Created by Bliss Speech and Occupational Therapists – Reviewed by Jennifer McKensey, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Shopping for a little one this year? You don’t need the flashiest toy on the shelf. The toys that help kids grow are usually the simple ones that get them talking, moving, and playing with you.
We asked a few of our speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists to share a favorite toy and how they’d use it at home. Here are their picks, sorted by the skills they build, with easy tips for bringing a little speech therapy for kids into everyday play.
How Play Builds Speech, Language, and Motor Skills
The magic isn’t in the toy. It’s in the back-and-forth between you and your child while you play. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association says kids get the most out of toys when they play with the grown-ups who love them, and that simple classics like books, blocks, and pretend food are great for building words and social skills (ASHA).
Simple toys leave room for your child to lead. When they lead, you can follow, name what they’re doing, and wait for them to respond. That loop is how new words, gestures, and hand skills grow.
Toys for First Words, Gestures, and Asking for Help
Stacking Cups (shop)
Picked by Madison Hart, M.S., CCC-SLP
Why I love it: One cheap set of cups does everything. Kids can stack, knock down, nest, hide toys, and splash with them in the bath.
Play tip: Build a tower and say “up, up, up.” Before you knock it down, pause and look at your child. That pause invites them to communicate with a look, a reach, a sound, or “uh oh!” Respond right away so they learn their communication works.
Lock and Key Treasure Boxes (shop)
Picked by Alexandria Cui, M.S., CCC-SLP
Why it’s a favorite: Any lock-and-key box works. The lock creates a natural reason to communicate.
Play tip: Use the lock to model words like “help” and “open,” plus fun sounds like “knock knock!” Offer color choices (“red key or blue key?”) and have your child find the matching key.
Animal Surprise Boxes with Keys (shop)
Picked by Megan Renner, MCD, CCC-SLP
Why it’s a favorite: Each locked door is a built-in reason to talk.
Play tip: Use simple sentence starters like “I see…” or “It’s a…” as each animal pops out. These repeated phrases are especially helpful for gestalt language processors (kids who learn language in whole chunks or phrases before single words). If your child gets stuck on a lock, wait and give them a chance to ask for “help.”
Toys for Building Vocabulary and Longer Sentences
Play Food Set (shop)
Picked by Elise Benavides, M.S., CF-SLP
Why it’s a favorite: Cooking and “eating” pretend food fills playtime with everyday words.
Play tip: Narrate what you’re both doing as you cook, using short action words: “Cut. Chop, chop! Stir the soup. Eat pizza!” Keep your phrases just one word longer than what your child says now.
Potato Head (shop)
Picked by Gabrielle Welling, M.S., CF-SLP
Why it’s a favorite: Every piece is a chance to add a new word, and pushing pieces in builds hand strength too.
Play tip: Use it to practice describing words. When your child picks the nose, call it a “big nose” or “pink nose.” Once Potato Head is built, act out silly stories together: “He is jumping!” “He is sleeping.”
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Slide and Find) (shop)
Picked by Kailey Fender, M.S., CCC-SLP
Why it’s a favorite: It’s an inexpensive book that packs in animal names, colors, animal sounds, and a repeating phrase on every page.
Play tip: Take turns opening the sliding doors. The same phrase on every page gives your child a safe pattern to join in, and tricky doors are a great time for them to ask for help.
Toys for Following Directions and Speech Sounds
Miniature Barns (shop)
Picked by Taylor Cvercko, M.S., CCC-SLP
Why it’s a favorite: Small colored barns make following directions and answering questions feel like a game.
Play tip: Give directions like “Put the sheep in the blue barn.” Then use silly animal sounds to practice speech sounds without pressure: “baa” works on the “b” sound and “oink” works on “k.”
Take Along Wooden Toy Barn (shop)
Picked by Nathalia Lopez, M.S., CCC-SLP
Why it’s a favorite: A barn full of animals invites songs, sounds, and pretend play.
Play tip: Sing “Old MacDonald” while you take each animal out. Pause before the animal sound and let your child fill it in.
Toys for Word Finding and Social Skills
Anomia Card Game (shop)
Picked by Crista Gregoire, M.S., CCC-SLP
Why it’s a favorite: This fast family game-night pick builds word finding (pulling the right word out quickly), vocabulary, verbal reasoning, and social skills. It’s a great fit for older kids and teens who can keep up with a quick card game.
Pop-Up Pirate (shop)
Picked by Madison Hart, M.S., CCC-SLP
Why I love it: It’s one of the simplest first games for practicing turn-taking, and the big pop at the end keeps everyone watching and waiting together.
Play tip: Say “my turn” and “your turn” each time you pass a sword, and point to whoever goes next. Before each push, pause and build the suspense with “ready, set…” so your child looks at you and shares the moment. When the pirate flies, react big and wait for them to tell you what happened (“Uh oh!” or “He jumped!”).
Toys That Build Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are the small movements of the hands and fingers, like grasping, pinching, and twisting. They set the stage for feeding, dressing, and holding a crayon. Occupational therapy for fine motor skills often uses toys just like these.
Matching Egg Toy (shop)
Picked by Danielle Kaletta, OTD, OTR/L
Why it’s a favorite: Pulling apart and matching egg halves builds hand strength, problem-solving, and the ability to use both hands together.
Play tip: Place one half of an egg on your child’s left side and the matching half on their right. Have them reach with one hand at a time to pick up each half, then bring their hands together in front of them to snap the egg closed. This works on bilateral coordination (using both hands as a team) and visual-motor skills (using the eyes to guide the hands).
More picks from this list that work little hands:
- Potato Head: pushing pieces in and pulling them out builds hand strength.
- Lock and key boxes: turning a small key takes a careful pinch and twist.
- Miniature barns and play food: picking up small pieces and opening doors practice grasping.
Simple Ways to Build Skills at Home
You don’t need a special toy to use these tips. Try them with anything your child already loves.
- Follow their lead. Play with what interests your child, not what you planned.
- Get face to face. Sit at their level so they can see your mouth and expressions.
- Add one word. Repeat what they say and add one more word (“car” becomes “fast car”).
- Pause and wait. Count to five in your head before you help. Silence gives your child room to try.
- Create a reason to talk. Keep a favorite toy just out of reach or in a closed box.
- Let them do the hard part. Hand over lids, keys, zippers, and snaps instead of doing it for them. Those small jobs build hand strength.
- Use both hands. Pick activities where one hand holds and the other works, like steadying a bowl while stirring or holding paper while coloring.
- Keep it fun. If your child is frustrated, take a break. Play should never feel like a test.
Speech Therapy For Kids: Frequently Asked Questions
Are electronic toys bad for speech development?
They aren’t harmful in small doses, but they don’t build language as well as simple toys or books. In a study in JAMA Pediatrics, parents of babies 10 to 16 months old said fewer words and had fewer back-and-forth exchanges while playing with electronic toys than with traditional toys or books (Sosa, 2016). When the toy does the talking, the people often stop.
What toys do speech therapists use in sessions?
Speech therapists use the same simple toys you’ll find in most playrooms: books, barns, play food, bubbles, blocks, and toys with lids or locks. We pick toys that create natural reasons to talk, like asking for help, making choices, or taking turns. Whether it’s early intervention or preschool speech therapy, the toy matters less than how we play with it.
Have Questions? We’re Here to Help
If you’re wondering whether your child’s speech, language, or motor skills are on track, our team is here to help. Learn more about our speech-language therapy and occupational therapy services, or request an appointment today.
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