Do Educational Toys Help Toddlers Learn to Talk?

As a home visitor, parents ask me for toy recommendations ALL the time. They want to know which toys will help their child's language, and they often ask about educational toys: the ones that light up, talk, sing the ABCs, and promise to teach your toddler words.

I'm going to share my unpopular opinion: educational toys don't do the teaching. You do. The flashiest toy on the shelf can't take turns with your child, wait for them to respond, or get excited when they make a new sound. Simple toys, paired with a playful grown-up, do a much better job of getting toddlers talking.

Let's start by looking at how toddlers actually learn language...

How Toddlers Learn Words

Toddlers learn language through back-and-forth interactions with the people they love. They watch your face, listen to your voice, and copy your sounds and gestures. Every time you take a turn and then wait for them to take one, you complete a circle of communication. The more circles we build into play, the more language we can teach.

Before words show up, toddlers need foundational skills like engagement, imitation, and understanding what words mean. These skills grow during shared play, when you and your child are paying attention to the same thing.

Many "educational" toys do the talking for your child. They make the sound, say the word, and play the song at the push of a button. Your child may enjoy them, but the toy isn't waiting for them to communicate. You are.

Every Child Plays Differently

It's equally important to understand our children's unique wiring (how they experience the world), because it can help us identify the best way to teach them. For example, some toddlers are busy movers who want to climb, push, and throw. Others love to sit and explore one toy for a long time. Some are sensitive to noise and get overwhelmed by toys with lots of lights and sounds, while others seek them out.

Pay attention to how your child likes to play. The best language toy is the one that matches their interests and keeps them engaged with YOU.

Strategies: How to Use Simple Toys to Get Your Toddler Talking

Here are some simple strategies to incorporate into playtime with your child:

Choose simple toys. Blocks, balls, cars, bubbles, baby dolls, play food, and books give you lots of chances to model words and take turns.

Be the noisy one. Pair sounds with your actions, like "beep beep" as you push a car or "pop" as you pop bubbles. That gives your child something easy to copy.

Follow your child's lead. Join in with what they're interested in instead of steering them to the "learning" toy. You'll get more bang for your buck.

Take a turn, then wait. After you model a sound or word, pause and give your child time to respond. A sound, a gesture, or a look all count.

Keep some toys in sight but out of reach. When your child wants them, they have a reason to communicate with you.

Turn off the batteries. If you have talking toys, try taking the batteries out and becoming the voice yourself.

Want to know which toys I reach for most on my home visits? Check out my post on my favorite toys to get toddlers talking.

I go more in depth on this topic in my YouTube video. You can watch it here.

Get My Free Speech Milestones Checklist

Want to know what to look for at each age? Grab my free Speech Milestones Checklist.

If you have concerns about your child's speech, reach out to your local early intervention program. You can find your state's program here.

The Bottom Line

So, in closing, educational toys don't do the teaching; you do. Toddlers learn language through back-and-forth play with the people they love, and many "learning" toys do the talking for your child instead of waiting for them to communicate. Every child plays a little differently, so choose simple toys that match your child's interests. Then follow their lead, pair sounds with your actions, take a turn, and wait for them to take one. You and the right toys equal lots of learning for your child.

Quick Answers

Do educational toys help toddlers talk? Not on their own. Toddlers learn language through back-and-forth play with people, so the toy matters less than how you play with it together.

What toys are best for toddler language? Simple toys like blocks, cars, balls, bubbles, play food, and books work well because they give you lots of chances to model words and take turns.

Are toys that light up and talk bad for toddlers? They aren't harmful, but they tend to do the talking for your child. Try playing with them together, or take out the batteries and be the voice yourself.

All my best, Jill

Jill Urbane, LCSW, is an early childhood interventionist with nearly three decades of experience working in the homes of families with young children.