We all have our favorite toys and activities that we fall back on. After 15 years in practice, I am going to share my top five picks. These are the toys I can’t live without. if I had a bare-bones closet and had to make things up on the fly this is what I would choose.
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- Bubbles- I know. Too obvious right. Bubbles are the ultimate tool. They can be used to rev a kid up and calm them down. Make them stop crying and pull them out of a shy shell. They can be big or small, blow fast or slow, you get the idea right? So we buy these bubbles by the giant jug at work, gazillion bubbles. In the age of COVID a good old-fashioned bubble gun is the way to go. You can find these at Amazon.
- Mr. Potato Head. I love this toy so much. I love the variations and all the things you can target with this toy. Body parts, vowel sounds, actions, pronouns. The list is so long. I have several classic Mr. Potato heads, a princess, a pirate, and a rabbit! It is great old fashioned fun.
- Cars. Yes, it is safe to say this is one of my most motivating toys. I have a box full of cars, including several firetrucks, and a set of tracks. I can use a clamp to hook my track to the table or even the try of my trusty cube chair. Literally, these cars also last forever. A solid investment in my opinion.
- Wind up Toys. Ok now, these won’t last quite as long as the cars. I also have a bin full of these great little communication temptations. Kids will either love or hate these toys. However, they are great for eliciting a request for help or repetitions ( and refusal). You can find a nice and affordable assortment here.
- Sound puzzles. I have several “noisy” puzzles. These are great for sound imitation, following directions, targeting joint attention, or following the line of regard. These are great to entice kids to play and communicate. Also, they are just plain fun. Find my tried and true Melissa and Doug favorites here.
What are your tried and true favorites? Share below what you think are must-have for any clinician in a pediatric setting.
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