ELKHART LAKE, Wis.,
Oct. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/
-- Play On Words LLC, led by highly respected speech language
pathologist Sherry Artemenko,
announces 2019's Fall PAL Award Winners, the toy industry's only
recognition directed by a credentialed speech-language expert
recognizing the language learning edge in exceptional toys, games
and media. Sherry's 35 years of child development experience with
over 17,000 hours working with kids empower her PAL selections,
video reviews, popular blog, media appearances (NBC Connecticut,
FOX News Milwaukee), and consulting practice.
I continue to be fascinated by the impact parents' play with
kids has on language development, a concept reinforced by recent
research. What parents say and how they talk during play can make a
difference. By simply using a strategy called "Toy Talk" where
parents talk about the toys and give the toy a name, they up their
grammatical models to their child and improve the growth
trajectories of certain areas of their child's language
development. Toys are the tools for a child's play which is why
I've spent my career calling out the toys with the best language
learning potential and coaching parents on how to play with their
child to maximize learning.
Playonwords.com helps toy brands and consumers alike see the
strategic value of language learning in play through its helping to
build vocabulary, foster cooperation, express emotion, kindle
creativity and expand descriptive and problem solving capacities.
The PAL Award on the internet, packaging and in print media
differentiates brands who know the marketplace now demands products
that are not only fun, but also infused with learning potential.
The gold seal with three smiley faces tells customers that more
than great entertainment is to be found behind the box, book cover
or app license.
EARLY DEVELOPMENT: Sherry's experience in pediatric speech
therapy has given her an eye for the best products to build
attention, vocabulary and concepts through play, preparing children
for their first sounds, words and sentences. While fishing in the
bathtub for pop-up fish, opening and closing latches and doors to
learn counting, vocabulary and colors, or playing a surprise game
that grows bubbles on the back of a sneezing sheep, kids learn
essential early language skills.
- Baa Baa Bubbles by Spin Master
- Friends of a Feather by Ravensburger
- From Birth to First Words by Lynn
Carson, Talking Together
- Hape Double Fun Fishing Set
- Latches & Doors Busy Board by VTech
- Learn & Groove Shakin' Colors Maracas by LeapFrog
READING AND WRITING: Building with letter blocks that access an
electronic cube to teach pre-literacy skills, seeing your name
repeated in print throughout a fun personalized book, or exploring
the human body with an interactive video stylus that captures the
workings inside, all help children pick up essential skills to
advance reading and writing.
- Bluebee Pals Techie Rangers Book & Activity Guide by Kayle
Concepts
- Language Together Set 2
- LeapBuilders ABC Smart House by LeapFrog
- LeapStart Go by LeapFrog
- RockIt Twist by LeapFrog
- That's MY Cake! by Wonderbly
LANGUAGE STRUCTURE, CRITICAL THINKING AND REASONING: These
outstanding products can build language structure, critical
thinking and reasoning, often teaching vocabulary, concepts or
grammar while delivering fun. Chase the eagle across the map of
the United States, learning
critical facts about parks, monuments and historical places while
relating your own experiences, or put on your chemist cap and
experiment with arctic options to make a chill thermometer, cold
lava or glistening snow slime, analyzing and recording your
findings to strengthen communication skills.
- Crayola Color Chemistry Arctic Lab
- Eagle Chase by SimplyFun
- Match-O-Rama by The Op | Usaopoly
- SPARK Jr. Sequencing Cards by Spark Innovations
- Twisted Tales by SCS Direct
STORY-TELLING / PRETEND PLAY: Whether piloting a mighty jet
command center to come to the rescue, captaining a pirate ship
while loading the cannon or walking the plank, or serving up a
tempting treat in a play kitchen with sink, range, oven and
chalkboard to write your menu, children enter the world of pretend,
creating their own stories with plenty of flexible props to guide
their imagination. Oral story-telling precedes writing as kids
learn the steps to create a good narrative.
- Adventure Treehouse by Schleich
- Candylocks Doll by Spin Master
- Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Safari Oasis
- Hape Cook 'n Serve Kitchen
- Juno My Baby Elephant by Spin Master
- Kinetic Sand Sandisfying Set by Spin Master
- King George's Castle by Bigjigs
Toys
- Mickey's Snuggletime by Wonder Forge
- Myla the Magical Unicorn by VTech
- PAW Patrol Mighty Jet Command Center by Spin Master
- Smart Sizzlin' BBQ Grill by LeapFrog
- Treasure Seekers Pirate Ship by VTech
SOCIAL LANGUAGE: Complementary to pretend play, social language
blossoms when children play with toys and games and interact with
media that encourage extended social interactions. Matching and
identifying facial expressions to start the conversation about our
own emotions and situations that sparked those feelings, or
teaching a pretend plush friend how to be kind, brave, and help
others, can equip kids to better name, understand and manage their
emotions, leading to stronger EQ's.
- Miniland Emoti Blocks
- Mix & Match-a-Saurus by VTech
- Portable North Pole by UGroupMedia
ABOUT PLAYONWORDS.COM
Playonwords.com was founded by well-respected speech-language
pathologist, Sherry Artemenko. Her
35 years championing language rich play, esteemed PAL Award,
popular blog, and insightful tips to parents set her apart as the
leading advocate for the language component in toys.
Over 17,000 hours working directly with children has shown her
that a unique set of the best toys, games and books have the
capability to develop language while delivering great play. Studies
show:
- Kids with highest IQs at three, had the most words at one and
two
- Language learning is cumulative – early words => early
sentences => language & reading
- Most kids maintain their verbal advantage through
childhood
- Creative pretend play that sparks story-telling can advance
future literacy
Sherry established the PAL Award to identify unique toys, games
and books that through their design, quality and character,
encourage play that advances language. PAL winners in the hands of
kids, spark fun and creative play with lots of talk. Such toys,
recognized on the basis of her child development expertise, are
complemented by practical coaching in her blog, showing parents,
caregivers and teachers how to get the most from toys, games and
books to build language and underlying cognitive skills.
SOURCE Play On Words, LLC