Some children have a hard time focusing and staying on task. They may have trouble learning new skills, and they may even have difficulty communicating with teachers, parents and other adults.
When this happens, it’s important that the child’s speech therapist understand how sensory integration therapy can help in this situation.
In order to help children with attention issues, speech therapists may use sensory toys in their sessions to improve focus and concentration levels. They can also increase motivation levels so students will want to do more activities throughout their day by using these tools at home as well!
| Takeaway |
|---|
| Sensory toys can be a valuable tool in speech therapy to engage children and promote learning. |
| There are many different types of sensory toys that can be used in speech therapy, and the best ones depend on the individual needs and goals of the child. |
| Sensory play can provide many benefits beyond speech therapy, such as promoting fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, and social communication skills. |
| Sensory toys can be used at home to provide opportunities for exploration, learning, and fun. |
| Parents and therapists should choose sensory toys based on the child’s unique needs and interests, and incorporate them into playtime and other daily activities. |
Chewable Necklaces
Chewable necklaces are a great way to provide sensory input to your child. They can be made of different materials, like plastic or wood.
The length of the necklace can also vary depending on the needs of the child wearing it. Many kids find that chewing necklaces help them focus and calm down during therapy sessions.
When it comes to choosing sensory toys for toddlers, it’s important to keep in mind their developmental needs. Our beginner’s guide to sensory toys for toddlers can help you choose the right toys to enhance your child’s learning and development.
Fidget Pens
Fidget pens are a great way to help kids focus on the task at hand. They can also help kids who have trouble with handwriting and fine motor skills, especially if they have autism.
Fidget pens can be used effectively in speech therapy by helping your child learn how to write letters and numbers, as well as practice their spelling words!
Tactile Fish Tank
Tactile fish tanks can be used in speech therapy and by parents to help their child communicate, but they’re also relatively cheap and easy to find.
You can buy them at most pet stores or online, making them an ideal choice for use as a sensory toy. If you have a baby who’s been diagnosed with autism, these toys may be useful in helping your child learn new words.
While watching the fish swimming around inside the tank, your baby will be able to focus their attention on something other than what’s going on around them – which is great news if they struggle with sensory overload when there’s too much stimuli (like lots of background noise).
In addition to helping babies relax while playing with their tactile fish tank, these types of toys are also effective tools for teaching language skills such as vocabulary development and communication skills like pointing at objects within reach so that others know what they want from us..
Every toddler deserves to have a variety of sensory toys in their toy box. Check out our list of 15 sensory toys that can provide endless opportunities for exploration, discovery, and learning.
Chew Tubes
A chew tube is a great oral motor tool that can be used to help with chewing, biting and grinding. Oral motor exercises are important for speech therapy because they improve the strength of your jaw, tongue and lips.
Chewing on chew tubes helps develop these muscles and is also a fun way to keep your kids entertained during sessions.
They come in many different sizes so you can find one that fits comfortably in their mouth and provides them with enough resistance while they bite or grind on it. Also make sure the tube has smooth edges so there’s no risk of injury if they throw it across the room (which they will definitely do).
Sensory Balls
Sensory balls are a great way to stimulate your child’s senses, increase their focus, and help them calm down. Some of the benefits include:
- They can be used to roll, squeeze, and shake
- Help children with anxiety or stress
- Help children with sensory processing disorder (SPD)
- Can be used in speech therapy if they are having trouble pronouncing words correctly.
Balls are fun for all kids!
Speech and Language Goals and Corresponding Sensory Toys
| Speech and Language Goal | Examples of Corresponding Sensory Toys |
|---|---|
| Improving articulation | Tongue depressors, chewable toys, vibrating toys |
| Building vocabulary | Picture cards, books with textured pages, sensory bins with themed objects |
| Developing social communication skills | Puppets, dress-up clothes, sensory play with toy figurines |
| Enhancing listening and comprehension skills | Musical toys, auditory books, games with sound effects |
| Promoting turn-taking and conversation skills | Board games, cooperative play activities, social storybooks |
Musical Instruments
The role of musical instruments in speech therapy is to help a child with their speech and language skills, as well as fine motor skills.
Musical instruments can be used for all types of children. For example, if you have children who have sensory processing disorder or autism, then the use of musical instruments will help them improve their fine motor skills and in turn improve their overall communication skills.
The best way to get your child started with using a musical instrument for speech therapy is by having them listen to music at home or at school like jazz music which helps build vocabulary because it involves improvisational techniques that are also used in speaking situations such as changing topics seamlessly.
You could also play classical music because it tends to focus more on melody rather than words so this type of music can help develop musicality while still being able to communicate effectively
Not all sensory toys are created equal, and choosing the right ones for your child can be challenging. Our guide to choosing the right sensory toys for your child can help you make informed decisions based on your child’s unique needs and interests.
Jumpers And Swings
Sensory swings are a great tool for speech and language therapy. They’re also commonly known as “jumping” or “bouncy” chairs, because they have a mat on the floor that allows your child to jump up and down in the chair.
This can be very therapeutic for those with sensory needs, especially those who may have difficulty staying focused or sitting still during speech therapy sessions.
If you’re working on improving your child’s expressive language skills (such as talking about what they see, hear and feel) you might consider setting them up in front of a sensory swing so he has something else to focus on other than what you’re saying!
The benefits of these types of toys include:
- They provide an outlet for energy release;
- They encourage motor skill acquisition;
- They provide opportunities for exploration through touch; and
- They offer visual stimulation through movement patterns created by jumping up and down (this can lead to improved attention span).
Soft Toys
Soft toys are a great tool for speech therapists and parents alike. They can be used to help children with speech and language disorders express themselves better, reducing anxiety, helping them learn new words, learning new sounds.
A lot of times children with language delays or autism will have a hard time expressing themselves with words.
It is important that they have other ways of communicating what they want or need. Soft toys can do this by being able to show the child’s emotions through play. The therapist can use soft toys in many different ways during therapy including:
- Using them as props (e.g., holding onto doll while playing pretend)
- Giving them voices (e.g., having stuffed animal talk)
- Responding when they are touched (e.g., pretending something funny has happened when you stroke its tummy)
Communication can be a challenge for children with autism, but sensory toys can help. Our list of 15 sensory toys that can improve communication offers a range of options to encourage communication and social interaction
Spinners And Rollers
Spinners and rollers are excellent tools to help children focus their attention. They can also be used to calm down and relax. Sensory toys like these tend to be very popular with children who have autism or ADHD, who tend to exhibit signs of being fidgety and restless. These toys are easy for the therapist or parent to use, making them perfect for speech therapy sessions.
Scented Lotions And Soaps
In addition to toys and games, you can also use scented lotions and soaps with your client to help them relax or sleep. You may have seen this suggestion before in a speech therapy setting, but it’s worth mentioning again here.
Scented lotions can be used to help the child calm down before bedtime or for long periods of time in the waiting room. Scented soaps tend to be more powerful than other types of scents, so they should be used sparingly and with caution when giving them out as rewards during therapy sessions.
Scented lotions can also be used on their own or combined with other sensory tools such as weighted objects or fidget spinners (or even just hands!).
Kinetic Sand And Water Beads
Kinetic sand and water beads are two sensory toys that can be used for a variety of speech therapy activities. Learn about the benefits of kinetic sand and water beads, how to use them in your sessions, and how you can make them more interesting for your child.
What is kinetic sand? Kinetic sand is a sandbox toy made from cornstarch and polymers, which makes it moldable but not sticky or messy. It’s often found at dollar stores, as well as larger toy stores such as Target or Toys R Us.
You can also buy kinetic sand online through sites like Amazon or Walmart if you don’t have any nearby stores that sell it. This type of sensory product isn’t always labeled “kinetic” but should feel different than regular play dough when squeezed tightly between your fingers—the difference between these products will become clear once you’ve tried both!
Sensory play can be a powerful tool for promoting children’s development and well-being. Our article on the importance of sensory play for kids explores the many benefits of sensory play and offers tips for incorporating it into your child’s daily routine
Gel Pads And Lap Trays
Gel pads and lap trays are great for practicing fine motor skills, like using scissors and cutting.
Gel pads can be used to hold materials still (e.g., paper), or they can be used as a sensory item that allows the child to explore with their hands.
For example, you could place a small ball inside a gel pad so that it feels very soft when they squeeze it, or you can put food items like grapes inside the gel pad so that they have fun exploring the texture of different foods during speech therapy sessions.
Lap trays are also helpful to help develop fine motor skills such as holding materials still while cutting them with scissors or writing letters on paper with crayons or markers (when paired with a tray).
Fidget Tools Or Sensory Cushions
Fidget tools or sensory cushions are used to help children who have difficulty sitting still. They can help them focus on the task at hand, and they can also help with anxiety and ADHD. There are many different types of fidget tools, such as:
- Squeeze toys (squeeze balls)
- Stacking rings
- Marble run sets
Sensory Activities for Promoting Language Development
| Sensory Activity | Description | How it Can Promote Language Development |
|---|---|---|
| Sensory bins | Containers filled with various materials for tactile exploration | Can be used to promote vocabulary development and language use related to the materials in the bin |
| Playdough | A moldable dough that can be used for various activities | Can be used to promote language related to shapes, colors, textures, and other concepts |
| Water play | Play activities that involve water, such as splashing or pouring | Can be used to promote language related to water concepts, such as wet/dry, float/sink, and more |
Conclusion
We hope that this list of sensory toys helps you bring some fun and excitement into your therapy sessions. We know how important it is to keep things interesting, so we’ve tried to include a variety of different toys that can be used in many different ways.
We also wanted to make sure there were items on this list that could be used by both children and adults alike! Keep in mind that these are just suggestions there are lots of other great ideas out there too!
If anything looks interesting or sounds like something you might want to try using with your clientele (or yourself!), then go ahead and give it a shot!
Further Reading
Using Sensory Bins in Speech Therapy: This article provides ideas for incorporating sensory bins into speech therapy sessions to enhance engagement and learning.
Toddler Sensory Activities for Speech Therapy: This resource offers a variety of sensory activities that can be used in speech therapy sessions with toddlers.
Sensory Hacks for Speech and Language Therapy: This blog post shares practical tips and tricks for incorporating sensory activities into speech and language therapy sessions.
FAQs
What are sensory toys?
Sensory toys are toys that are designed to stimulate one or more of the senses, such as touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste. They can help children explore and make sense of the world around them, and can be particularly useful in speech therapy.
How can sensory toys be used in speech therapy?
Sensory toys can be used in speech therapy to help engage children and make therapy sessions more fun and interactive. They can also be used to target specific speech and language goals, such as improving articulation, vocabulary, and social communication skills.
What types of sensory toys are best for speech therapy?
The types of sensory toys that are best for speech therapy depend on the specific goals of the therapy session and the individual needs and preferences of the child. Some examples of sensory toys that may be useful in speech therapy include fidget toys, chewable toys, textured balls, and musical instruments.
Are sensory toys only for children with special needs?
No, sensory toys can be beneficial for all children, regardless of whether they have special needs. They can help children develop a range of skills, such as fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, and social communication skills.
Can sensory toys be used at home?
Yes, sensory toys can be used at home to promote learning and development. Parents can incorporate sensory toys into playtime and other daily activities to provide opportunities for exploration and learning.
Meet Hellen James, the multi-talented writer and nurturing mother who takes young readers on a thrilling journey through her sensory-infused blog. Drawing inspiration from her own experiences as a parent.
