Home »
Stage 6 Toy List for Expanding Play Routines
Here’s the toy list for recommended toys for Stage 6: Expanding Play Ruotines in Stages of Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers with Language Delays.
Remember… The only way babies learn what words mean (and to talk!) is by hearing you model whatever their goals are. For example, here at Stage 6 which is 24 to 30 months developmentally, kids use short phrases frequently, add ‘ing’ verbs, use early pronouns, begin to use plural and possessive /s/, and several other things. As you play, pick one or two key language goals to work on and model phrases with those targets many, many times as you play together. Examples are listed for each recommended toy and you can watch demonstrations of how to use the toy in podcast #471.
Our primary focuses for play here at Stage 6 are helping kids learn to…
- Include several steps in play during more elaborate play routines.
- Help a child learn to organize/group toys
- Keep our other kinds of fine motor play moving along
Here’s a list of links followed by descriptions of the toys. Click the short link to get to Amazon to read more about the toy.
WOODEN PUZZLES
Wooden puzzles will be popular with children until they are 4, maybe longer. At this stage, kids can do up to 10 pieces in a wooden, inset puzzle. Choose puzzles with different themes to work on teaching new words and vocabulary development. Watch the podcast for ideas for using these puzzles in speech therapy. Get the handout for #471 for sample scripts as you teach while you play.
Battat Construction Puzzle https://amzn.to/4by7uDs
Chunky Puzzle Safari https://amzn.to/3HV3TBV
Vehicle Puzzle https://amzn.to/42yMgkR
Pet Puzzle https://amzn.to/3UDSCx7
Ocean Puzzle https://amzn.to/3SF1j7O
Barn Puzzle https://amzn.to/3w9fOJs
Farm Puzzle https://amzn.to/3STqXXU
Baby Shark Puzzle https://amzn.to/3STqXXU
PLEASE WATCH PODCAST #471 FOR IDEAS FOR USING THESE TOYS DURING THERAPY
TOY MICROWAVE
This toy is so versatile and will be fun for preschoolers too. It’s great for helping a child learn to combine actions and sequence a longer play routine. Add steps to help them learn to slow down and stay with you — a challenge in this stage! For language, target phrases. You may try an anchor phrase which means that you keep one word the same and then change the other word such as: Cook apple, cook waffle, cook fish, cook cookie, etc. You may also use it for gestalt language learners with a key phrase like “Time to ____.” I like teaching verbs this way… time to cook, time to open, time to shut, time to cut, time to blow, time to eat, etc.
TOY SINK
Water play is always a big hit with toddlers and preschoolers! Like the microwave, this toy will be appealing for a long time so it’s a great investment. Think about teaching play and language combinations. Turn water on and wash dish. Wash dish and put it away. Remember – a child at this stage of play can’t combine more than 2 simple actions yet, so don’t make it too hard! Also target word combinations using expansion. For example, a child says, “Plate” and you add a word to make it a phrase such as “Wash plate.” or “Plate all done.”
TOY BATHTUB
This toy is also a great investment and will be fun for a long time! I’ve used lots of variations from the Dollar store version to this one – you get what you pay for! Sometimes the pump is too hard and that’s okay because a child will need you and you can ask him to request with a phrase… Help me, more please, more water, need water, water on (remember that’s on older target!) etc. Phrase combination options are endless! For example: Wash baby, wash arm, wash hair, wash belly, wash toes… Focus on combining actions too, but don’t make it too complicated with too many steps. Target 2 actions now If you are losing kid, it’s too hard! Make it simpler.
PLAYGROUND
Look for sets with options for targeting “ing” words — swinging, climbing, sliding, etc. Help a child learn to include 3 or more actions or steps with the characters at the playground. Keep thinking… “What’s the next thing this child could do?” and encourage that action.
FARM PLAY
Barns, animals, and tractors are so much fun for toddlers and the possibilities for play and language are endless! We’re working on combinatons with actions. You can make one animal do lots of things (run, eat, sleep, climb, fly, etc.) or you can make several animals do the same thing (the cow, pig, and horse all eat from the trough). Target other language goals like ‘ing’ verbs, plurals, and pronouns.
MELISSA AND DOUG BARN
GARAGES
Expand the steps for vehicle play by giving the vehicles a destination and more action options with a garage, race track, or train track. Use the same goals… more steps and more phrases!
https://amzn.to/42Df1g1
CHEAPER OPTION
POTATO HEADS
One more classic toy that we haven’t talked about is perfect for this stage when a child can sequence more than a couple of actions. There are lots of pieces so you have lots of language targets — especially BODY PART + in. Try requesting the next piece if this is new with a 3 word phrase… I want ____… or make it simpler with ___ please. If a child isn’t interested or this seems hard for him, try deconstruction. You put the pieces in and then let him take them out.
Get My Free eBook
A Parent's Guide to Understanding Speech Language Development
Get real-time clinical coaching and Q&A for professionals and parents who want practical answers, clearer next steps, and direct access to Laura’s expertise.
Recent Posts
Teach Me To Talk Testimonials
Happy Therapists, Teachers, Parents & Children
"Laura, I am a long time follower. You have mentored me from a distance for many years. I've watched many of your courses and purchased 5-6 of your books. I just wanted to take a moment as a sister in Christ to say- --- Thank you!! I'm in my 33rd year as an SLP and still love it! I work in the public schools and have grown my skills along the way with your help. Thank you thank you thank you and, Many blessings to you and your daughter!!!"
Camille, SLP
"Laura,
Three years ago, my then 2year old (adopted) was only saying two words - momma and boat. We had been doing speech therapy for 6 months, and he loved to play, but he was entirely uninterested in talking. A dear friend who is a SLP recommended I look you up online. Since then, I've read your emails, listened to hours of your podcasts, ordered two of your therapy manuals, and watched many of your videos.
My now 5year old tells elaborate stories now, and if you didn't know his background, you would never guess. And thanks to the hours that I have spent with your guidance, when our next son, now a 2.5yr old, didn't talk (after a craniotomy), I had tools to get started with him. His speech has just taken off in the last month or so.
Thank you so much for all that you do to help parents facilitate speech therapy with their kiddos. And thank you for your gentle, confident living of your faith.
God's blessings."
Rachel (mom to 3 boys in a now very noisy house!)
"Hi Laura!
I became an SLP in 2004 and you were my first SLP crush! I was so fortunate to have a supportive school district that allowed me to purchase your videos and the Teach Me to Talk handbook. Not only was the handbook a life saver (I literally called it my Bible lol), but the videos, oh how the videos changed my life, and the lives of the families I worked with! I remember telling my families that they'd love you, not only because you spoke directly to families, jargon free, but also because of your southern dialect. You speak directly and clearly, but never rushed and never over anyone's head, something I highly value. I told families that I could listen to you read the phone book and it would capture my attention. You see, I'm from Ohio where we don't get a whole lot of diversity and cool dialects, so listening to you talk about my favorite topics was a breath of fresh air. So many of us think talking over people's heads makes us more credible or whatever, but now that I've been around over 20 years, I can say you had it right all along. Southern speech included 😊"
Heather Welling, M.A., CCC-SLP, Early Intervention in Summit County, OH
"I found the modality checklists to be invaluable. I had something in hand that I can use right off the printer."
Elizabeth, SLP
"LOVED this program! It was jam-packed with a ton of information that will take time to incorporate into therapy sessions. (Not only is the child learning new skills, so am I as a therapist!) I've known about strength-based therapy and have done it, but not to the extent and to the organization offered in this training. I am looking forward to seeing how my therapy changes and how my little ones progress by using this program."
Leah, SLP
"This program was extremely beneficial for use in my practice. All of the information, handouts and techniques that were presented were amazing. Easy to follow along. I liked that it was broken up into different videos/sections."
Michele, SLP
"Thank you for including real-life stories and anecdotes from your own practice. Very helpful."
Ellen, SLP
"I loved the clear strengths guidance, and the reminder not to push too hard in therapy!"
Elizabeth, SLP
"The course was very helpful and practical. I will certainly apply this approach to children on my caseload. I kept thinking about children that already "graduated" from EI and wish I had this knowledge when I still had them on my caseload. (Although I did put a lot of other Teach Me to Talk information into practice!)"
Heidi, SLP
"I appreciated learning the 7 C's of Communication, which seemed to include, (restated/reorganized/ summarized) information from '11 Skills Toddlers Master Before Words Emerge', which I have successfully used for years now (Thank you so much!!!!). I appreciated the additional information included to better assist toddlers with ASD since that population, unfortunately, continues to rise. I also appreciated the focus on regulating children and the need to keep them regulated, since dysregulation and sensory impairment in toddlers is also rising. These are areas I did not study in grad school. I appreciate the worksheets we can provide for parents to identify strengths and how to use these strengths more effectively in treatment. Thank you again, for your essential contribution to our field. p.s. You and Macy are precious!! God bless you both!"
"I am one of those therapists who you pointed out works on the wrong things. ARH!! What a slap in the face, but in a good way, because it was a much needed wake up call. I've hated my job lately and now I know why. Thank you for the clarity."
Susan, SLP
"Dear Ms. Laura and sweet Macy, I just purchased the new course and wanted to say THANK YOU! I would have definitely expected such cutting-edge information to come from you! I am part of several message boards for parents of autistic children, and we parents are just so tired of being told by professionals what our children can't or will never do. And really, what is the point of doing that? How does that help at all? Except to make the parent miserable and feel like there is no point in trying to help their child?...The tone of the course is great (such positivity), and Macy is such a delight! She is such a wonderful addition to Teach me to Talk."
Ann, SLP
“I loved the handouts to share with parents to help them understand how utilizing their child's strengths and interests is the best way to facilitate their child's communication abilities.”
Colleen, SLP
“The most beneficial part of the program is the strengths survey, as well as the treatment toys and activities that correspond to each strength. There was no part of the program that I did not feel was beneficial.”
Natalie, SLP
"I LOVED the energy of this course! I also appreciated the research facts I learned I can spit out to other professionals and parents. The best part was how characteristics of ASD were divided into strengths and therapy activities... so if I have a visually inspecting kid, I know I can go into my pdf and find out what activities I should target based on that characteristic... this really did improve how I think about therapy."
Kelsey, SLP
"I feel so much more at ease now having a huuuuuge packet of therapy ideas and a framework for organizing my therapy and having an actual PLAN instead of just "following the child's lead" while trying to figure out how to work in the goals. The way the content was explained was easy to follow and the handouts are excellent."
A, SLP
“I found identifying a child's strength helped me to consolidate my previous knowledge and experience. I feel I have a clear method to identify a child's strength and to build their strengths into sessions plans to help achieve their set goals.”
Christine, SLP
"Wow, this course was by far my favorite course I have taken in a long time! I have been lately feeling "stuck" with a few of my autistic toddler clients, and this course provided clear and helpful tools and strategies to best support our clients while also being affirming. I loved all of the ideas that were provided as well as the Strengths Survey – I can't wait to implement all of these wonderful things!"
Isabel, SLP
“The most beneficial part of the course was the handouts to share with parents and ALL the therapy ideas!! I've always felt that we focus on the 10% a kiddo can't do instead of the 90% Can Do. I have always tried to do this in my therapy sessions. Now I have evidenced material for support!!!!!”
Suzanne, SLP
“Liked systematic handouts to use to help with assessment and diagnostic therapy. Enjoyed hearing examples of each strength domain. Great review and great handouts to be able to share with families. The course was well organized and the content is much needed as an EI therapist.”
Terri, SLP
“This was a fresh new philosophy and a comprehensive approach with a new concept for successfully working with children with Autism. Before this ,the very structured, compliance teaching model which has been utilized by many therapists using comply-reward, noncompliance -punish or a with-hold philosophy. Children with Autism became prompt-.dependent with this method. These Children couldn't initiate language or make a plan to move on their own. They had to wait to be prompted to act or to respond and never spoke spontaneously on their own. I and many of my SLP colleagues have always believed in play therapy and giving the child choices to play works best. It is very important that Parents should hear about this strategy! Thank you Laura and Macy for doing the evidence-based research and putting this new concept into words!!”
Teresa, SLP
“This was a wonderful, easy to understand course with lots of great materials. Exactly what the fabulous Laura Mize is known for!”
F, SLP
"I am an autism mom, and I bought your books and listened to several podcast episodes over the last few years. I believe your teach me to talk and autism workbook were one of the number one tools in giving me to guidance to help my son. Thank you!"
Brittni
"I just want to thank you for the invaluable information you’ve given me in helping my grandson to talk (which I have passed on to his parents). We’ve ve learned patience, appropriate expectations, and fun and effective strategies that we had found no where else. He is exploding with conversation! Sometimes I struggle to interpret his articulation, but all I have to do is say, “Show me”, and he’s excited to do so. He and I both want so badly to communicate with each other, and your strategies have made it so much easier and non-threatening. Once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Stacey
"My little guy is taking off like a rocket!! We’ve been working through your Autism Workbook for a few months and he has had an explosion of skills develop. YOU are AMAZING! THANK YOU!" Laura Q, Mom
"Dear Laura Mize and Team,
Thank you so much for all your hard work and publishing books! Our 17-month-old toddler suddenly exploded into speaking and imitating everybody's gestures and sounds, just a week or two after we 'completed' all activities that are listed under 11 pre-linguistic skills! Your method really works!"
Grateful customer.
"Hi Laura!
I absolutely LOVE all of your workbooks, especially your Autism Workbook. Starting with Social Games has been a game changer for many of my littles with ASD and their families. It's been the best way for them to finally connect and sustain shared attention and engagement, leading to longer social interactions, through play!"
Jodie, Dev, Therapist
"Hi Ms. Laura,
Thank you so much for the videos you have posted on your youtube channel. They are so direct, informative, and helpful. Thank you for being a resource for me to become a better therapist."
Dianne




















