The Power of Play - It’s More Than Just Toys
When it comes to helping your child develop language, many parents ask, “What’s the best toy for learning?” While having the right toys can support learning, the true magic of language development doesn’t come from the toys themselves. It comes from you—the play partner—through connection, interaction, and intentional guidance.
Choosing the Right Toys for Language Development
Some toys are better than others when it comes to fostering communication. I’ve created a FREE Gift Guide with all of my personal favorites that I highly recommend you download and save for a rainy day! But here are a few examples of how specific toys can be used to encourage language skills:
Stacking Blocks: These can be used for teaching simple action words (stack, fall, crash), colors, and concepts like size (big, small) or quantity (more, all done). For example, as you stack blocks, you might narrate, “One block, two blocks… wow, it’s getting tall! Uh-oh, I think it’s going to fall.”
Play Kitchen: Pretend play toys are amazing for expanding vocabulary. With a toy kitchen, you can model phrases like “Let’s bake cookies! First, we mix the batter. Now we put it in the oven. Be careful, it’s hot!”
Animal Figurines: These are perfect for introducing new words and sounds. I love using animal toys to encourage imitation, guide early sound development, and model so many great vocabulary words and phrases. Example: grabbing a toy cow, “the cow is hungry, moooo, I need something to eat!” “Let’s get some grass” “Oh no, I got stuck in mud… mooooo.”
Shape Sorters: Shape sorters are great for teaching shapes, colors, and spatial concepts like in, out, or turn. While playing, you might say, “Let’s find the circle. Does it fit here? Nope! Try again—oh, you did it!” OR my favorite shape sorter game, putting all the shapes in the box, putting it on top of my head, encouraging my child’s eye contact and then going “ahhhh-chooo” while dumping all the shapes out on/near the child.
Even though these toys create opportunities for learning, they’re only one piece of the puzzle. What makes these moments impactful is the interaction happening between you and your child, and the way you teach and model language during the interaction.
Why Connection is Key
Research consistently shows that language development is rooted in social interaction. Children learn language best in responsive, back-and-forth exchanges with a caregiver or play partner. This concept, known as serve-and-return interaction, describes how a child “serves” by making a sound, gesture, or word, and the caregiver “returns” by responding in a meaningful way.
These exchanges are more than just fun; they’re essential for building neural connections in your child’s brain. Studies have found that:
Responsive interactions boost brain development: A child’s brain grows most rapidly in the early years, and social engagement during play is critical for forming the pathways that support language and communication skills. When you respond to your child’s babble, gestures, or words, you’re reinforcing their attempts to communicate and helping them learn how language works.
Play supports joint attention: Joint attention—when you and your child focus on the same object or activity—is a key predictor of language outcomes. For example, if your child is stacking blocks, narrating the activity (“You’re building a tall tower! Uh-oh, will it fall?”) helps them connect words to actions while strengthening your bond.
Interaction promotes turn-taking and conversation skills: Through play, children learn the rhythm of communication—listening, waiting, and responding. These foundational skills translate directly into their ability to hold conversations and express themselves later.
Even the simplest play interactions, like rolling a ball back and forth or pretending to feed a teddy bear, create powerful learning opportunities. Your child isn’t just learning words—they’re learning the social dance of communication that makes language meaningful.
Intentional Play Strategies to Boost Language
Here’s how you can make play more intentional and meaningful for language development:
Follow Your Child’s Lead: If your child is fascinated by a toy car, dive into their interest. You might say, “The car is going so fast! Vroom, vroom! Oh, it stopped. Where should it go next?” Letting your child guide the play encourages them to stay engaged and try new words.
Model Language: Provide a running commentary of what’s happening, using clear and simple language. For example, while playing with animal figurines, you might say, “The lion is roaring! He’s so loud. Now he’s running to find his friends!”
Expand on Your Child’s Words: If your child says, “Truck,” you can expand with, “Yes, a big red truck! The truck is driving down the road.” This shows them how to build longer phrases without pressure.
Offer Choices: While playing with a dollhouse, you might ask, “Does she want pancakes or muffins for breakfast?” or “Should she wear the pink dress or blue dress today?” These questions encourage your child to think, make choices, and respond to simple questions.
Pause and Wait: As parents, we often anticipate what our children need or want before they even have a chance to tell us. While it’s natural to want to help quickly, waiting for your child to make an effort to communicate—even in small ways—can play a crucial role in building their language and communication skills. An example is watching your child try to open a tricky box, instead of jumping in and doing it for them… you pause and wait. And wait and wait and wait. See if your child turns to you and indicates they need assistance. If they don’t after a long pause you might offer some help!
Real Magic Happens in the Interaction
At the end of the day, toys are simply tools. It’s the connection you create and the strategies you use that make the biggest impact. Children learn language not just by hearing words but by engaging in meaningful, back-and-forth conversations during play.
So, whether you’re stacking blocks, playing tea party, or zooming cars across the floor, remember that the most important “toy” in the room is you. With your attention, guidance, and encouragement, your child’s language skills will soar.
Want to Learn More?
At Magro Speech Therapy, we specialize in helping families turn everyday moments into opportunities for growth. Contact us today for personalized strategies to support your child’s language development—we’d love to help!