Language Development Toys for Your Little Ones

		A child’s first three years of life are filled with intensive periods of speech and language growth and development. Early language toys can furnish families with an array of educational opportunities that will help set the stage for their child’s language play in meaningful context.      “The best toys for development are those that can foster shared attention to an activity with a child and someone else, keeping a child’s interest, as well as allowing for creative interaction in a manner of different ways — toys that inspire children not only to just memorize words, but show them how to use those words in a wide variety of ways,” explains Dr. Christian Nechyba, a pediatrician with Carolina Kids Pediatric Associates in Raleigh.      Published research reveals that young children who have strong oral language skills go on to develop strong reading and writing skills. The repetition of simple words and short phrases through exploratory play during the first three years of life will not only help them discover that words have meaning, but foster further cognitive development. How Toys — and Parents — Can Help      “Although language development can be attributed to both genetic and environmental factors, a language-rich environment is crucial to support strong language development,” says Jennifer Kern, a pediatric speech language pathologist at Duke University Medical Center.      In addition to providing them with appropriate learning toys, parents can support their children’s language development, Kern says, by talking about what is going on around them, connecting new concepts to things the child already knows and engaging in back-and-forth social conversation. Toys to Try      Age-appropriate educational language toys, like the ones listed below, are designed to teach little ones key developmental basics — early letter recognition and speech and reading skills — all while they are having fun! 1.  Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Smart Stages Chair. This smiling chair contains a light-up remote control and flip book conveniently attached to the chair’s arms; a cushion that, when lifted up, teaches your little one all about letters, numbers and shapes; and technology that gives parents the ability to adjust learning levels manually or automatically to match their child’s age and maturity. The chair offers three levels of play with songs, sounds and phrases that promote language and phonemic skills. The seat can also sense when a child sits or stands. Ages 6-36 months. $39.99, fisher-price.com. 2.  Melissa & Doug Alphabet Sound Puzzle.  This hand-crafted, wooden puzzle is an excellent way for your little ones to learn to become familiar with letters and the sounds that they make. When children place each of the 26 letters in it's correct space on the puzzle, the letter says it's name, as well as the objects that begin with each.  The Melissa & Doug Alphabet Sound Puzzle assists with building phonemic and motor skills development.   Ages 3 +up.  $19.99, Melissa & Doug. 3. Learning Resources ABC & 123 Electronic Flash Card.    This portable, hand-held device, just perfect for your little ones hands, is very easy to use.  The buttons and switch on the electronic flash card let you choose between letters and numbers games .  Each category comes with two different activities, and your children can explore numerous games, including matching upper and lower case letters; filling in the missing letter in a sequence; to math activities that include finding the missing numbers.  An extremely handy feature is a time, and after a minute passes, whatever game your child is working on stops.  Little ones will delight in being able to see their progress, as the ABC & 123 Electronic Flash Card uses sound to let them know if they scored correctly.  Ages 4+. $17.99, Learning Resources 4.  Educational Insights Hot Dots Jr.  Getting Ready for School!  With the help of Ace-The Talking, Teaching Dog pen, your little one will explore 160 self-checking readiness lessons that reinforces letter, number and shape recognition.  With 80 colorfully illustrated, double-sided activity cards (which are self-correcting) that are specifically designed for use with Ace (who makes several sounds when your child answers correctly, as well as sounds when they don't) you will see that your child will begin to strengthen their knowledge of letters, numbers, shapes, & colors in a fun, independent way. Ages 3-6. $39.99.  Educational Insights. 5.  School Zone Little Scholar Learning Adventure--  The School Zone Little Scholar Learning Adventure is an 8" Android tablet designed specifically for children in grades PreK thru 1st, and is entirely focused on developing educational skills.  The tablet comes pre-loaded with over 150+ apps, videos, books and songs.  It also features front and rear-facing cameras that your little one can use to take their own photos and/or to create their own home movies.  Also, with parental assistance, the Little Scholar tablet has the ability to connect to various WiFi points in order to provide internet access (where you can access the Little Scholar app store to download and purchase more apps and games for the tablet).  I appreciated the fact that the tablet also contains a three-leveled series of ebooks; digital editions that include audio voice overs, just perfect for family read alouds, as well as highlighted text as your little one reads along.  Ages 3 to 7. $199.00 School  Zone