nurturing Archives | Valued Voices

nurturing

July 1 2024

7 Summer Toys for Speech, Language, Motor & Sensory Development

Sholeh Shahinfar Activities & DIY Ideas, All, Gestalt Language Processing, Motor Skills & Sensory Support, Parent Tips & Coaching, Speech & Language Development Caregivers, childhood, expert insights, favorite toys, Informative Content, language, nurturing, occupational therapy, play, play-based learning, powerful tool, practical tips, sensory skills, speech, speech therapy, Therapists, toy reviews

Book Complimentary Consult

Introducing Our Favorite Toy Reviews for Speech, Language, Motor & Sensory Development

Welcome to our blog dedicated to unraveling the magic of toys in fostering speech, language, and motor development in children. At the heart of our mission lies a passion for helping children reach their full potential through play-based learning experiences and to shed light on how play can become a powerful tool for enriching a child’s development.

Why Toys Matter: The Power of Play in Development

Toys are not just objects for entertainment; they serve as powerful tools in our speech and occupational therapy sessions. Through carefully selected toys, therapists can create engaging and interactive environments that facilitate language development, motor skills enhancement, sensory exploration, and social interaction in children.

Play is a fundamental aspect of childhood that serves as a gateway to learning and growth. When carefully selected, toys can stimulate language acquisition, encourage expressive communication, and enhance fine and gross motor skills in all children.

Our Commitment to Quality Toy Reviews

In this blog series, we delve into the world of toy reviews specifically tailored to support speech, language, and motor development. Each review will highlight how a particular toy can support speech development, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, sensory processing, and cognitive abilities in children.

Empowering Therapists, Parents & Caregivers

Our goal is to empower therapists, parents, and caregivers with valuable insights into selecting toys that align with supporting and empowering our children. By providing reviews and practical recommendations, we aspire to make the process of choosing toys more accessible and enjoyable for everyone involved in a child’s developmental journey.

Get Ready for Fun and Informative Content

Get ready to embark on a journey filled with informative toy reviews, expert insights, and practical tips on incorporating play-based therapy techniques into everyday routines. Whether you’re a therapist looking to expand your toy repertoire or a parent seeking guidance on enriching your child’s play experience, our blog is here to inspire and inform.

Join us as we uncover the immense potential of toys in nurturing speech, language, and motor skills development in children. Together, let’s make learning through play an enriching and rewarding experience for every child in need of extra support and encouragement.

Below are our favorite toy reviews for this month that promise to spark joy, creativity, and growth in every child’s therapy journey. Let’s play, learn, and grow together!

ORB™ Sensory Foam Treasure Hunt – Sea

This fun, sensory activity is great for working on tactile processing, scooping with utensils, fine motor strengthening, and visual motor skills. You can also target speech sounds and provide tons of language modeling with this activity too!

Fun & Function – Foam Tummy Scooter – Kids Scooter Board – Flat Scooter for Kids – Floor Scooters for PE, Gym Scooter – Caster Board Ride On Scooter – Seated Scooter – Roller Board for Kids Ages 3+

This fun scooter board is great for vestibular processing, bilateral coordination postural control, and proprioceptive processing. Your little one will have tons of fun exploring their environment on this board!

Flybar Power Gearz Take Apart Toy with Screwdriver and Screws- 3 Pack Truck Set for Boys and Girls- Fire Truck, Construction Truck, Garbage Truck- Vehicle Set – Building Toys for Kids Ages 3-5

These fun, buildable cars are wonderful for fine motor coordination, visual motor coordination, and can be used for obstacle courses and gross motor activities. You can also narrate a ton of language, target a variety of language concepts, and work on turn taking!

JUXUE Baby Spinning Stacking Toys for Toddlers 1-3, Rainbow Ring Stacker Montessori Toys for Babies 6-12 Months, 1 2 3 One Year Old Girl Boy Christmas Birthday Gifts, Autism Sensory Learning Toy

This spinning toy is not only fun and engaging, but also an excellent learning tool for little ones. This cause-effect toy helps develop joint attention, color recognition, vocabulary, eye-hand coordination, and fine motor skills.

Melissa & Doug School Bus Wooden Toy Set With 7 Figures, Pretend Play, Classic Toys For Kids

Ideal for imaginative play, this wooden school bus is great for modeling language, targeting a variety of language concepts and empowering play skills

Toddler Toys for 1 2 Year Old Boy and Girl Gifts Wooden Race Track Car Ramp Racer with 4 Mini Car

This toy track encourages development of eye-hand coordination, attention, turn taking, and communication skills. Your little one will learn through repetition as they are having fun!

Kidoozie Ball Drop | Toddler Toy | Learning & Developmental Tower | Activity & Educational Preschool Toys & Games

This fun and portable ball tower helps your little one learn cause-and-effect. It also develops fine motor skills, encouraging sensory stimulation and tactile exploration, as well as supports language growth!

Still want more?

Check out 5 more of our favorite toys here >>

Book Complimentary Consult

SHOLEH SHAHINFAR

M.A. CCC-SLP, RYT

Sholeh Shahinfar is the Founder of Valued Voices, a licensed Speech Language Pathologist, Child Communication Specialist and Certified Oral Motor Therapist. She is passionate about uplifting children’s voices in the world and inspiring self-expression. In her free time, Sholeh embraces a vegan lifestyle, loves going to the ocean, exploring nature with her pup Kobe, practicing yoga, traveling, and spending time with her loved ones.

KAELYN GREEN

Kaelyn Green is a licensed occupational therapist at Valued Voices. She is certified by the University of Southern California in Sensory Integration and is an advocate for addressing underlying sensory functioning in order to improve occupational performance. She is passionate about meeting children and families where they are at and seeks to tailor interventions to the unique needs of her clients. When she is not working, you will find Kaelyn taking care of her two goldendoodles, working in her garden, or taking trips to the Central Coast.

What are the stages of gestalt language development?

If you are curious to learn more about the six stages of gestalt language development, please click the button below.

Stages of Gestalt Language Development

January 22 2024

Nurturing Your Child’s Growth: A Guide to Early Childhood Development

Sholeh Shahinfar All, Gestalt Language Processing, Motor Skills & Sensory Support, Parent Tips & Coaching, Speech & Language Development ability, child, control, development, expression, feeding, fine motor, gross motor skills, habits, kids, move, nurturing, sensory processing, speaking, speech and language development

As parents, educators, or therapists, we all share one common goal – we want the children in our care to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential. The first few years of a child’s life are marked with several critical stages of development that lay the foundation for the rest of their life. As children go through their developmental journey, they acquire skills that are essential for success in later stages of life. From speech and language to motor skills and sensory processing, early childhood development is a time when we can nurture growth and provide children with the support they need to become confident and empowered little leaders. In this blog, I will break down for you some important areas of your kiddo’s development:

Speech and Language
Fine Motor Skills
Gross Motor Skills
Sensory Processing
Feeding Skills

Book Complimentary Consult

Speech and Language:

Language is the primary means of communication, and speech and language skills are crucial for social and cognitive development. To help children develop speech and language, parents and caregivers can engage in activities like reading aloud, singing songs, and my all time favorite, PLAY. Play is a simple way to encourage language development all while connecting with your kiddo. Early language skills pave the way for success in reading, writing, comprehension, and social-emotional skills later in life.

Fine Motor Skills:

Fine motor refers to the ability to make precise movements with hands and fingers. In early childhood, fine motor skills are needed for activities like self-feeding, tying shoelaces, getting dressed, and drawing. To develop fine motor skills, children can practice using scissors, play dough, building blocks, or stringing beads. Parents can also provide opportunities for finger painting, drawing, coloring, and other art activities. These activities can help children develop the hand-eye coordination and dexterity they need for everyday tasks.

Gross Motor Skills:

Gross motor refers to the ability to move and control large muscle groups in the body, such as running, jumping, climbing, and throwing. To encourage gross motor development, parents can provide plenty of space for children to play and run around. Outdoor activities like playing catch, hopping, or skipping, can also help to develop gross motor skills. Additionally, swimming, dance, or yoga are great activities that strengthen muscles and improve balance and coordination.

Sensory Processing:

Sensory processing is the way the nervous system receives and interprets sensory information from the environment. Children who have difficulty processing sensory information may struggle with things like loud noises, bright lights, or certain textures. Parents and caregivers can create a sensory-rich environment that includes a variety of textures, sounds, and colors. For example, sand, water, or mud play can help children develop their sense of touch, while playing with musical instruments can stimulate their sense of hearing. By providing a sensory-rich environment, children can learn to regulate their responses to different sensory stimuli.

Feeding Skills:

Feeding skills are crucial for a child’s growth and development. Infants need to develop the ability to suck, swallow, and breathe in coordination when feeding. As children grow older, they learn to self-feed, use utensils, and drink from a cup. To encourage healthy feeding habits, parents can expose children to different textures, flavors, and food types. Modeling healthy eating habits and providing a variety of healthy foods can also help children develop healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime.

Early childhood development is a time when parents and caregivers can provide the support and guidance children need to reach their full potential. By nurturing growth in areas like speech and language, fine and gross motor skills, sensory processing, and feeding skills, we can help children develop the skills they need to succeed in later stages of life. Encouraging parent-child interaction, providing opportunities for exploration and discovery, and creating a safe and nurturing environment are vital for healthy development. By working together, we can help our children thrive and fulfill their potential.

To find out more ways we can support you and your little one on this journey, reach out to us today for a complimentary consultation.

Book Complimentary Consult

SHOLEH SHAHINFAR

M.A. CCC-SLP, RYT

GENNA HENDERSON

Genna has been with Valued Voices since 2019, she joined the family after graduating with her bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in communication sciences and disorders from Pacific University in Oregon. Genna has always been passionate about helping give opportunities to others and believes all children have a joyous light inside them that deserves to be shown to the world. She knows that giving people the chance to express themselves allows them to reach new heights internally and in their communities.