Bilingual Toys Help Kids Learn English and Spanish

Educational and Fun Toys for You and Your Child

I do not speak or understand Spanish - No hablo ni entiendo español ... versus ... I do not speak or understand English - No hablo ni entiendo inglés. Not being bilingual is becoming a growing problem and toy manufacturers such as Mattel Inc.'s Fisher-Price division, LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. and VTech Holdings are trying to capitalize on this cultural language gap by producing bilingual toys.

Reyne Rice, who is a trend specialist at the Toy Industry Association, said that the interest of manufacturers' to target the Hispanic market has noticeably increased since the year 2000. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 43 million Hispanics in the United States in 2005, and nearly one-fourth of all babies born in the US since 2000 have been Hispanic.

Toy manufacturers have taken note of this ever increasing niche market, and are stepping up to offer more interactive electronic toys that use Spanish and English languages. These bilingual toys appeal to both Latino parents and English speaking parents for different reasons. The toys are also a great way for parents to learn English and Spanish along with their child. Being bilingual can give your kids an advantage as they grow up and interact with other cultures.

My cousin works at a large daycare center and she said they use a lot of bilingual toys in their classrooms and that parents are very enthusiastic and receptive to the idea. These are her top picks for bilingual toys, based on popularity with the kids and approval rating of their parents. All of these toys teach both Spanish and English.

Talking Garden Activity Table
The Talking Garden Activity Table teaches your child to count to 10, learn the alphabet, and learn shapes and colors. Engaging sound effects and flashing lights and nursery rhyme songs will keep your child's interest as they learn. Requires 3 x AA batteries 1.5V and is for ages 1 year and up.