Christmas Toys That Boost Language | Perth Speech Therapy

by | Dec 17, 2025 | Language Development, Speech Therapy for Children

Choosing Christmas Toys That Boost Language

Choosing Christmas toys that boost language can feel overwhelming for parents. As speech pathologists, we often get asked which toys actually support speech and language development—especially during the busy Christmas period. The good news is that the best language-building toys are often the simplest ones.

1. Pick Toys That Do Less, So Your Child Can Do More

Look for open-ended toys—toys your child can use in lots of different ways, rather than toys that direct the play for them.

Great options include:

  • Blocks (Duplo, Magna-Tiles, wooden blocks)

  • Figurines (animals, people, dinosaurs, superheroes)

  • Play food or tea sets

  • Cars and trains

  • Farm sets or dollhouses

Open-ended toys encourage children to make choices, create stories, and use a wide range of language.

2. Choose Toys That Support Pretend Play

Pretend play is one of the most powerful ways to build language. It helps children:

  • Learn new words

  • Sequence events

  • Take turns

  • Problem-solve

  • Understand social roles

Gift ideas:

  • Doctor or vet kits

  • Tool sets

  • Toy kitchens or BBQs

  • Dollhouses or farm sets

  • Supermarket checkouts or pretend cafés

As you play, model language like:

  • “Oh no, the baby is sick—what should we do?”

  • “First we cook, then we eat.”

  • “The cow is hiding! Where did she go?”

3. Think “Real-Life Skills” Toys

Toys that mirror everyday activities help children learn practical vocabulary and real-world concepts.

Ideas include:

  • Cleaning sets

  • Gardening tools

  • Cash registers

  • Shopping baskets

  • Workbenches

  • Camping sets

These naturally bring out action words, describing words, and social language.

4. Choose Toys with Lots of Pieces

Language grows when children have reasons to request, negotiate, problem-solve, and make choices.

Examples:

  • Train sets

  • Lego or block sets

  • Puzzles

  • Magnetic play sets

  • Craft kits

Each piece creates opportunities for phrases like:

  • “Can I have the blue one?”

  • “Where does this go?”

  • “Let’s build it together.”

5. Books Totally Count as Toys

Books can be just as exciting as any toy—especially when read in an interactive way.

Holiday favourites include:

  • Lift-the-flap books

  • Repetitive or predictable stories

  • Books with clear, simple pictures

  • Stories based on your child’s interests (vehicles, animals, dinosaurs, mermaids)

💡 Tip: Check out our book-sharing guide for easy ways to turn reading into a language-building activity.

6. Don’t Forget Simple, Old-School Classics

These are popular for a reason—they work.

Language-boosting classics:

  • Play-Doh

  • Ball games

  • Bubbles

  • Puppets

  • Board games like Pop Up Pirate, Connect 4, Guess Who, and Orchard Toys games

They support turn-taking, requesting, describing, social language, and joint attention.

7. Your Presence Is the Real Present

The toy is just the tool—you are the magic.

Sitting with your child, following their lead, and adding language to what they’re already doing makes the biggest difference.

Try using:

  • Comments instead of questions
    “You’re driving the big truck up the hill!”

  • Repetitions and expansions
    “Car go!” → “Yes, the car is going fast!”

  • Wait time, giving your child space to communicate in their own way

Final Takeaway

You don’t need the “perfect” toy.
Choose something simple, flexible, and fun—then use it as a chance to connect, play, and talk together this Christmas.

If you’d like more support with your child’s speech and language development, the team at Perth Speech Therapy is here to help.