Gift Ideas to Promote Speech and Language
The holidays are just around the corner! One of our speech-language pathologists compiled a list of books and toys that would make great gifts and also help to promote speech and language development.
Books to Promote Speech and Language
- No No Yes Yes by Leslie Patricelli
A fun and simple book for toddlers about appropriate behaviors (Draw on the wall? No! Draw on the paper? Yes!); targets problem solving and answering yes/no questions - Rumble in the Jungle by Giles Andreae, David Wojtowycz
A collection of rhyming poems for children 3 and up about jungle animals; targets rhyming skills and animal vocabulary - Shake, Rattle & Roll by Ken & Potter Keith Fulk
A colorful book for older preschoolers that combines computer illustrations with nature photography to show the creatures demonstrating various actions such as ‘climb’ ‘dig’ and ‘eat’; targets action vocabulary - We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury, Michael Rosen
This is a classic book for children ages 4-8 that has a repetitive reading sequence, allowing children to remember and retell the story; targets sequencing of actions - The Splendid Spotted Snake: A Magic Ribbon Book by Alexander Wilensky, Betty Schwartz
A great book for children 3 and up, this book incorporates a sturdy, polka-dotted cotton ribbon to make the snake grow bigger and spots change color with each turn of a page; targets articulation of /s/ sound and color vocabulary - Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester, Lynn Munsinger
This one is appropriate for ages 4-8, this book follows the transformation of a shy rodent with a speech impediment to hero of the class; targets articulation of /r/ sound and is an ego booster for any child that has been bullied or teased
Games and Toys to Promote Speech and Language
- Shopping List Memory Game
A 2-4 player game for children ages 3-7; be the first one to race around the store and collect all the groceries on your shopping list; targets memory skills and food vocabulary - Elephant’s Trunk
A 2-4 player game for ages 4+ years with no reading required; help the elephant pack by placing a piece of clothing into the matching colored trunk; targets clothing and color vocabulary - Educational Insights Laundry Jumble Game
A game for 4-15 year olds; using only your sense of touch, reach inside the dryer to find the animal’s missing clothing item on your card; targets clothing vocabulary and counting
- Zingo! Sight Words
This one is for pre-kindergarten to 2nd grade, this game combines the fun of Bingo with learning to recognize important, commonly used words; targets sight words - Aquadoodle
A fun toy for ages 2+ that allows children to draw and doodle with water without making a mess; encourages creative play - Puzzles
Check recommended age range when selecting a puzzle; also consider a puzzle that will expose new vocabulary (i.e. objects, animals, shapes, letters) - Mr. Potato Head
Classic activity for ages 2 and up, this popular toy targets body parts and clothing vocabulary
Also check out this website recommended by one of our parents: www.fatbraintoys.com. They have a great search engine to find the perfect gift. You can search by gender, age, price, categories (books, games, puzzles, etc.), and interests (dinosaurs, fairy tales, science).
