All Aboard!
The Versatile World of Trains in Pediatric Speech Therapy
Trains are the gift that keeps on giving! Kids of all ages adore them, and they’re a fantastic addition to any playroom. While some professionals may dismiss trains as repetitive or too obsessive, I’m here to show you why they’re a must-have for your little ones—especially when it comes to pediatric speech therapy and language development!
Trains are a perfect toy for any age, from 6-12 months to preschool, to my own kids who are 9 and 10! In my home, the kids continue to create elaborate train cities that take over our living room and they insist I leave up for days and maneuver around like they’re booby traps from an Indiana Jones adventure! But I digress. The point is: wooden trains are not just fun for toddlers; they’re versatile toys that foster learning in so many ways.
SLP Pro Tip:
Why Trains Are Amazing for Language Development
For the Littlest Ones (12-24 months): Children at this age can sit and move trains on pre-built tracks. You can introduce first words like “choo-choo,” “go,” "hi", "bye", “more,” and “up.” If they’re ready, start modeling simple two-word combinations! By 18-24 months, your little engineers will be even more hands-on, building tracks, pushing trains, and honing their occupational therapy skills (think fine motor/finger skills) while enhancing executive functioning skills through reasoning and problem-solving.
For Toddlers and Preschoolers (2.5-4 years): Trains are perfect for targeting both expressive and receptive language skills. Work on:
Expressive Grammar: Plurals (trains, choo-choos), prepositions (“in,” “on”), present progressive verbs (“going,” “pushing”), articles (“a,” “the”), and past tense forms (“drove,” “made”).
Receptive Concepts: Colors, sizes (long/short, tall/short), shapes of tracks, and spatial relationships (under, next to, in front of). Practice answering simple yes/no and wh-questions, and following one- or two-step directions.
Make the Most of Train Play
Don’t let the idea of “repetitive play” deter you! Just like any toy, it’s all about how you play with them. Incorporate storytelling, problem-solving scenarios, and vocabulary-building games into your train adventures. Encourage your children to narrate their journeys and describe their train cities. Adding additional vehicles that can fit on the same track or figurines from other play sets are great ways to expand the play scene or add dialogue!
Final Thoughts
Trains are an incredible tool for home play AND speech therapy that promote language development, cognitive skills, and creativity. So let’s celebrate these timeless toys and all the joy (and learning!) they bring. Happy train playing! 🚂✨
Tools For Better Speech
Click the pictures for a link to the toys that inspired this blog and my daily therapy!
<3
Sara
For more tips on using play for speech and language development, don’t forget to check out our other blog posts and linked resources!
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