Top IKEA Purchases for your Speech Room

IKEA has some great speech therapy finds for great deals. I have bought a random assortment of things from there over the years for my speech room. Sensory bins, sorting trays, tiny household items for categorization tasks, toys that are secretly perfect for targeting language concepts…IKEA has it, and it’s usually cheaper compared to other stores.

I know not everyone has an IKEA nearby, though, and that’s been the catch for a long time. The good news is that Amazon recently started carrying a selection of IKEA products, so those of you without a store within driving distance finally have access too. The catch: prices on Amazon are currently running higher than what you’d pay in-store or on IKEA’s own site. My advice is to check IKEA.com first and treat Amazon as your backup option for anything you can’t find elsewhere.

With that in mind, here are some of my favorite finds!

8 IKEA Purchases for SLPs and SLPAs

1. FINGER PUPPETS – $7.99
I consider puppets a therapy must-have! In fact, read my whole post about using puppets! The versatility is really the selling point. You can use them to target prepositions (the puppet goes under the table, behind your back, on top of your head), verbs (have the puppet jump, hide, wave), or narrative and sequencing goals by building a mini story off the top of your head. They’re also a fantastic way to work on following directions and demonstrating comprehension. Kids can act out multi-step directions with their puppet long after they’ve checked out of a worksheet. And if a student needs to practice a target sound or phrase but is feeling shy, having the puppet “say” it first takes the pressure off.

IKEA also carries regular-sized puppets.

2. TRAIN SET – $14.99
My IKEA train set has served me quite well for many years! I love that I can use trains with a wide age range and target so many goals. Since it is an open-ended toy, train sets can easily be modified to fit your needs for one-on-one sessions, mixed groups, articulation or language therapy, and more. It has been a great motivator and reinforcer – give a train track piece per trial or use for requesting/commenting.  Read more ideas on using a train set in speech therapy. 

3. DOLLHOUSE – $49.99
This is a great, simple dollhouse. IKEA also sells dollhouse furniture.  A dollhouse is one of my favorite therapy toys because it is versatile, functional, and engaging. I’ve used playhouses to work on many expressive and receptive language goals, as well as social skills. Using a playhouse with dolls has endless possibilities! Nouns, pronouns, verbs, vocabulary, sentence formulation, etc. Read why dollhouses are one of my top therapy toys.

4. PLUSH FOOD – $12.99
IKEA carries multiple plush food sets that go great with a play kitchen (which IKEA carries) or by themselves. They are great for play-based therapy, working on vocabulary, categorization, and more! They change what types of toy food they carry every couple years.

Vocabulary is the obvious target here, but the categorization potential is what I really love them for. Sort by food group, by color, by “healthy vs. sweet,” by real vs. pretend. They’re also great for targeting requesting and commenting during play, building simple sequences (“wash it, cut it, cook it, eat it”), and working on verbs tied to food prep and mealtime routines.

5. INTERACTIVE RUG – $14.99
I love functional room decor. This rug (and the others they carry in store) is great for targeting many language concepts – core vocabulary, following directions, verbs, prepositions, basic concepts!

Core vocabulary comes built in, whether you’re modeling on, off, go, stop, or more, as kids move across it. Following directions: “hop to the circle,” “crawl to the star,” “stand between the two squares” all turn a rug into a low-prep obstacle course for receptive language work. Verbs are easy to target as you narrate or prompt movement (jump, walk, spin, freeze), and prepositions when you’ve got a kid physically moving on, under, next to, or around the different shapes and sections. It’s also a great option for basic concepts (big/small, same/different, colors, shapes), especially if you grab one with varied imagery.

6. PLAY TUNNEL AND STRUCTURES – $19.99
I like incorporating sensory play into my session. If you’re willing to get on the floor, a play tunnel or structure is great for getting kids moving and engaging busy bodies! I place drill cards in or at the end of the tunnel. It’s also fun to practice various positional and basic concepts. IKEA carries other fun, imaginative play structures as well! Read more about the importance of movement for learning.

7. TABLE AND CHAIRS – $49.99
A small table and chairs are about as staple as staples get in a therapy room. IKEA has a great deal on a table and 2 chairs. If you’re setting up a room from scratch or replacing furniture that’s seen better days, this is one of those purchases that just makes sense. They also carry a more durable plastic table and chairs.

8. STORAGE CART – $29.99
Storage and having enough space are always tricky. This is a great cart for storing and moving materials. I especially like it for arts and crafts items that are smaller and easier to lose track of.

Storage is one of those problems that never fully goes away in a speech room. This cart has been a solid solution for me. It’s compact enough to tuck into a corner but mobile enough to wheel wherever the session is happening, which matters if you’re pushing into classrooms or bouncing between spaces.

I especially like it for arts and crafts supplies and smaller, loose pieces that are easy to lose track of. It also works well for organizing materials by goal area, by season, or by whatever system makes sense for your caseload, so everything has a home and stays there.

Check out IKEA’s role play and physical play sections for more ideas and fun items!

What are some of your favorite IKEA therapy finds?