SAN DIEGO -- The jury is still out over whether kids should get an English only or a bilingual education in American schools.

But on the homefront, speaking two languages is as hot as a salsa routine.

10News reporter Leeann Kim explains why bilingual toys are the hottest trend for toddlers these days.

The Torres children are lucky. They live near enough to their grandmother to see her all the time.

That's muy bueno to the kids' mom, Crystal, who said she wants her children to understand where they come from.

"As first generation Mexican-Americans, we want our children to understand the beauty of our culture, of our language and of our heritage," said Torres.

But now, Torres is getting help from another resource -- the growing number of bilingual toys and books on the market.

"My children relate to the bilingual words -- bandulces, naranjas, manzanas. They're easy, they're easily translatable, they understand what they mean," said Torres.

Manufacturers are hot to get in the game. According to the Toy Industry of America (TIA) bilingual playthings are one of the fastest growing sectors in the industry.

"They've become increasingly popular because of this global society in which we live, and because parents today see the benefits of having their child speak a second language," said Julie Livingston, with the TIA.

Some critics claim these toys might actually delay early language learning, but experts say there's no research to support that.

"Toys can be really helpful to the extent which they facilitate interaction in that second language," said Dr. Kendall King.

But King said parents shouldn't expect any toy to teach a child another language by itself -- kids learn language from people.

Still, bilingual toys can give kids a good start.

"It helps me. But it's really the work between myself and my husband that makes them bilingual," said Torres.

Bilingual toys come in all languages -- Polish, Chinese and Italian.

But the TIA said Spanish-speaking toys are making the biggest impact on the toy industry today.