Best Toys for Infants & Toddlers | Expert-Backed Play Ideas by PT, OT & SLP

Curate, Don’t Accumulate: 18+ Month Toys That Matter

🎙️ Show Notes — Toys: Our Favorites for 18 Months+ Learn From Us and With Us™ — PT ✧ OT ✧ SLP Welcome back to Walkin’ the Talk™, where we (your Trinamic Trio™ — a Pediatric PT, OT, and SLP) break down child development in simple, practical ways that actually make sense for busy parents. Today’s episode is all about toys for toddlers 18 months and older — what we recommend, why we recommend them, and how fewer toys can actually create more learning, more communication, and more regulated play. If you’ve ever stood in a cluttered playroom wondering:“Does my child even play with any of this?”Or“What toys actually matter for development?” —this episode is absolutely for you. ⭐ In This Episode You’ll Learn: ✨ 1. Our Whole-Child Toy Philosophy We share the PT/OT/SLP lens behind how we choose toys: Toys should do less so kids do more Open-ended toys build more language & problem-solving Movement, sensory play, and communication grow together A decluttered space equals a calmer, more focused toddler ✨ 2. Our 18+ Month Favorite Toys (and why) ✨ 3. Why Toddlers Need Fewer Toys Than You Think We discuss how toddlers thrive with simple, purposeful environments and how overstimulation can actually reduce attention and play. ✨ 4. How to Declutter + Rotate Toys Without Overthinking It Our easy NewDay method for calm play spaces: Sort by developmental skill (not age) Rotate every 2–4 weeks Keep extras “out of sight, out of overwhelm” Create simple shelves that invite play ✨ 5. What Parents Are Meant to Learn Through Play We highlight how the right toys support: sensory organization emotional regulation early communication imitation problem-solving pretend play joint attention early social-emotional skills 🎧 Why This Episode Matters Between 18 and 24 months, toddlers experience a huge leap in: mobility imitation early words pretend play cause-effect problem-solving social awareness The right toys don’t just fill a shelf — they help build the entire foundation for communication, connection, and learning. 💛 Resources Mentioned in This Episode Our favorite open-ended toys list: https://www.newdaychildcoaching.com/toys-18m-freebie-subscription-page [https://www.newdaychildcoaching.com/toys-18m-freebie-subscription-page] ✨ Join Our Friendship Circle Want deeper support?Join us — your PT, OT & SLP team — for a full hour inside our Friendship Circle where you can: learn which toys actually matter understand movement + sensory + communication through our Whole-Child lens feel more confident choosing toys and setting up your play space ask us your real-life questions 👉 Learn From Us and With Us™.We’d love to meet you there.Rachel, CCC-SLP | Amanda, OTR | Dr. Amber, PT Get full access to Rachel Lynn at newdaychildcoaching.substack.com/subscribe [https://newdaychildcoaching.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

From One Spark to a Trinamic Trio™: The NewDay Child Coaching Origin Story

In this episode, you’ll hear: Rachel’s personal story of why she felt called to create NewDay Child Coaching. Why Rachel knew she couldn’t do this alone—and how Amber Michelle, DPT, and Amanda Rae, OTR, joined to form the Trinamic Trio™. The vision behind blending PT, OT, and SLP expertise so parents can see their child through a whole-child lens. How NewDay is building a global parent community grounded in empowerment, trust, and joy. ✨ Whether you’re a new parent, a professional, or simply curious about our story, this episode is for you. 🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned: Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/newdaychildcoaching/] Grab your copy of the WhyDo+HowTo: Crawling Guidebook [https://amzn.to/3KhxObQ] Subscribe for parent-friendly tools & support [https://www.newdaychildcoaching.com/blog] Get full access to Rachel Lynn at newdaychildcoaching.substack.com/subscribe [https://newdaychildcoaching.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Screen Time + Autistic Traits in Toddlers

In this episode of the NewDay Child Coaching Podcast, the Trinamic Trio™ — Rachel Lynn (SLP), Amanda Rae (OTR), and Amber Michelle (DPT) — sit down with researcher Andreina Diaz-Rosales to unpack what science really says about screen time and its connection to autism-like traits in young children. Together, we explore how both the amount and type of screen use affect child development, behavior, sleep, and communication. Parents will walk away with guilt-free, practical strategies, research-backed insights, and real alternatives to help their infants and toddlers thrive… in the USA and worldwide. Get full access to Rachel Lynn at newdaychildcoaching.substack.com/subscribe [https://newdaychildcoaching.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Travel Made Easy: Special Needs Travel Tips with January Johnston, PT & Mom of 5

Episode Summary Paragraph Traveling with kids can be overwhelming—and when you add special needs, medical challenges, or even a broken leg into the mix, it can feel impossible. That’s where January Johnston, PT, mom of 5, and Special Needs Travel Agent, comes in. In this episode of Walkin’ The Talk, January shares how her professional background and personal experience make her the perfect resource for families. Best of all? Her services cost you nothing—because accommodations pay her commission, not you. She can even secure better deals than you’d likely find on your own while saving you hours of stress and planning. Whether you’re raising children with special needs, traveling with aging parents, or just want insider tips for family-friendly getaways, January’s wisdom will transform the way you think about travel.💛 Support January January is also fighting cancer while continuing to serve families. If you’d like to help: 👉 GoFundMe – Help January Get Treatment: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-janua... [https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-january-get-treatment]Your support—financial, emotional, and spiritual—means the world. Let’s show up for someone who has dedicated her life to helping others. Get full access to Rachel Lynn at newdaychildcoaching.substack.com/subscribe [https://newdaychildcoaching.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Best Toys for Infants & Toddlers | Expert-Backed Play Ideas by PT, OT & SLP

🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode The best toy types for infants (0–11 months) to encourage early exploration. Our top recommendations for young toddlers (12–18 months) that support growing independence and problem-solving. How toys can nurture motor, sensory, communication, and social skills. Which flashy toys to skip—and why simple, open-ended toys often win. Real-life examples of toys our own children love (and why we mention them to families). 📌 Show Notes Play is more than fun—it’s how babies learn about the world. In this episode, we dig into the toys we love most for infants and toddlers, breaking them down by age, stage, and developmental benefit. You’ll hear from each of us—pediatric PT Amber Michelle, OT Amanda Rae, and SLP Rachel Lynn—as we share expert insights and personal favorites from our own homes and therapy practices. We also tackle common toy-buying myths, explain why “less is more” when it comes to flashy gadgets, and highlight how to set up your child’s play environment for success. Our goal? To give you the tools to choose toys with confidence, knowing they’re not just entertaining but also building important foundations for your child’s growth. 🌟 Who This Episode Is For Parents of infants and toddlers looking for purposeful toy ideas. Grandparents, caregivers, and friends searching for meaningful gifts. Anyone curious about how toys support early development milestones. 🔑 Keywords (for SEO/Searchability) best toys for infants, toys for young toddlers, baby play ideas, developmental toys, sensory play, motor skill toys, speech and language toys, open-ended toys, expert toy guide, Trinamic Trio PT OT SLP 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and give a 5-star review for Walkin’ The Talk wherever you listen to podcasts so more parents can find expert-backed support for their child’s development! Get full access to Rachel Lynn at newdaychildcoaching.substack.com/subscribe [https://newdaychildcoaching.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]