Language

How pretend play, books, music, puzzles and interactive toys can support vocabulary and conversation from babyhood to age six, with age-by-age picks and tips for parents.

By 18 months, many toddlers are pointing, gesturing, imitating sounds, and trying out their first words. It’s a great moment to support language—not just through books (which are wonderful), but through toys that invite conversation, naming, turn-taking, and imitation during everyday play. At this age, toddlers learn language mostly through interaction. As we explain in…