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Toys to Encourage Speech
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items I've been a speech language pathologist for 20 years. I know what toys are good and what toys you'll use once and never see again. This is my list of toys I use in my clinic to help encourage children to talk.
Okay. These are my go to toys for the clinic. Bright, durable, and easy to clean. So many good uses for stimulating language!
Educational Toys & Learning Toys from Fat Brain Toys
If you work with kids, you know it’s good to have Melissa and Doug toys locked and loaded for play time. Versatile and durable, M&D makes some of the best toys there are.
Melissa & Doug: #1 Preschool Brand For Wooden Toys
Pop up Pirate but make it Bluey. This one wins. Your kids will love it and it’s a great resource for speech therapists too!
TOMY
Y’all. This toy was gifted to me for the clinic. Can I tell you we use it every day!!! Learn about shapes, colors, prepositions, and more.
JoyCat Shape Sorter with 6 Rattle Blocks
I don’t recommend a lot of electronic talking toys. They can be overstimulating. But this one? They did this one right. Feed Sandy food and see how she reacts. Children LOVE this one.
VTech Sandy Snacks-a-Lot Learning Toy
This guy was an immediate hit. Use it for pretend play, turn taking, pronouns, and more. I promise your kids will love it.
25" Robot, Full Body, Ventriloquist Style Puppet
This is a classic cause and effect toy. It’s always a hit (pun intended) and can be used to teach colors, action words, and more.
Infantino Bop & Drop Ball Tower - STEAM Toy
This is a classic pop up toy. Cause and affect toys are great for language. They allow for simple repetitive language. And kids learn well with repetitive actions and words!
Fisher-Price Hide & Peek Pop-Up Infant Toy
This toy seems simple but offers lots of language options. From prepositions, to colors, and animal sounds, you’ll hit the jackpot with this one.
KMUYSL Farm Animals Toys Playset for Toddlers
Let’s start a debate. Magnatiles or Duplo blocks? For me, it’s Magnatiles. There are endless uses for this toy. Your only limit is your imagination.
MAGNA-TILES Classic 32-Piece Magnetic Set
The mix and match vehicles have been a hit for all my clients. Take them apart and mix them up? Make carplanes or train-boats and more!
POPULAR PLAYTHINGS Magnetic Vehicles for Toddlers Set of 4
Again, simple toys are often the best! This durable lock board offers so many opportunities for play and talk. Knock on the doors! Guess who’s behind it. Hours of fun to be had by all!
Melissa & Doug Latches Wooden Activity Board
It’s 2026 and you don’t have a spin again?!?!? What are you even thinking. The roll, they spin. They are colorful and light. Get this one of you get nothing else. Trust me.
Fat Brain Toys SpinAgain Stacking Toy 1+
Play, cut, and count with this durable, environmentally friendly toy from Melissa and Doug (the GOATS of toys).
Melissa & Doug Wooden Cutting Fruit Toy Set
There is a reason it’s a best seller. This ice cream shop will tickle your kids fancy for hours and hours. Count, target verbs, and play pretend with this set!
Melissa & Doug Wooden Ice Cream Counter Toy
A very simple toy that gives you hours of play. This is great for kids who like to put things in boxes, pull, throw, etc. And there are a variety of styles to choose from!
Toy Tissue Box - Amazon.com
A fun and easy stacking game to play when doing artic or working on language learning exercises. Be careful, this game is harder than it looks.
BigOtters Ice Cream Tower Balancing Game
These are great for play, bath time, and more. If you have a kid that loves letters and stretchy toys, grab these.
Kryfa ABC Learning Toys 40PCS for Kids 3-5