11+ Ways Speech Therapy Toys Can Ruin The Session

Gina Britt
Sep 17
3 min read

Those pesky speech therapy toys - the unsung heroes and ultimate villains of every session. One minute they’re helping you build language and connection, the next they’re the reason Timmy is sobbing on the carpet while you’re questioning your life choices.

As a speech therapist of 14+ years, including time being a clinical supervisor, I have experienced it all (the best speech therapy toys, speech therapy toys DIY, SLP toys speech therapy that don't work) and every trick in the book to keep your session running smoothly... or not.

This post is all about speech therapy toys: small enough to fit in your bag, powerful enough to destroy your schedule. Consider this your survival guide.

My speech therapy tips are served with a side of sarcasm. My goal is to connect people through innovative speech therapy resources. And have a few laughs a long the way.

This post is all about speech therapy toys

Don't Clear the Space | Speech Therapy Toys Tip

Please keep a neat area. Otherwise you will open the doors to grabby hands (getting bored after 2 seconds) and onto the next shiny object, which you kindly placed right in their line of vision.

Try Something SUPER Exciting | Speech Therapy Toys Tip

Hear me out. NEVER pick something super fun. It's an instant way to lose control of everyhing, including your own sanity. It needs to be mildly entertaining.

Take Out Multiple Toys At A Time | Speech Therapy Toys Tip

Please don't serve your toys buffet style. Or try it and then remember this post.

Don't Hide The Rest Of The Toys | Speech Therapy Toys Tip

Those kids are clever. I've hidden things in far away file cabinets up high and in under 13 seconds my speech therapy students have eloped and found them.

Don't Use Child-Led Therapy | Speech Therapy Toys Tip

Use Child-Led Therapy... Self-explanatory. Instead of placing demands on the child follow their lead. Works wonders.

Ignore Floortime Principles | Speech Therapy Toys Tip

Floortime therapy is this groundbreaking, revolutionary concept where you get on the floor with a kid and play. The idea (according to the fancy textbooks) is that instead of drilling flashcards until everyone cries, you follow the child’s lead, build interaction, and sneak in communication skills while pretending the toy truck is actually a rocket ship to Mars.

Don't Use Toys as a Reinforcer | Speech Therapy Toys Tip

Do you get up and go to work in the morning for free? Why should speech therapy students work for nothing?

Make it Hard To Clean | Speech Therapy Toys Tip

To all those people who design the cutest worksheets only to find out you have to laminate them and pair them with play dough I want you to send me an e-mail. In detail, explain how to disinfect the play dough between students.

Invite Choking Hazards Into Your Session | Speech Therapy Toys Tip

Choose toys way bigger than a child's mouth.

And if you got hit by the toy? | Speech Therapy Toys Tip

If that toy ends up bonking you in the head, would it hurt? If so, it's time to reassess either the toy or the child you trust with holding that toy.

Forget About Social Play | Speech Therapy Toys Tip

Try to have an assortment of toys that would be good for group situations: Think Left Center Right, Catch Phrase, Sorry, Uno, Matching, tossing a ball back and forth.

Take Away Their Safety Item | Speech Therapy Toys Tip

Be careful if the toy in the session is their safety item they always carry. I would suggest NOT taking this one away and trying to reach their attention with something else. Use this item as a talking point.

In conclusion, speech therapy toys are small, colorful, and plotting your downfall.