As a speech-language pathologist, one of the most rewarding aspects of my work is witnessing the incredible language leaps toddlers make. These little explorers are constantly absorbing information and developing their communication skills at an astonishing rate. As parents and caregivers, you play the most crucial role in this journey. And guess what? Toys for toddler speech development is one of the most effective and enjoyable ways to nurture through play!

Toddlers learn best through hands-on experiences and imaginative exploration. Play provides the perfect environment for them to experiment with sounds, words, and early conversations. When they’re engaged in play, they’re naturally motivated to communicate – whether it’s to request a toy, describe what they’re doing, or engage in pretend scenarios. Play helps them understand the world around them, build social skills, and most importantly for us, develop the building blocks for strong communication.

In this article, I’ll share some of my absolute favorite “go-to” toys for toddler speech development that speech-language pathologists frequently use when working with toddlers. These aren’t just any toys; they are specifically chosen for their potential to spark interaction, encourage vocabulary growth, and facilitate early language skills. Remember, it’s not about having a mountain of toys, but about intentionally using a few key items to create rich language-learning opportunities. Let’s explore the wonderful world of play and how these toys can help your toddler’s talking skills blossom!

Toddler Talk Boosters: SLP-Approved Toys and How to Use Them

Here are some fantastic toys that speech-language pathologists often use to encourage speech and language development in toddlers, along with detailed instructions and scripts to help you make the most of playtime:

Ball Poppers: Pop! Goes the Language!

Unicorn Ball Popper, Pig Ball Popper, Shark Ball Popper, Bear Ball Popper

Why SLPs love them: Ball poppers are fantastic for teaching cause and effect, encouraging requesting (“more balls,” ” do it again”), and practicing action words like “pop,” “shoot,” and “in.” The anticipation and fun factor are also highly motivating!
How to use it:
- Step 1: Demonstrate. Show your toddler how to operate the ball popper. Say, “Watch me! I push down, and the ball goes POP!”
- Step 2: Encourage imitation. Hand the popper to your toddler and say, “Your turn! Can you make it pop?”
- Step 3: Model requesting. Hold the balls and wait for your toddler to look at them or reach. Say, “Do you want more? Say ‘more.'” You can also model “Pop!” before giving them a ball.
- Step 4: Label actions and positions. As the balls pop out, say, “It went up!” or “The ball is out!” When putting a ball in, say, “Put it in!”
- Step 5: Make it a game. Take turns popping the balls. “My turn to pop! Now it’s your turn!”
- Script Examples:
  - “Push! Push! POP! Wow!”
  - “More ball? Say ‘more, please.'”
  - “The ball is going up, up, up! And… POP!”
  - “Let’s put the blue ball in. In! Now push!”

Ball Drop Toys: Watch It Go!

Ball Drop Toy

Why SLPs love them: Ball drop toys are excellent for teaching object permanence (understanding that things still exist even when you can’t see them), cause and effect, and vocabulary like “in,” “out,” “down,” “gone,” and colors.
How to use it:
- Step 1: Introduce the toy. Show your toddler how to drop the balls into the opening.
- Step 2: Label actions and positions. As you drop a ball, say, “Ball goes in!” Watch it disappear and say, “It’s gone!” When it reappears, say, “There it is!” or “Out it comes!”
- Step 3: Encourage requesting. Hold the balls and wait for your toddler to indicate they want one. Say, “Want a ball? (wait) ‘ball, (wait), ‘ball’ (give the child the ball.'”
- Step 4: Introduce colors. Name the colors of the balls as you drop them. “Let’s drop the red ball. Red in!”
- Step 5: Count (for slightly older toddlers). Count the balls as you drop them. “One ball, two balls, three balls!”
- Script Examples:
  - “Drop the ball! Down, down, down!”
  - “Where did it go? It’s gone! Oh, there it is!”
  - “Can you drop the blue ball? Blue ball in!”
  - “One more ball! Drop it in!”

Rocket Stompers: Blast Off to Language!

Rocket Stomper

Why SLPs love them: Rocket stompers are fantastic for getting toddlers moving while encouraging action words like “stomp,” “jump,” “fly,” “up,” and for practicing counting. They also provide a great opportunity for expressive language and excitement!
How to use it:
- Step 1: Demonstrate. Show your toddler how to place the rocket on the base and stomp to make it fly. Say, “Watch me stomp! The rocket goes up!” You can also label the parts of the toy as you are setting it up.
- Step 2: Encourage participation. Help your toddler place a rocket and encourage them to stomp. Say, “Your turn to stomp! Stomp, stomp, stomp!” You could also say, “Ready…set…go!”
- Step 3: Label actions and directions. As the rocket flies, say, “It’s flying high!” or “Up, up, up it goes!” When it lands, say, “It came down!”
- Step 4: Count the stomps or the rockets. “Let’s count how many stomps it takes! One, two, three!” or “We have one rocket, two rockets!”
- Step 5: Encourage imaginative play. “Let’s pretend we are astronauts! We are flying to the moon!”
- Script Examples:
  - “Ready to stomp? One, two, three, STOMP!”
  - “Look at it fly! Way up high!”
  - “Let’s stomp again! Can you say ‘stomp’?”
  - “How many rockets did we launch? Let’s count!”

Bubbles: Still a Toddler Favorite!

Bubble Tubes

Why SLPs love them: Just like with babies, bubbles are incredibly motivating for toddlers and can be used to target requesting (“more bubble,” “blow again”), action words (“blow,” “pop,” “catch”), descriptive language (“big,” “small,” “floaty”), and following simple directions.
How to use it:
- Step 1: Build anticipation. Hold the bubble wand and say, “Ready to blow some bubbles?”
- Step 2: Model and label. Blow bubbles slowly and say, “Blow! Look at the bubbles!” Point to them and say, “Big bubble! Small bubble!” When they pop, say, “Pop!”
- Step 3: Encourage requesting. Pause before blowing more and see if your toddler looks at the wand or makes a sound. Say, “Want more bubbles? Say ‘more.'”
- Step 4: Encourage action words. Say, “Can you catch the bubble?” or “Let’s try to pop them!”
- Step 5: Give simple directions. “Point to the bubble.” “Touch the bubble.”
- Script Examples:
  - “Blow, bubbles, blow! They’re floating in the air!”
  - “Can you pop the bubble with your finger? Pop!”
  - “More bubbles, please! Thank you!”
  - “Look, a big, round bubble!”

Baby Doll: Nurturing Language Through Caregiving:

Baby Doll, Baby Doll Accessories

Why SLPs love them: Baby dolls encourage imaginative play, social skills, and vocabulary related to body parts (“eyes,” “nose,” “toes”), actions (“eat,” “sleep,” “wash,” “hug”), and feelings (“happy,” “sad”).
How to use it:
- Step 1: Introduce the doll. Say, “This is our baby doll!” You can even give the doll a name.
- Step 2: Label body parts. Point to the doll’s body parts and name them. “This is the baby’s nose. Where’s your nose?”
- Step 3: Role-play caregiving activities. Pretend to feed the baby. “Let’s give the baby some milk. Yum, yum!” Pretend to put the baby to sleep. “Shhh, the baby is sleeping.”
- Step 4: Encourage your toddler to participate. “Can you give the baby a hug?” “Let’s wash the baby’s hands.”
- Step 5: Talk about feelings. “The baby is happy! Look at her smile.” “Oh no, the baby is crying. She’s sad.”
- Script Examples:
  - “Let’s give the baby a bath. Wash, wash, wash!”
  - “The baby is hungry. Time to eat!”
  - “Can you pat the baby’s head? Gentle, gentle.”
  - “The baby loves you! Give her a kiss!”

Farm Set: Exploring Animals and Sounds:

Little People Farm Set, Farm Set

Why SLPs love them: Farm sets are fantastic for expanding vocabulary related to animals (“cow,” “pig,” “horse,” “chicken”), their sounds (“moo,” “oink,” “neigh,” “cluck”), and actions (“eat,” “sleep,” “walk”).
How to use it:
- Step 1: Introduce the animals. Name each animal as you take it out. “This is a cow. The cow says, ‘Moo!'”
- Step 2: Make animal sounds. Encourage your toddler to imitate the animal sounds. “Can you say ‘Moo’ like the cow?”
- Step 3: Role-play farm activities. “The pig is rolling in the mud.” “The horse is eating hay.” “The chicken laid an egg!”
- Step 4: Ask simple questions. “Where’s the sheep?” “What does the duck say?”
- Step 5: Expand vocabulary beyond animals. Talk about the barn, the tractor, the farmer, and other elements of the farm.
- Script Examples:
  - “Look, it’s a little chick! The chick says, ‘Cheep, cheep!'”
  - “The cow is eating grass. Munch, munch, munch.”
  - “Where does the horse live? In the barn!”
  - “Let’s put all the animals in the truck. Vroom, vroom!”

Spinning Ring Stacker: Colors, Sizes, and Actions!

Spinning Ring Stack Toy

Why SLPs love them: Spinning ring stackers are great for teaching colors (“red,” “blue,” “yellow”), sizes (“big,” “small”), and action words (“put on,” “take off,” “spin”). The spinning element adds an extra layer of engagement.
How to use it:
- Step 1: Introduce the toy. Show your toddler how to stack the rings on the center post and how to make it spin.
- Step 2: Label colors and sizes. As you stack, name the colors and talk about the size of the rings. “Let’s put the big blue ring on first.” “Now the little red ring.”
- Step 3: Encourage requesting. Hold out a ring and ask, “Want the green ring r the blue ring?” Allow your child the opportunity to make a choice is powerful!
- Step 4: Describe actions. “I’m putting it on.” “Now I’m taking it off.” “Let’s make it spin! Whee!”
- Step 5: Give simple directions. “Put the yellow ring on top.” “Take off the blue ring.”
- Script Examples:
  - “The green ring goes next! Put it on!”
  - “This is the smallest ring. It goes right here.”
  - “Let’s spin it really fast! Round and round!”
  - “Take off the purple ring. Good job!”

Cars and Ramp: Zooming into Language!

Cars and Ramp Toy

Why SLPs love them: Cars and ramps encourage vocabulary related to movement (“go,” “stop,” “fast,” “slow”), prepositions (“up,” “down,” “on,” “off”), and sounds (“vroom,” “beep”).
How to use it:
- Step 1: Introduce the toy. Show your toddler how to put the cars on the ramp and let them go.
- Step 2: Label actions and directions. As the car goes down, say, “The car is going down! Zoom!” When it stops, say, “Stop!” When putting it on top, say, “Car on top!”
- Step 3: Encourage sound imitation. Make car sounds like “Vroom, vroom!” and “Beep, beep!” Encourage your toddler to imitate you.
- Step 4: Talk about speed. “That car is going so fast!” “This car is going slow.”
- Step 5: Encourage imaginative play. “Let’s pretend this car is going to the store!”
- Script Examples:
  - “Put the car on the ramp. Ready, set, GO!”
  - “The red car is going down, down, down!”
  - “Stop the car! Stop!”
  - “Let’s make the car go super fast! VROOOOM!”

Puzzles (Simple, Age-Appropriate): Piece by Piece Language:

Farm Puzzle, Animal Puzzle, Dinosaur Puzzle

Why SLPs love them: Simple puzzles (2-4 pieces) help develop problem-solving skills, teach vocabulary related to shapes (“circle,” “square”), objects (“dog,” “cat”), and encourage descriptive language (“fit,” “match”).
How to use it:
- Step 1: Start with one piece. If your toddler is new to puzzles, start by having them place just one piece. Label the object or shape. “It’s a dog! Let’s put the dog in.”
- Step 2: Encourage requesting. Hold out a piece and ask, “Want the [shape/object] piece?”
- Step 3: Describe the pieces. “This piece has a pointy ear.” “This is a blue circle.”
- Step 4: Talk about fitting. “Does it fit? Let’s try turning it. There! It fits!”
- Step 5: Celebrate success! “You did it! You finished the puzzle!”
- Script Examples:
  - “Where does this piece go? Let’s try here. It fits!”
  - “Can you find the piece with the cat on it? Good job!”
  - “This is a round circle. Let’s put the circle in the puzzle.”
  - “One more piece to go! You’re so smart!”

Mr. Potato Head: A Silly Way to Learn Body Parts:

Mr. Potato Head, Mrs. Potato Head

Why SLPs love them: Mr. Potato Head is a classic for a reason! It’s fantastic for teaching body part vocabulary (“eyes,” “nose,” “mouth,” “ears,” “arms,” “legs”), encouraging requesting (“Can I have the eyes?”), and promoting imaginative and silly play.
How to use it:
- Step 1: Introduce the parts. Name each body part as you show it to your toddler. “These are the eyes. Where are your eyes?”
- Step 2: Encourage requesting. Keep the pieces separate and ask, “What do you want to put on Mr. Potato Head next? Do you want the nose?”
- Step 3: Label placement. As you or your toddler adds a piece, say, “Put the eyes on top.” “Let’s put the mouth right here.”
- Step 4: Make silly combinations. Encourage your toddler to get creative and make funny faces. Talk about what they’ve done. “He has ears on his head and his feet!”
- Script Examples:
  - “Can you give me the silly glasses? Thank you!”
  - “Let’s put the big red nose on Mr. Potato Head.”
  - “Where do the arms go? On the sides!”
  - “He looks so funny with his mustache on his ear!”

Play Sink and Play Food: Washing and Word Learning!

Play Sink

Why SLPs love them: Play sinks and play food encourage imaginative play, teach vocabulary related to food (“apple,” “banana,” “carrot”), and action words (“wash,” “eat,” “cook,” “stir”).
How to use it:
- Step 1: Introduce the food items. Name each piece of play food. “This is an apple. It’s red!”
- Step 2: Role-play washing. Show your toddler how to use the play sink. “Let’s wash the apple. Wash, wash, wash!”
- Step 3: Pretend to cook. “Now we’re going to cook the carrot in the pot. Stir, stir, stir!”
- Step 4: Role-play eating. “The banana is yummy! Let’s take a bite. Mmm!”
- Step 5: Encourage your toddler to participate. “Can you wash the broccoli?” “Let’s pretend to eat the pizza.”
- Script Examples:
  - “The tomato is all dirty. Let’s wash it in the sink.”
  - “What are you cooking? Soup! That smells good!”
  - “I’m so hungry! Can I have a bite of your sandwich?”
  - “Let’s put all the clean food in the basket.”

More Fantastic Toys for Toddler Speech Development

Beyond these, consider adding:

Shape Sorters: Great for learning shapes and spatial concepts.
- Shape Sorter, Shape Sorter
Simple Musical Instruments (e.g., xylophone, drum): Encourage sound imitation and rhythm.
- Musical Instruments
Cause-and-Effect Toys with Buttons and Levers: Teach action words and anticipation.
- Piggy Bank, Gumball Machine
Dress-Up Clothes: Foster imaginative play and related vocabulary.
- Dress Up Clothes, Dress Up Clothes
Ride-On Toys: Encourage action words like “go,” “stop,” “fast.”
- Bouncy Giraffe Hopper, Ride On Toy

The Most Important Toy: You!

While these toys are wonderful tools, remember that you are your toddler’s most valuable language resource. Your interactions, your enthusiasm, and your willingness to play and communicate alongside them are what truly bring these toys to life and unlock your toddler’s talking potential. So, have fun, be patient, and enjoy the amazing journey of language development with your little one!

For more information check out these resource:

MDS: Hiss Happens: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Your Child Master the /s/ Sound

First Words Bright Futures Facebook Page

First Words Bright Futures Instagram Page

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and suggestions for educational purposes. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment from a certified Speech-Language Pathologist. Please consult with a qualified professional if you have specific concerns about your child’s speech and language development.