Toy Talk: The Playtime Hack for Faster Language Growth
As a parent, you’ve probably been told to narrate what your child is doing, like saying "You’re pushing it!" or "I see the car!". While narration is a wonderful language strategy to use, there is a simple "upgrade" called Toy Talk that can help your toddler start using longer, more diverse sentences.
What is "Toy Talk"?
Most of us naturally use words like "I," "you," "it," or "that" when we play. Toy Talk encourages you to swap those generic words for the actual name of the toy.
The Two Simple Rules:
Talk about the toys: focus on the states, actions, and properties of the toys.
Give the toy its name: Use the real noun instead of "it" or "he".
Hmm…How Do I Use Toy Talk?
Here are some examples of how to use Toy Talk with some of my favorite toys:
Barn/Animal Play:
The pig is muddy.
The cow is hungry.
The chicken is sleeping.
The farmer is driving the tractor.
Notice how we labeled all the nouns without using nonspecific words such as ‘this’ or ‘it’. After labeling the noun, we attached a descriptor or a verb.
Doll Play:
The baby is crying.
The baby is hungry.
The baby is drinking milk.
The baby is taking a nap.
Notice how we labeled all the nouns without using nonspecific words such as ‘this’ or ‘it’. After labeling the noun, we attached a descriptor or a verb.
Pretend Food Play:
The soup is hot.
The egg is on the plate.
The knife is sharp.
The ice cream is cold.
Notice how we labeled all the nouns without using nonspecific words such as ‘this’ or ‘it’. After labeling the noun, we attached a descriptor or a verb.
Cars, Trucks, & Trains:
The blue car is fast.
The truck is big.
The train stopped.
The tractor is broken.
Notice how we labeled all the nouns without using nonspecific words such as ‘this’ or ‘it’. After labeling the noun, we attached a descriptor or a verb.
Bringing "Talk to the Toy" into Your Daily Routine: Beyond the Playroom
One of the best things about the Toy Talk strategy is that you don’t need to set aside "special time" to make it work. You can easily weave these language-rich moments into the activities you’re already doing around your San Antonio home.
By narrating everyday chores and routines using specific names instead of "it" or "that," you turn common experiences into powerful learning opportunities.
Everyday "Toy Talk" Opportunities
Mealtime & Cooking: Talk about how foods taste, look, and feel using descriptive words like sweet, salty, yummy, squishy, cold, and hot
Bath Time: Talk about how the water feels and what you do with soap. You can also bring a plastic toy like a rubber duck into the tub and describe its actions/location/properties.
Still unsure about how to do all of this? Contact at us today at Small Talk Speech Therapy to schedule a consultation and learn how we can support your child's communication journey.
