In this article we will discuss:
Looking for the best toy for your child with a speech delay? Our speech therapists have the answer!
We have many resources on this blog to help you practice with your child and help get them talking, improve their vocabulary and get that great start. But while your interaction is the best way to improve your child's speech - getting down on the floor and using the skills and strategies your speech therapist teaches you and your child - there is one toy that we love for children and parents who are working together to improve their speech.
Why this is the best toy for a child with speech delay:
This toy addresses very critical skills that come even BEFORE saying a single word.
If your child isn't talking, it's very difficult to just get them to start. There are skills toddlers need to master before words emerge. One of those skills is just vocalizing. That means just making easy sounds. It can be anything like "aaah, oooo, eee," "dadada," "mmm." Anything really.
But just getting your child to repeat after you for no reason can be difficult. That's why in speech therapy with my youngest toddlers, I like to use the Fisher Price Play Tape Recorder. Sadly, Fisher-Price is no longer making these, but there are alternatives like this one. You can use it to take turns making sounds into the microphone (who doesn't want to be on stage singing!) and even record your voice. So cool! That takes imitating to the next level.
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While we play, I also work on other language skills, such as the following vocabulary:
open/close
my turn/your turn
more
in/out
colors (of the buttons)
loud/quiet
stop/go
song
I also really love this tape recorder, because it DOES NOT sing the words to the songs on the tape (like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). It's like a karaoke machine so you and your child still need to be the ones doing the singing. That's great since we don't want a toy that will speak for your child, just one that will help tempt them into doing it on their own.
At Better Speech, we offer online speech therapy services convenient for you and tailored to your child's individual needs. Our services are affordable and effective - get Better Speech now.
About the Author
Lenora Edwards
I am ASHA Board Certified Speech Language Pathologist and Chief Knowledge Officer with Better Speech. Since obtaining my CCC’s in 2010, I have worked with individuals of all ages from little ones who are learning to understand and express themselves to adults who want to improve their speaking skills and become a more fluent and effective communicator. I love to teach and educate others, in my spare time I like reading, cooking and traveling!
