Kid Routine & Play

Speech delays can be stressful, but there are playful ways to help your toddler learn new words, sounds, and social skills. Whether you’re a parent, an early childhood educator, or a therapist, the right toy can make a big difference. Below are the  10 best speech delay toys  on Amazon that are both engaging and highly recommended by speech-language pathologists (SLPs). These toys encourage: Imitation and turn-taking Vocabulary building Cause-and-effect learning Social communication This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 1. Melissa & Doug Wooden Sound Puzzle – Animal Sounds 🐾 Helps toddlers match animal names with sounds. Great for building vocabulary and turn-taking. 🛒  Shop on Amazon 2. Fisher-Price Little People Big Helpers Home 🏠 Encourages pretend play, daily routine words, and social talk like “help,” “wash,” “eat.” Perfect for practicing simple phrases. 🛒  Shop on Amazon 3. LeapFrog Learn...

🎁 Get Your Free Routine Chart Kit This printable kit includes 40+ toddler visual tools to make daily routines calm and clear. Download Now  In my home daycare, one of the biggest game changers was adding a simple visual routine board. Toddlers who once clung to transitions like "clean up time" or "toilet routine" suddenly felt more confident. And it wasn’t because I was doing something magical. It was the visuals. That’s why I created this  Free Daily Routine Visual Bundle , designed with real toddlers (and real chaos) in mind. Whether you’re a parent navigating busy mornings or an educator trying to bring calm to group time, this free printable kit is a helpful starting point.

🎉 Free Printable Reward Chart Kit for Toddlers Encourage your toddler with visual rewards they can see and celebrate! This free printable kit includes fun, kid-friendly charts to support routines, potty training, and positive behavior. ⬇️ Download the Free Reward Chart Kit Toddlers are learning so much every day (and that includes big skills like sharing, waiting, or following a routine). But let’s be honest, helping little ones build those habits takes patience, repetition, and the right kind of support. That is why I created this  Free Printable Reward Chart Kit for Toddlers  — a simple, flexible tool that helps make progress feel exciting and visible. Whether you are using it for calming down, trying new foods, helping out at home, or sticking to a daily routine, this reward chart is designed to motivate toddlers in a gentle, visual way.

 As a daycare provider, I’ve seen toddlers experience big feelings that are hard to manage. One of the most common is  hitting  — especially when a child feels angry, frustrated, or overwhelmed. I created this  printable social story  because I needed something calm and clear for my own daycare program. A story that didn’t just say "don’t hit" but helped toddlers understand what they  can  do instead. 👉  View the story on Etsy 🛒 Shop Now on Etsy Why I Created This Story I made  When I Feel Like Hitting  after seeing the same pattern over and over in my daycare. A child would feel ignored or upset when someone didn’t share. They didn’t know how to express that feeling — so they hit. I wanted something visual, something gentle, and something that could be used again and again. This story has now become one of our most-used tools. I designed it using real moments from my program, and it’s worked better than I imagined. Wh...

  As a home daycare provider and parent, I’ve seen how big feelings can overwhelm little ones. One emotion I notice often is fear. It can happen when things are too loud, too fast, or just unfamiliar. Sometimes a child’s heart starts beating fast and they want to hide. Sometimes they freeze when someone comes too close. And sometimes, they simply don’t have the words to say what they’re feeling. That’s exactly why I created this new printable tool: “When I Feel Scared” (A Toddler-Friendly Social Story with a Calm-Down Plan) Why I Made This Story This story comes from real moments I’ve seen in my daycare. I’ve worked with children who feel scared during loud sounds, busy transitions, or sudden touches. Fear is a normal feeling, but toddlers need help understanding it and knowing what to do. So I created a simple, calm story with gentle visuals and supportive steps like: I can stay near someone I trust I can say “no” or “stop” if I need more space I can cover my ears or hug a toy ...

  ⬇️ Download Now As a home daycare provider, I’ve seen how much toddlers and preschoolers crave a sense of responsibility. They want to help, to be seen as capable, and to feel proud of what they accomplish. That’s why a chore chart can be such a powerful tool. But not all chore charts work. The complicated ones with too many rules often get ignored. The plain ones don’t catch a child’s attention. What works best is something visual, simple, and consistent — something that gives toddlers and young kids a clear idea of what’s expected and a visual way to track their progress. That’s what inspired me to create my own printable chore chart. Why Chore Charts Help Toddlers and Preschoolers Chores are more than tasks. They’re early life lessons. When a child checks off “make bed” or “clean up toys,” they’re learning about: Responsibility Sequence and routine Pride in their contribution Patience and follow-through Even simple tasks like feeding the pet or brushing teeth can bu...

As an early childhood educator and home daycare provider, I’ve seen firsthand how much toddlers thrive on routine. But knowing what comes next isn’t always easy for them to understand, especially when they’re still developing language and emotional regulation skills. 📥 Download Now on Etsy That’s why I created my  Printable Visual Routine Cards Kit . These cards aren’t just cute, they’re designed to truly support toddler learning, self-regulation, and independence. In this post, I’ll explain exactly how they work and why they’re helpful. 1. Designed for Real Toddlers, Not Just Pinterest I couldn’t find routine visuals that were simple enough for the toddlers I work with. Most were either too cluttered, too word-heavy, or didn’t reflect real toddler needs. So I made my own, with clean, clear illustrations and calming colors. Every card is hand-curated with a toddler’s eye in mind. The images are flat-style, clear, and easy to interpret without distractions. No text...

 Big feelings can be overwhelming for toddlers. From sudden tantrums to quiet meltdowns, emotions often come faster than they can express. That’s why I created this  Free Calm-Down Starter Kit  — a research-informed, visual toolset designed to help toddlers understand, express, and manage their emotions in a safe and supportive way. Why Toddlers Need Visual Tools to Calm Down Young children are still learning how to connect their feelings with words. In fact, research in early childhood development shows that toddlers process visual cues faster than verbal instructions. Visual supports can help them: Recognize and label their feelings Understand safe ways to respond Build independence in calming down Children with autism or speech delays especially benefit from visual aids. By removing language pressure and adding predictability, visuals help all toddlers feel more in control. ⬇ Free Calm-Down Kit for Toddlers – Download Now What’s Included in the Free...

As a home daycare provider, I know how challenging it can be to keep toddlers engaged and calm during the summer months — especially when the heat limits outdoor time. That’s why I rely on  sensory toys for summer  that are fun, mess-friendly, and packed with learning benefits. Whether you're a parent or early childhood educator, these  top sensory toys for toddlers  are perfect for  summer play . They support motor skills, calm-down routines, and screen-free fun — and the best part? They’re all  under $100  and toddler-tested in real daycare settings. 💧 1. Little Tikes Bluey Water Table – $79.97 🛒  Buy on Amazon – $79.97   (Affiliate link – no extra cost to you!) Bring your toddler’s favorite character into sensory play with this  Bluey-themed water table ! Designed for ages 1–6, it’s packed with hands-on features that encourage  imaginative, social, and sensory-rich play  — perfect for summer fun. 🌟 Why We Love...

  Shop Now on Etsy Big emotions can feel overwhelming for toddlers and preschoolers. That’s why I created these  Visual Calm-Down Cards – a printable tool designed to help young children recognize and manage their feelings in a simple, supportive way. 🧠 Why This Visual Tool Works So Well These cards are designed with  autistic learners and visual thinkers in mind.  Instead of bright, busy graphics, I’ve used  soft, soothing pastel colors  and  clear, uncluttered images . This makes the visuals easier to process and less overwhelming for children who may be sensitive to sensory input. ✨ What Makes This Pack Unique This printable includes  two full sets  of calm-down visuals: 12 cards with clear text labels  (like “Take deep breaths” or “Squeeze a toy”) 12 matching no-text cards  for children who are not yet reading or who benefit from image-only visuals The no-text version is especially helpful for: Nonverbal or emerg...