stages of development (i.e. building and knocking down) or flexible and creative for older children. With AAC users, block page sets offer a great way to target building vocabulary in context!
2. Cause-and-Effect Toys
What They’re Good For: Cause-and-effect toys, such as pop-up toys and ball poppers, help children understand the relationship between actions and outcomes. These toys often involve pressing buttons, pulling levers, or interacting with moving parts, making them ideal for teaching concepts of causality and sequencing, while reinforcing vocabulary. Cause-and-effect toys offer a dynamic way to work on communication skills, particularly with younger children or those who benefit from interactive, hands-on activities. Cause and effect toys can be highly reinforcing and are a great way to allow your learn to communicate and keep the play interaction going using their speech device.
3. Pretend Play Toys and Sets
What They’re Good For: Pretend play toys foster imaginative play and social interaction. They help children practice conversational skills, role-playing, and using language in different contexts. Doctor sets and baby dolls, for example, are great for exploring daily routines, emotions, and social scenarios. Create narratives using figurines and dolls to target story development and sequencing events. Language scripts programmed into a speech device, such as greetings or questions, are great to use during pretend play and role playing.
4. Puzzles
What They’re Good For: Puzzles promote cognitive development, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. Matching and sorting are key elements of puzzles. They also provide opportunities for children to practice following directions and discussing shapes, colors, and patterns. Playing with puzzles or board games with other peers helps build sustained attention, turn taking, and social skills. Puzzles are also a great way to target ‘yes’ and ‘no’ on a speech device. Turn puzzle piece matching into a fun game where the learner can tell you if the piece fits with a ‘yes’ or a ‘no.’
5. Bubbles
What They’re Good For: Bubbles are engaging and provide sensory-rich experiences that capture children’s attention. They are excellent for targeting requesting, using descriptive language, and increased social interaction. With AAC users, drawing out the interaction with bubbles is a great way to naturally prompt your learner to use their device. Increase wait time between blowing bubbles to see what words your learner may use on their device to ask for more!
These toys offer a variety of ways to engage with children in meaningful and enjoyable speech therapy sessions. This list is just a starting point that can be used to build from based on a child’s interests and sensory needs. By integrating these toys or other preferred toys into therapy, students can develop communication skills while having fun and staying engaged.
Integrating Toys into Therapy Sessions
Integrating toys into speech therapy sessions isn’t just beneficial; it’s a transformative approach to fostering independence, autonomy, and learning in a comfortable and enjoyable environment. Toys, specifically chosen for their educational potential, can be vital tools in developing a child’s speech capabilities. Here’s how.
Strategies for Using Toys to Develop Specific Speech Skills
To effectively integrate toys into therapy sessions, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can employ a variety of targeted strategies. For instance:
- Modeling Language: Narrating play is a key strategy for building vocabulary and language skills during play activities. Narrate not only what you are doing, but also what the child is doing using developmentally appropriate language that matches their communication level. For AAC learners, use aided language stimulation to model words both verbally and on the device.
- Incorporating Goals: Taking goals that are usually targeted through structured activities at the table and turning them into play-based activities in the natural environment can increase engagement and retention of new information. Try targeting skills like spatial concepts, receptive identification, and even sequencing with toys!
- Using an AAC Device: Keep the device in close proximity during play. The device can be used not just for labeling, but as part of the play. The device can be used to pick what happens next, request a turn, or even make sounds during play! Try programming animal or vehicle noises into your device to increase your learners interest in the device.
By choosing the right toys and incorporating them into well-thought-out activities, SLPs and families can significantly boost the efficacy of speech therapy sessions. This approach not only keeps the children engaged but also encourages them to use their new skills in a variety of fun, supportive settings.
Encouraging Ongoing Communication Development
Play-based speech therapy presents a unique opportunity to not only teach children communication skills but also cultivate a love for learning. By employing proven strategies and effective toy selections, speech therapists and families can optimize the learning experience and encourage children to continue nurturing their sense of exploration and creativity. Here are a few considerations to ensure the efficacy of play-based therapy in ongoing communication development.
Get on Their Level
Meet your client where they are, both figuratively and literally! During play, it is important to be at eye level with your learner to not only gain their attention and model language, but to see and experience play as they do. Be sure to follow your client’s lead during play, and join in where possible. This requires building trust with your client and ensuring they feel validated during play. Remember to be silly because play is all about having fun!
Balance Play Activities
Offering a mix of toys and activities is important in keeping the therapy sessions fresh and appealing. Children are more likely to stay engaged when they encounter new challenges and play modalities. However, too many options can be overwhelming. Select a few toys each day or session to work with. Think about rotating out toys so that toys can stay novel without having to provide new toys. Novelty ensures that children remain attentive and excited about learning, but repeated play with toys allows for a greater retention of learning. Continue to assess your client’s interests and engagement in toys. Find the balance during play and toy selection.
Consistency in Play-Based Learning
The effectiveness of play-based speech therapy also hinges on its consistency. Regular sessions help children reinforce the skills they’ve learned, turning sporadic gains into sustained improvement. For speech therapists and families, setting a routine that integrates play into daily activities can be very effective. For instance, dedicating time each day for play with a communicative purpose can significantly boost a child’s speech and language development, making these interactions a regular part of their routine. Play-based interactions are not just for therapy, but can be incorporated throughout the day with family and friends!
Maximizing the Impact of Play-Based Speech Therapy
As we’ve explored the transformative power of play-based speech therapy, it’s clear how important the right tools and toys are in supporting speech and language development in early language learners and AAC users. By incorporating engaging toys that foster communication skills, speech-language pathologists, educators, and families can create a more interactive and beneficial learning environment for children with speech disorders.
If you’re seeking to enhance your speech therapy sessions for your clients who are complex communicators consider AbleNet’s QuickTalker Freestyle™ speech device. It is particularly designed to support diverse speech needs, making it an excellent addition to any therapeutic setting or home practice.
Contact us today to start your benefit check and learn more about how the QuickTalker Freestyle™ can be integrated into your educational tools or support your clients or children.
