Playonwords.Com Presents Their Fall 2016 Pal Awards - Best Toys, Games and Books That Spark Language Development Through Play
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (PRWEB) October 03, 2016 -- Play On Words LLC, led by highly respected toy expert Sherry Artemenko, announces its Fall 2016 PAL Awards, the industry's only recognition directed by a credentialed speech pathologist, 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, 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. Because of my collaboration with teachers and therapists, I get further insight into my winners when educators use PAL Award winners in their classrooms to extend goals through play. Designing and building a colorful town with characters and accessories, writing an associated descriptive narrative, and then reading it aloud to the class, while moving their figures through the town, helps children’s reading and writing skills. Students have said, 'I can do this all day!' Parents and teachers want a list of toys and games that make learning fun, building skills through multi-dimensional learning channels."
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 critical to enhancing product value. Leveraging the PAL Seal on the Internet, print media and packaging, along with customized promotional videos as seen on the TODAY Show this summer with mompreneur client Marcia Haut, differentiates those 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 of 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 driving a Jungle Train through crinkle swamps, drawing in a mess-free sand scribbler, or watching balls disappear and reappear in a Peek and Seek rattle, kids learn essential language skills.
- ALEX Toys My First House Activity Cube
- Janod Baby Forest Fox Ride-on
- Janod Zigolos Elk and Fox Looping Stacker and Rocker
- Janod Zigolos Shape Box Pull Along Bear
- Jungle Train Journey Set by Hape
- Kaloo Les Amis Medium Cookie Leopard
- Kaloo Les Amis Medium Pepit Penguin
- Kaloo Rouge-Medium Bear-Sandy Beige
- Kaloo Rouge-Medium Rabbit-Cocoa Brown
- Kathe Kruse Monkey Carlo Towel Doll
- My First Crayola Mess Free Sand Scribbler
- NogginSeek Peek and Seek Rattle by SmartNoggin Toys
- Pull Along Cat by Bigjigs Toys Ltd
Language Structure, Vocabulary, Critical Thinking and Reasoning: These outstanding products can build language structure, critical thinking and reasoning, often teaching vocabulary, concepts or grammar while delivering fun. Generating and remembering stories associated with rooms of a palace, playing a game of deductive reasoning to expose a jewel thief, or learning the vocabulary of the human body through clever preschool crafts strengthens communication skills.
- ALEX Toys Ready, Set, Bodies
- ALEX Toys Ready, Set, Dinos!
- Arckit Go Colours
- Circuit Maze by Thinkfun
- Little Scholar Mini by School Zone Publishing
- Memory Palace by Peaceable Kingdom
- Once Upon A Sign: The New Three Little Pigs by DawnSignPress
- SmartGames Little Red Riding Hood by Smart Toys and Games
- Suspicion Game by Wonder Forge
- Touch & Learn Activity Desk Deluxe by VTech
(Pre)reading: Kids can better learn letters, sounds, their associations and storytelling through play. Writing messages with an Air Marker Sprayer, learning letters in association with pictures in a story, or reading picture books with outstanding vocabulary help children pick up essential skills to promote reading and writing.
- Ada's Violin by Susan Hood and Sally Wern Comport
- Crayola Air Marker Sprayer
- Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer
- Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De la Pena and Christian Robinson
- Leaps and Bounce by Susan Hood and Matthew Cordell
- Parachute by Danny Parker and Matt Ottley
- Playroom Prep by Rosalyn Kemp
- Rain Fish by Lois Ehlert
- Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea by Robert Burleigh and Raul Colon
Storytelling / Pretend Play: Whether assisting a patient with a doctor’s kit, chatting with an interactive princess in her palace, or building a stage to create a show, children are creating their own stories with plenty of flexible props to guide their imagination. Oral storytelling precedes writing as kids learn the steps to compose a good narrative.
- ALEX Toys Ready, Set, Sew
- Brackitz Inventor 100 Piece Set
- Brio Village Family Home Playset
- Care for Me Learning Carrier by VTech
- Crayola Crayon Factory
- Creativity Castle by Build and Imagine
- Fire Station Train Set by Bigjigs Toys Ltd.
- Go! Go! Smart Friends Enchanted Princess Palace by Vtech
- IO Blocks Vehicle Set by Guidecraft
- Janod Doctor's Suitcase
- Little House on the Prairie 18" Laura Ingalls Doll and Accessories by The Queen's Treasures
- Mighty Makers Director's Cut Building Set by K'NEX
- Mighty Makers Fun on the Ferris Wheel by K'NEX
- Ring & Learn Cash Register by VTech
- Tell-A-Tale by Getta1Games
- Wonder Forge Dr. Seuss Thing Two and Thing One Whirly Fun Game
- Wonderhood Corner Shops Creative Building Set
- Wonderhood Grand Hotel Creative Building Set
Social Language: Complementary to pretend play, social language blossoms when children play with toys that encourage extended social interactions. Playing games requiring kids to verbally brainstorm, such as working together to build an arch of cheese slices between mice, assembling magnetic figures whose facial expressions can match kids’ feelings, or playing with plush animals who talk back and read stories, equip kids to better engage in a socially appropriate manner.
- Ark by Hape
- Better Builders Emotions by Guidecraft
- Bluebee Pals by Kayle Concepts
- Cheese Stack by Getta1Games
- Crayola Emoji Maker
- Crayola Jewel Maker
- Disney Jr The Lion Guard Boulder Burst Game by Wonder Forge
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.
Sherry Artemenko, Founder and President, Play On Words, LLC, http://playonwords.com/, +1 (203) 526-9991, [email protected]
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