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Stage 7 Toy List for New Jobs and New Events from Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays
Here’s the toy list for recommended toys for Stage 7: New Jobs and New Events from Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays from podcast #472.
Our primary focuses for play here at Stage 7 are helping kids learn to…
- Include more steps so that they continue to expand their play routines.
- Take on a specific role in play
- Talk to dolls/characters during play routines
- Organize or gather toys for play
- Become more symbolic by using an object to represent another object
- Continue to improve fine motor play
Here’s a list of links followed by descriptions of the toys. Click the blue link to go to Amazon to read more about and purchase the toy.
As an Amazon affiliate, we receive a tiny commission from your purchase, and it’s a great way to support our work!
WOODEN PUZZLES
Kids are now ready for more complexity with inset puzzles (matching black and white picture to color picture or matching the piece by shape only with no picture) and for very simple jigsaw puzzles. Target words like “match” and “same.” Teach them how to look for connecting pieces by talking out loud as you put the puzzle together such as, “I see the elephant’s leg, but where’s his foot? Let’s find his foot.” Get the handout for #472 for sample scripts as you teach while you play.
Melissa and Doug Magnetic Puzzles
No pictures are under the puzzle to match so that a child relies on looking at the shape, a more difficult cognitive skill
Wooden Construction Puzzles … Early JigSaw puzzles with a limited number of pieces
Ladder Puzzles… graded 6 puzzle set from 3 to 8 pieces
TOYS TO PRACTICE FINE MOTOR CONTROL
Magnetic Bird Feeding Game (I called it a woodpecker on the podcast!) is a fun way to practice controlling little hands! Your language targets are prepositional
phrases with “in” and “out.”
Stringing Beads is a classic activity for teaching fine motor coorindation and sequencing. Practice remembering 3 items to find and string. Larger bead sets are usually best to start.
Community Helper Blocks for New Roles/New Events
Graduated Blocks and other blocks are a great way to practice stacking.
TOYS WITH KEYS
Toys with Keys provide a super fun way to target fine motor skills and the perfect opportunity to practice asking and answering questions like, ”What key opens this door?” “Where’s the key?” “Who is hiding in there?” “What’s ___ doing?” and begin to ask “Why?” questions.
Melissa and Doug House with keys
Melissa & Doug Toy Keys and Cars Wooden Rescue Vehicles and Garage
BABY DOLL ACCESSORIES
Dolls and characters are a great investment and will be fun for a long time! Add larger accessories like a stroller, a high chair, or a doll bed to promote additional options for new jobs and new events as well as sequencing more actions. At stage 7, a child begins to talk to a doll as a playmate and these activities are perfect for helping a child learn to do that. Most toddlers will like giving commands like, “Sit down baby.” or “Eat this cookie baby.” Or “Baby. Time to go. Bye bye baby.” Get more ideas in podcast #472.
HOUSE SET and ADD ON ACTIVITIES
Think about vocabulary development as you take out the pieces and name them in preparation to play. You can work on asking/answering questions as you ask “What’s that?” and “Where does it go?” to set up your house. Look for sets with lots of options for targeting “ing” words — cooking, taking a bath, eating, and playground activities like swinging, climbing, sliding, etc. Help a child learn to include 3 or more actions or steps with the characters. Keep thinking… “What’s the next thing this character could do?” and encourage a child with that action. House sets and add on toys like the swimming pool provide lots of opportunities to help a child begin to pretend a new event with a new role.
Fisher Price Little People House
ANIMALS
We’ve talked about farm animals in the last few stages, but now let’s expand a child’s interest with zoo animals, dinosaurs, and bugs — all toddler and preschool favorites! Add a few accessories like a safari truck or tractor or barn left over from your farm and you’ll have lots for the animals to do. Make a cage for your animals with black yarn and a box from Amazon.
i Truck
Find out more ideas for using these toys in podcast #472. Watch the free video on YouTube!
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