My Favourite Speech & Language Therapy Toys This Autumn
One of the joys of being a speech and language therapist is discovering creative, playful tools that bring sessions to life. This autumn, I’ve been leaning on a few standout toys that have made therapy not only effective, but also full of laughter and excitement.
Voice Recording Buttons 🎤
These simple, colourful buttons have been a hit across age groups. You can record short phrases, single words, or sound effects, and children love the instant playback. I’ve been using them for:
Turn-taking games: Each child records their response and presses the button when it’s their turn.
Choice-making: Record different options and let children press to choose.
Speech sound practice: Children record their target word and then listen back – a motivating way to build awareness of how they sound.
The immediate feedback keeps children engaged, and it’s a brilliant way to build confidence in a playful way.
Balloon Pump with Car Attachments 🚗🎈
This one has been an absolute favourite! The pump inflates balloons that attach to little cars. Once the balloon is full, the car zooms off across the floor – and the anticipation is just as exciting as the race itself.
I’ve used it for:
Turn-taking and waiting skills: Everyone gets a turn pumping and racing their car.
Requesting and commenting: Children are motivated to say “go!”, “again!”, or describe what’s happening.
Concepts and comparison: Which car went faster? Which balloon made it go further?
Breath support: Talking about balloons and air can be a natural way to introduce concepts related to breathing and voice.
The best part is that it never fails to bring smiles (and sometimes squeals!) to the session.
Why I Love These Toys This Season
Both of these toys are inexpensive, easy to set up, and versatile across therapy goals. They encourage communication in a natural, fun context, while also creating shared joy – which is at the heart of speech and language therapy.
If you’d like to explore more of my favourite resources, I’ve put together a toy & resource list, which you can find here.
As the weather turns cooler, these little moments of play have made my therapy sessions feel warm, lively, and memorable.
