Speech & Language Development Gift Guide
Looking for gifts that can help support your child's speech and language development? Our therapists have compiled this list of toys, games, and books that are not only fun but also encourage communication skills.
Toys & Games by Age Group
Ages 0-2
- Cause and Effect Toys: Push buttons, pop-up toys, and activity centers
- Simple Board Books: Books with clear pictures and simple text
- Stacking Toys: Blocks, cups, and rings that encourage vocabulary like "up," "down," "in," and "out"
- Pretend Play Items: Toy phones, kitchen sets, and dolls
Ages 3-5
- Matching Games: Simple memory games and lotto
- Puzzles: 5-20 piece puzzles with familiar themes
- Pretend Play Sets: Doctor kits, grocery stores, and dress-up clothes
- Simple Board Games: Games that encourage turn-taking and following directions
Ages 6-8
- Board Games: Games that encourage storytelling and vocabulary
- Craft Kits: Projects that require following multi-step directions
- Building Sets: LEGO and other construction toys that encourage descriptive language
- Card Games: Games that focus on categories, descriptions, and vocabulary
Ages 9+
- Strategy Games: Games that encourage problem-solving and discussion
- Word Games: Scrabble, Boggle, and other vocabulary-building games
- Cooperative Games: Games that require communication and teamwork
- Creative Writing Prompts: Journals and story starters
Books That Encourage Language Development
- Repetitive Books: Books with predictable, repetitive text
- Rhyming Books: Dr. Seuss and other rhyming stories
- Interactive Books: Books with flaps, textures, and other interactive elements
- Wordless Picture Books: Books that encourage storytelling and narrative skills
Apps and Digital Resources
- Speech Sound Apps: Apps that focus on specific speech sounds
- Language Development Games: Digital games that build vocabulary and grammar
- Storytelling Apps: Apps that encourage narrative skills and creativity
Note: This guide is provided as a resource. Individual recommendations should be discussed with your child's speech-language pathologist.