Here is the ultimate list of the MUST HAVE toys for elementary speech therapy, recommended by an experienced SLP!
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Ned’s Head
This toy is so fun and that’s why it made the must have list! I highly recommend it for lower grades. It’s icky, eewwy, and oh so gross. The kids love it! Search in Ned’s Head for a stinky sock, bugs, worms, rats, etc. All the gross things that little kids like. It’s a fun way to work on adjectives and language skills, as the students describe what they are feeling while their hand is searching inside Ned’s Head. Occupational therapists would love this game too! Check out this blog to learn how to set up fine motor centers.
Legos
Lego sets are an awesome must have toy for grades 2-6. If you have students with a following directions goal Legos are a fun way to work toward that goal. This really encourages hands-on learning. I love that it gives the students a sense of accomplishment and pride. The look on their faces after they’ve built something is priceless.
Paint By Sticker
This can get a little pricey if you are using it with larger groups, but Paint By Sticker is a fun treat if you can squeeze it into the budget. Kids are so creative and love to create beautiful pictures. The stickers put a fun new spin on the age-old color by numbers. This is a great way to target following direction goals and expanding language skills by using descriptors and making predictions.
Animal Bean Bag and Ball Toss
Speech therapy doesn’t always have to be done sitting at a horseshoe table. Sometimes it’s nice to get out of our seats and move! This is a must have toy for play therapy! Use either the animal bean bag toss or ball toss game to engage students, while teaching them about social skills, turn taking, and sportsmanship.
Doodle Board
My final must have toy for school aged speech therapy is the Doodle Board. This is such an awesome toy because it can be used in so many ways. It can be used to keep students busy while it’s not their turn. It can be used during whole group activities, by assigning something for everyone to draw in their own way and then describe it. The doodle board can also be used to write down answers so the students don’t shout out answers. There are just so many things that Doodle Boards can be used for! Get creative!
If you have a preschool population, check out this list of must have toys for speech therapy for preschoolers!
((This blog post contains affiliate links for your convenience. You don’t pay any more by clicking my link (and I actually find the best prices for you!) but I make a small commission off of sales. This helps me to test out more materials and bring you more quality content. Thanks for supporting my little blog!))
