Parents sometimes wonder why speech therapy looks like we’re ”just” playing with their child. That’s because children, especially young children, learn through play. Our kids drop utensils off the table to see and hear what happens to the spoon and how adults’ react. Through play and exploration, kids are learning about problem solving, cause and effect, and logic. Children also work on their speech sounds and vocabulary by playing with sounds and  imitating their grown ups’ cooing and ahing. They learn to anticipate what will happen next in a song or game, like “Peek-a-boo.” Leading a child through an activity from beginning to end, for instance building a ball maze, helps them build their attention and tolerance for adult directions. Play keeps interactions light and fun, which is vital to childrens’ learning. Play allows for us to emphasize sounds, actions, and words with plenty of repetition that is accessible, silly, and fun. Once learning becomes a chore, kids lose interest. If children are laughing, they will want more and more of this fun play, which builds all of their skills. Ultimately, play builds relationships with our kids. Therapy looks like play, because the best therapy incorporates play and children’s interests. For more about play, please read this article.

Years ago, I walked into a family’s home and the first thing the mother said was, “He’s shy.” I immediately said, “Oh, I’m shy, too. Sometimes I don’t feel like talking.” In order for our kids to feel comfortable talking or even just playing in our presence, we have to ensure that they feel safe and accepted for who they are and how they communicate. This doesn’t mean that we can’t challenge them. Instead, we have to explore to find the right way to challenge them. Because every person is different, we have to adjust how we present challenges to fit their needs. The just right challenge presented in an accessible way will help us unlock communication. By making it okay to be shy, we can help kids feel more willing to speak. On the other hand, if we show our children that we want them to perform, we’re adding pressure to a task that is already difficult for them. Limiting questions, avoiding directions like “Say Ball!,” and validating children’s chosen method of communication, helps them feel willing to take a risk and talk. Speech therapy makes space for kids to share at their level. From there we can help them build their skills.

I love these toys! Kids learn logic and anticipation from cause-and-effect toys, like the marble run. They get plenty of repetition from the balls and muffin pan (put in, put in, …). They love to jiggle the pan and see the balls fly! They are drawn into books with  manipulables and games like Roll and Play, offering plenty of opportunities to learn new concepts.