Best Toys and Games That Facilitate Speech and Language Development

As you know, holidays are just around the corner and it’s never too early to start shopping for your gifts.  We want to share some of our favorite toys we utilize in therapy that promote speech and language development. Check them out if you’re looking for some early Christmas gifts!

Most popular board games include:

1. Zingo (Ages 4+): A matching game that encourages pre-readers and early readers alike to match the pictures and words to their challenge cards.  This game not only increases a child’s receptive and expressive vocabulary skills, it also improves their cognitive ability to match pictures. Plus, the kids LOVE revealing the cards by sliding the red box! It captures their attention and creates a fun, interactive experience.

2. Guess Who (Ages 6+): Each player chooses a mystery character and then using yes or no questions, they try to figure out the other player's mystery character. This classic game helps children use deductive reasoning skills in addition to identify specific features that help describe how people are the same or different.  The child must learn specific descriptive vocabulary that include a variety of concepts (e.g. big/little, colors, facial features, etc).

3. Headbanz (Ages 6+): Headbanz is a fast-paced, easy-to-play question game of “What am I?” Ask “yes” or “no” questions before time runs out to figure out if the cartoon card on your headband is an animal, food or object.  This is a great game that encourages creative thinking. For example, asking “Am I smaller than a toaster?” will give you a better idea of what your card could be than just asking “Am I small?” It also builds expressive vocabulary, specifically focusing on many common animals, foods, and household items.  And lastly, this game develops memory and comprehension skills. 

4. Pop the Pig (Ages 4+): A super fun, engaging game that involves players taking turns rolling the die, feeding the pig, and pushing down on his head. Each pump makes his belly grow bigger, bigger, and bigger until... POP! It teaches numbers, colors, and counting, along with essential social skills including turn-taking, self-control, sportsmanship, and attention skills.

5. Hi-Ho Cherry-O (2-4 year olds): Hi Ho! Cherry-O is a counting game in which players race to be the first to have 10 cherries in their basket.  This game can target a variety of skills including: stating phrases, using correct pronouns, and identifying the appropriate number when counting (e.g. “I got 3”).  

6. Funny Bunny (Ages 4+): Be the first bunny to reach the carrot while avoiding the dangerous holes. As you take your turn, you turn the big carrot which moves the dangerous holes around the board as you play.  This game provides the opportunity for a child to make spontaneous comments (e.g. “Oh no my bunny fell!”), to predict what may happen next, and to work on counting.

Speech-Related Programs or Apps for Speech and Language Development

1. My PlayHome (Ages 3+): This app is an interactive dollhouse that allows you to manipulate everything inside the house.   For example, you can go to the kitchen, open the refrigerator and feed the boy some watermelon.  You can work on a variety of skills including: object functions (“Find something you use to brush your teeth”, inferencing (“Oh no they are wet, what do they need?”), expanding receptive/expressive vocabulary (Find the ___/What is this?), and/or following multi-step directions (e.g. Find the boy, put on his pajamas, then put him in his bed).  The options are limitless! Plus, all ages LOVE to play it!

2. HearBuilders (Ages 3-10): This online software program focuses on improving a child’s listening, auditory comprehension, and memory retrieval skills. It also helps children build a strong foundation for literacy and reading.  It involves interactive games that have at least 10 levels that increasingly get more difficult.  The child can not progress until he has mastered each level with 80% accuracy. Specific skills it addresses include: following directions, sequencing, auditory memory, and phonological awareness.  There is a demo and free trial on the website hearbuilder.com. 

3. StarFall: Starfall is a learning platform with untimed, multisensory interactive games that allow children to see, hear, and touch as they learn.  The program emphasizes exploration, play, and positive reinforcement—encouraging children to become confident and intrinsically motivated. Due to the engaging content that “feels like play,” Starfall serves as an educational alternative to other entertainment choices for children.  Activities focus on language arts, mathematics, phonemic awareness, and literacy skills. This program is especially effective for emergent readers, children of all ages with special needs or learning difficulties, as well as ELL (ESL) students.