Toddler Speech Therapy Thanksgiving Themed Books and Activities

I LOVE using these two adorable board books* to introduce toddlers and young children to Thanksgiving-themed vocabulary (turkey, apples, plate, fork, spoon, knife, gravy, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie). *Amazon affiliate links have been included for your convenience.

“Five Silly Turkeys” by Salina Yoon has rhythm, rhyme, and repetition that begs children to shout words when reading. The toddler can also help turn the page with the book’s grabbable foil feathers.

The vocabulary in “Where is Baby's Turkey” by Karen Katz  is a bit more advanced than Yoon's book but provides the young child exposure to words associated with the Thanksgiving holiday in an age appropriate manner.

For instance, I don't think most toddlers, especially late speaking or ones with a language delay will try to say "cranberries" but it doesn't mean we shouldn't create a language-rich environment for them! These words are considered what speech language pathologists would call fringe vocabulary.

What is fringe vocabulary?

Fringe vocabulary is the opposite of core vocabulary. It refers to words that are specific to a particular place, person, setting, or activity.

Core vocabulary consists of words that are heard and spoken in multiple settings by many different people and thus are frequently used.

These two books are perfect for getting you and your little ones into the Thanksgiving spirit!

Need an extension activity? Here’s a super cute and easy activity that will keep your toddler occupied!

Simple Strainer & Feather Activity

“In”, “Out”, “Push”, “Pull”, “Where Did They Go?” “Feather” and “Tickle” are just some words to target!

Grab a strainer and some feathers and have them push and pull the feathers in and out!

“In", "Out", "Push", "Pull", "Where did they go?", "Feather", and "Tickle" are just some words to target while doing this simple feather activity. Grasping the feather and trying to insert the feather's tip into the hole is a great way to also target the phrases, “help" or "help me”, while concurrently developing those fine motor skills. And remember to have fun!

For more Thanksgiving vocabulary building exercises, click on the image below:

Thanksgiving Vocabulary

Fun vocabulary building activities for toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary aged children.