Play On Words, led by highly respected speech-language pathologist Erika Cardamone, announces Fall 2024 PAL Award Winners, the toy industry's top recognition directed by a credentialed speech-language expert recognizing the language learning edge in exceptional toys, games and media. Erika's over 18 years of child development experience working with kids empower her PAL Award selections, video reviews, popular blog, media appearances, and consulting practice.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Play provides a natural and engaging way for children to explore the world around them, practice problem-solving, develop social skills, and build creativity. Through playful interactions, children learn to navigate emotions, work collaboratively, and think critically—skills that are foundational for future success.
Our brains actually change as we learn. We make new connections, strengthen skills, and become flexible learners. Pretend play has been shown to increase emotional understanding, empathy, and self-regulation. Outdoor play helps children develop resilience, executive functioning skills and builds self-confidence. Really…. it's just all about play.
The PAL Award continues to seek out the best toys and games that foster learning through play and encourage language development, flexible thinking, problem solving, and creativity. 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 on the box, book cover or app license.
EARLY DEVELOPMENT: Erika's experience in pediatric speech-language 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 matching colored cake layers, stacking blocks and singing along with Ms. Rachel, kids learn essential early language skills.
- BIZYBOO Seek 'N' Find Busy Bags by Vango Toys
- BobBee by Griddly Kids
- Cake-N-Bake Challenge by Hey Buddy Hey Pal
- Early stART Stamp and Color Kits by Micador
- Giant Feed the Woozle by MindWare's Peaceable Kingdom
- Grip-n-Stack Silicone & Wood Blocks by Hape
- KidDough Play Kit by Earth Grown KidDough
- Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll by Spin Master
- Ms. Rachel Surprise Box by Spin Master
- Music Jam with Ms. Sarah Jane by MindWare
- My Fun Shapes by SimplyFun
- My Little Artist Playset by GUND
- Oh So Fun! Take Along Piano by MindWare
- Sandy Snacks-a-Lot by VTech
- Sort & Discover Activity Wagon by VTech
READING AND WRITING: As children grow older, literacy becomes a focus in academics. Learning their first sounds and words with a press of a button, practicing sight words, reading new travel adventures, and coloring while practicing utensil grip, all pick up essential skills to advance reading and writing.
- Get Ready for Phonics Spin & Learn by LeapFrog
- Match It! Alphabet Match by Learning Resources
- Safari 3-piece Set by DoodleFace
- Sight Word Bean Bags by Educational Insights
- Sight Word Slam by Educational Insights
- Trip Jones: Kids' Guide to Los Angeles
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. Following directions or planning trips around the country, making observations while conducting STEM and weather experiments, solving puzzles and problems, and designing and constructing magnetic marble runs, further language learning, flexible thinking and promote innovative thinking.
- 10 Days in the USA by The Op
- 60-Piece Rainbow Starter Pack by CONNETIX
- Bill Nye Xtreme Weather Lab VR by Abacus Brands
- Chronicles of Light: Darkness Falls by Ravensburger
- Crash Cats by ThinkFun
- Disney Lorcana: Gateway by Ravensburger
- Future Fans Soccer by Future Fans
- GraviTrax Star Wars Death Star Action Set by Ravensburger
- Ramps & Intersections- 16-piece set by CONNETIX
- Scramboozle Puzzle Ball by Learning Resources
- STEM Explorers Super Hero Science Set by Learning Resources
- Stratego Classic by Jumbo
- Techno Tiles — Dinosaur by The Learning Journey International
- Ziggurat by MindWare
STORY-TELLING / PRETEND PLAY: Whether disguising yourself for creative pretend play, battling with mythical creatures, serving up coffee and cookies, or exploring the oceans during bath time, 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 Tower with Ice Cream Booth by PLAYMOBIL
- Bookworm Puppet by Folkmanis
- Cat® Dig N' Build Concrete Playset by Funrise
- Dino Temple Conquest by Schleich
- Eldrador Battle Cave Arena by Schleich
- Furlings by Funrise
- Magic Noise Catcher by MindWare
- Master of Disguise by MindWare
- Moana's Boat by PLAYMOBIL JUNIOR
- Oh So Fun! Cookies & Cakes Baking Set
- Oh So Fun! Rise & Shine Coffee Cafe by MindWare
- PAW Patrol Rescue Wheels Super Loop HQ Tower by Spin Master
- Super Blanky by Dreammighty
SOCIAL LANGUAGE: Complementary to pretend play, social language blossoms when children play with toys and games and interact with others that encourage extended social interactions. Working cooperatively during physical challenges in a relay, improving self-regulation with a weighted plush, or getting back to basics during family gameplay, children understand and manage their emotions, leading to stronger resilience and self-awareness.
- Champion Nok Hockey by Carrom
- Feelings Family Introductory Storybook and Plush Set by hand2mind
- Hey Hey Relay by UltraPro Entertainment
- KidiZoom Smartwatch DX4 by VTech
- Kinetic Sand Squish Motion Playset by Spin Master
- KOKODI Kids Smart Phone
- My Little Buddy
- Multi-Game Board by Carrom
- Reuseable Water Balloons by Hilltop
- STICKI Rolls Sticki Station by Sky Castle Toys
- Tabletop Skittles by Carrom
ABOUT PLAYONWORDS.COM
Playonwords.com is fueled by well-respected speech-language pathologist, Erika Cardamone. Her >15 years championing language rich play, lead reviewer for the PAL Award, popular blog, and insightful tips to parents set her apart as the leading advocate for the language component in toys.
Over 10,000 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
Erika hopes that parents will recognize 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.
Media Contact
Erika Cardamone, Play on Words, 1 2032284438, [email protected], www.playonwords.com
SOURCE Play on Words
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