When it comes to supporting your toddler’s speech and language development, the right toys can make all the difference. According to speech therapists, interactive, open-ended, and sensory-friendly toys are the gold standard for encouraging communication in little ones. And the best part? Many of these speech-friendly toys are already available in our store!

Whether your child is just starting to babble or you're helping a late talker catch up, here are 10 speech therapist-approved toys that make learning to talk fun, natural, and effective.

🧸 1. Stuffed Animals with Expression

Soft, huggable, and full of personality—stuffed animals are perfect for pretend play. Speech therapists love them because they encourage:

• Naming body parts (“ears,” “nose”)

• Expressing feelings (“Bear is sad”)

• Practicing turn-taking in conversations

🛒 Available in-store: Cuddly Bear, Sleepy Bunny, Safari Friends Set

🪵 2. Wooden Animal Puzzle

Chunky, easy-to-grip pieces help toddlers practice animal names and sounds—“moo,” “baa,” “quack!” This supports vocabulary, sound imitation, and simple sentences.

🛒 Available in-store: Jungle Friends Puzzle, Farmyard Puzzle

🧩 3. Shape Sorters & Stacking Toys

Simple wooden sorters are ideal for introducing concepts like shapes, colors, and actions (e.g., “in,” “on,” “more,” “again”).

🛒 Available in-store: Rainbow Stacker, Classic Wooden Shape Sorter

🧺 4. Pretend Play Food Sets

These encourage vocabulary related to meals, kitchen tools, and actions like “cut,” “cook,” “eat,” and “pour.” Toddlers love playing “kitchen” or “restaurant” while learning new words.

🛒 Available in-store: Wooden Breakfast Set, Plush Fruit Basket

🏡 5. Mini Wooden Dollhouse or Playhouse

Speech therapists recommend dollhouses for building storytelling, sequencing, and social language. It helps kids say things like “The baby is sleeping” or “Mom is cooking.”

🛒 Available in-store: Mini Home Set, Wooden Family House

🚗 6. Push-and-Go Cars & Trucks

These toys are great for action words (“go,” “stop,” “crash,” “drive”) and sound imitation (“vroom,” “beep!”).

🛒 Available in-store: Classic Wooden Vehicles, Colorful Truck Set

🎵 7. Musical Toys

Singing and rhythm help toddlers learn new words, phrases, and even the natural flow of sentences. Musical toys also make speech practice joyful and relaxed.

🛒 Available in-store: Xylophone, Hand Drum, Singing Plushies

🐶 8. Animal Figurines

These small toys are speech gold! Great for labeling, making sounds, and storytelling like “The dog is barking” or “The cow is eating.”

🛒 Available in-store: Forest Animal Set, Wooden Zoo Animals

📚 9. Lift-the-Flap Books with Plush Characters

Books that pair with soft toys create a full storytelling experience. Toddlers can act out the story, building their comprehension and vocabulary.

🛒 Available in-store: Peekaboo Forest, Bedtime Bunny Story Set

🛏 10. Bedtime Routine Toys

Toys that follow routines help with sequencing and understanding daily language. You can model speech with phrases like “Brush teeth,” “Time to sleep,” or “Say goodnight!”

🛒 Available in-store: Bedtime Bear, Night-Night Sheep

🗣 Expert Tips from Speech Therapists:

• Follow your child’s lead: Let them choose the toy and take turns talking about it.

• Keep it simple: Use short, clear phrases. If they say “ball,” you say “Yes! Big red ball!”

• Repeat often: Repetition helps toddlers learn and remember words.

• Play face-to-face: This helps them see how your mouth moves when you talk.

• Don’t pressure: The goal is fun first—language will follow naturally.