Flashcards and songs help a child recognise words. What turns those words into a language is using them: asking, answering, getting it a bit wrong and trying again. That needs someone to talk to. Ted is a teddy bear that can be that someone, in the language you choose.
Why speaking matters more than listening
Research on bilingual children keeps finding the same thing: exposure counts, but interaction counts more. A child who hears Spanish on a speaker learns some Spanish. A child who has to find the Spanish word to finish their own story learns much more. We summarised the research in bilingual toys for toddlers.
How families use Ted
- Heritage language. Mum speaks Portuguese, but school is in English. In the evening, Ted tells stories in Portuguese, and your child answers in Portuguese.
- A new language. Set Ted to Spanish or French for a few evenings a week, and let your child build a story in it, at their own pace.
- Grandparents' language. Ted can switch to Arabic, Italian or Polish before a visit, so the words are fresh.
Ted speaks more than 60 languages. The language is changed by the parent in the app: Ted does not switch on its own mid conversation, so you always know which language your child is practising.
What Ted does not claim
Ted is not a language course and there are no grammar lessons or scores. It gives your child something harder to find: regular, relaxed conversation practice, at bedtime or after school, without a screen.
Parents stay in control
Parents stay in control through a mobile app: language, volume, listening mode (automatic or push to talk) and guardrails. Ted has no camera and does not store your child's voice. More on our safety page and our bilingual families page.
Questions parents ask
From what age can a child practise a language with Ted?
From 3. Younger children often start by mixing languages, which is completely normal.
Can two children use different languages?
The language is set for Ted in the app, so you switch it when needed.
Is there a subscription for extra languages?
No. All languages are included.
Meet Ted and hear your child speak your family's languages.
