ABOVE: Customized Playonwords.com video review of SmartNoggin's PAL Winning "NogginStik. BELOW: Sherry immersing herself in thousands of new toys at this 2016 International Toy Fair NYC
You’re making me think outside the box AND parents can easily buy these for fun practice at home
(PRWEB) June 01, 2016
http://playonwords.com/award/pal2016toys/ Play On Words LLC, led by highly respected speech language pathologist Sherry Artemenko, announces 2016's Spring 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 books. Sherry's 35 years of child development experience with over 17,000 hours working with kids empower her PAL selections, video reviews (Today Show - NogginStik), popular blog, media appearances and consulting practice.
"Toy makers and buyers alike know what the PAL Award stands for. Thousands of hours working with children and families, engaging in the classroom and consulting with teachers yield my unique play insights. This week an experienced first grade teacher, who has helped test PAL products in her classroom said, 'I feel like it’s making me a better teacher using the games and books you’ve given me. I used to look in my education world for teaching tools. You’re making me think outside the box AND parents can easily buy these for fun practice at home.' "
Playonwords.com helps companies see the strategic value of language learning in play, and how building categorical vocabulary (like STEM), facilitating social interaction and encouraging great pretend play and storytelling can be as important as any classic toy or game feature. Leveraging the PAL Seal on the internet, print media and packaging, along with customized promotional videos as seen on the TODAY SHOW last week with mompreneur client Marcia Haut, differentiates brands who know the marketplace now demands products that are not only fun, but also packed with learning potential. The PAL Award seal tells customers that more than great entertainment is to be found inside the box or book cover.
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 taking a peek in a Frog Mirror, setting up a train to a countryside horse paddock, pressing shapes through a hen house shape sorter, or playing with furry interactive mini-pets, kids learn essential language skills.
- Alex Toys Little Hands Big Artist-Crayon
- Alex Toys Little Hands Big Artist-Marker
- Alex Toys Wooden Wonders Activity Center
- Beary Rumples by Rumple Buddies
- Brio Countryside Horse Set
- Brio Remote Control Travel Train
- Count and Learn Turtle by VTech
- Crinkle and Roar Lion by VTech
- Dancing Crab Set by Fun Flex
- Floating Island by Plan Toys
- Frog Mirror Set by Fun Flex
- Go! Go! Smart Animals Furry Animals Assortment by VTech
- High Seas Rocker by Hape
- Janod Baby Forest Shapes-Caterpillar
- Janod DIY Foldable Workbench
- Janod Fireman Magnetic Vertical Puzzle
- Janod Garden House Shape Sorter
- Janod Princess Magnetic Vertical Puzzle
- Janod Shape Sorter-Garden Textures
- Janod Tactile Puzzle Life on the Ice
- Janod Tactile Puzzle A Day at the Zoo
- Janod Zigalos Hen's Activity House
- Kaloo Les Amis Rocking Donkey
- On the Moove Activity Bar by VTech
- Sleepy Lullabies Bear Projector by VTech
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. Gather, magnify and describe samples in your Smartscope, create a Scooby-Doo story with picture cubes, or build compound words faster than your friend to strengthen communication skills.
- Anomia Party Edition by Anomia Press
- Compound It All! by Lee and Low Books
- Do Art Word Art by Faber-Castell
- Janod Pleximemo Farm Memory Game
- Janod Round Observation Puzzle Galloping Horses
- Quadrilla Space City by Hape
- Ravensburger Hundreds of Horses
- Ravensburger Ocean Labyrinth
- Ravensburger Smartscope
- Rory's Story Cubes: Dr. Who by The Creativity Hub
- Rory's Story Cubes: Scooby-Doo by The Creativity Hub
(PRE)READING: Playing games that ask players to finish a prompt with a line from a book, stack alphabetized words to grow trees in the forest, or generate words beginning with certain sounds help children pick up essential skills to promote reading.
- Alphabet Woods by SimplyFun
- Bring Your Own Book by Gamewright
- Crazy Letters by Mindware
- Fast Flip by Blue Orange Games
- Janod Splash Magnetic Letters Set
- Neon 3D Chalk by Crayola
- Nut and Nuttier by SimplyFun
- Rule Crazy, Starter Edition by P. F. Shaggy
- Tiggly Shape's Got Talent by Tiggly
STORY-TELLING / PRETEND PLAY: Whether taking your doll through Jane Goodall’s research camp, unzipping a puppet to direct your story from a caterpillar to a butterfly, or defending a fantastic castle from dragons and knights, 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.
- Baby Amaze 3-in-1 Care and Learn Stroller by VTech
- Calaphant Large Sets by The Haywire Group
- Calaphant Medium Sets by The Haywire Group
- Color Alive Frozen and Avengers by Crayola
- Folkmanis Black Dragon
- Folkmanis Monarch Life Cycle
- Folkmanis Slow Loris
- Folkmanis Yellow Beaked Crow
- Gombe Rainforest Camp Table and Chair Set for 18" Girl Dolls by The Queen's Treasures
- Janod Country Club Riding School
- Janod Fire House
- Janod Gas Station
- Janod Little Miss Vanity Set
- Janod Splash Adjustable Easel
- Janod The Fantastic Castle
- Large African Safari by Playmobil
- Lincoln Logs Collectors Edition Village by K'NEX
- Mon Premier Bebe Bisou by Corolle
- Mother and Baby Plush Chimpanzee for 18" Girl Dolls by The Queen's Treasures
- Play Tape by InRoad Toys
- Space Rocket with Launch Site by Playmobil
- Take Along School House by Playmobil
- Teepee Tent by Hape
SOCIAL LANGUAGE: Complementary to pretend play, social language blossoms when children play with toys that encourage extended social interactions. Games requiring kids to read other players' reactions and feelings to cooperate and make decisions together, or discuss familiar situations building empathy and sympathy, help equip kids to better name, understand and regulate their emotions, building EQ.
- Alex Toys Simply Needlepoint
- Friends and Neighbors by Peaceable Kingdom
- Memory Yoga by ThinkFun
- Q-Time Buddy by EQtainment, LLC
- Q's Race to the Top by EQtainment, LLC
- Q's Wild Ride CD Storybook by EQtainment, LLC
- Ravensburger Buggaloop
- Teacher Chair by Pacific Play Tents
- Zoo Jamz Microphone by VTech
ABOUT PLAYONWORDS, LLC
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 of 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 and reading
- Most kids maintain their verbal advantage through childhood
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 and caregivers how to get the most from toys, games and books to build language and underlying cognitive skills.
