Whether you are helping a child with a language delay or just like to be proactive supporting a typically developing child, there are some fun, inexpensive toys you should keep around the house.  Let's go with creative-no flash cards allowed.

Here are my Top 5, in no particular order:

1) pom pom craft balls:  count, pour throw, catch, glue them.  One big plus is they do not fit up a child-sized nose.

2) wrapping paper tubes:  use as microphone, instruments, racetrack, marble run.  Wrapping paper rolls don't always come with the cardboard tube anymore.  If you get one, hoard it!

3)coffee cans:  use as a bank, cash register, magnet board, drum, container to fill and dump the pom pom balls you just bought.

4) balloons:  are the best toy ever made.   Catch, throw, hit blowup, pop, draw on, stick to the wall.  So fun. And that is just scratching the surface.

5)water: in sinks or small tubs (or bath tubs).  All supervised, of course. SPLASH! Water on/off, fill pour, empty, scoop, squeeze sponges, SPLASH!, color the water, make bubbles, SPLASH!