What is Do, Say Play?
Do, Say, Play is a simple way to turn everyday moments into powerful learning experiences for your baby. You don’t need special toys, long activities or perfect words. You just need connection, time and play.
Do: Set-up the moment.
Sit face-to-face, slow things down, reduce distractions and follow your baby’s lead. A calm, connected setup helps your baby feel safe and ready to learn.
Say: Model simple language.
Use short words and phrases, repeat sounds and words, pause and wait for your baby. Babies learn language by hearing it many times, paired w/ love and attention.
Play: Enjoy the interaction
Take turns, repeat favorite actions, let play be joyful and not rushed. Play builds listening, language, thinking and connection - all at once.
Do, Say, Play was introduced to us by Lois Kam Heymann,T M.A. CCC-SLP, early-childhood specialist and founder of Listen Love Learn. Lois thoughtfully curated an assortment of toys designed to naturally invite connection, curiosity and development through play.
To support parents beyond the play space, together we created Do, Say, Play cards to accompany the toys Lois curated. Each card offers simple, gentle guidance - not instructions - inviting parents to notice, respond, & connect with their baby during play.
Families enrolled in our Mommy & Me and Parent & Me programs will receive these cards throughout the 1st session, building a personal Play‑book that can be shared with family and caregivers.
These cards bring expert guidance into simple, playful, everyday routines parents can feel confident using 🧸💬. They are:
- 👀 visually clear
- ✋ tactilely interesting
- 🌱 developmentally simple
- 🔄 perfect for cause-and-effect learning
- 🤲 supportive of tracking, reaching, and grasping
- 🗣️ designed to pair language with visual and motor input
Developmental Domains
Each card also lists the developmental domains that are addressed by the activities. These domains include:
- Social & Emotional: This involves your child learning to trust you, become more independent (autonomy), share their feelings with you (shared effect) and control their own actions and reactions (self-regulatory).
- Cognitive: This is how your child learns by exploring with their senses, understanding that things still exist when hidden (object permanence) starting to solve simple problems, ad learning by copying others (imitation).
- Communication: This covers all the ways your child interacts with others, including making sounds (vocalization), paying attention to sounds (auditory attention), using single words, starting to put two words together, and following simple instructions.
- Fine Motor: These are the small, precise movements your child uses, such as using their hands and fingers to grasp, release, transfer objects, and perform tasks like stacking blocks.
By following the “Do” and “Say” prompts, you can help your child develop skills across these various domains while engaging in fun and playful interactions.
Check out our Do, Say, Play "Book" Toy Collection here.
Sample Card (front & back)
