What’s in my Therapy Kit? (and it’s not what you think)

My therapy kit might not look like you would expect!! There are No single-purpose toys and yes, that includes Pop the Pig. (That might turn a few heads.)

Most of my kit is loose parts. These are open-ended resources that follow the child’s lead.

I love showing the families I work with that you don’t need to buy the latest toy to capture your child’s interest. If you lean into their imagination and follow their lead, the things you already have around the house can play a perfect supporting role.

Some examples of this may include: A cardboard box. Plastic tubes. Rope. Pots, pans, and bowls. These are all great supports for play.

A 2025 systematic review links loose parts directly to language development, including improved vocabulary and comprehension.

A toy with one function gives a child one topic to talk about, which means that if they’re not interested in that topic, you can get a bit stuck. But a loose part becomes whatever the child needs it to be. A tube can be a pipe at a chocolate factory, a ramp for a ball, something to yell into, or a telescope on a pirate ship, invoking imagination and endless possibilities.

Language thrives when children are having fun. Loose parts follow a child’s interests, which means fun is just so much more likely.

Reference:

Cankaya, O., Martin, M., & Haugen, D. (2025). The Relationship Between Children’s Indoor Loose Parts Play and Cognitive Development: A Systematic Review. Journal of Intelligence.