There are lots of Gift Guides out there that share the newest or most fun toys each year. This gift guide is a little different. As a pediatric Occupational Therapist, I’ve focused on how these amazing toys can facilitate developmental skills. You’ll find great recommendations for kids ages 0-9 years old, for both upcoming holidays and future Birthdays!
You can download the full FREE gift guide here but let’s look at some of the options for each age range.
Gift Suggestions for 0-12 month-olds
Musical Instruments are fantastic for developing grasp patterns, bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body together or in different ways), and for processing auditory and tactile input. Maracas, drums, and egg shakers are my favorite choices and this set includes all of those plus some! Sit down with the little one and model how to use them, or just play music together. It can be a great way to bond and connect. Ideal for 6 months+.
Pip Squigz are basically large suction cups with a ball at the end. Stick them to a table or high chair and they can fill hours of play time. They are big enough to feel comfortable allowing the child to bring them to the mouth, which is ideal for oral motor development. Each ball has a different texture and are made from silicone which makes it easy to grasp. Babies first play at midline, using both hands to hold the item, then progress to a more mature single hand grasp. Great for 6+ months.
Foot and Arm Rattles: Slip these wrist rattles and foot finders! Each time their arm and legs they’ll hear a jingle. This will increase visual attention to their extremities, encourage postural strength when they bring their lower extremities into flexion, and facilitate bilateral coordination!
See all 9 gift ideas for 0-12 months when you download the free guide!
Gift suggestions for 1-2 year olds
Roll and Go Marble Run: I love this one for working on standing balance and postural stability for new walkers. It also provides a combination of fine and visual motor skills (setting up the balls and shapes and visual tracking (watching the shapes slide down the track).
Spin Again: This is like an advanced ring stack. It works on bilateral coordination, shoulder stabilization (which is needed for fine motor tasks), and visual motor skills. Encourage them to place the gears in size order to add in a motor planning and problem solving component.
Poke-a-Dot Books: I LOVE THESE! They are so fun and engaging and are perfect for both OT and Speech related skills. Every time they poke the dot encourage them to use a pointed index finger. Have them turn the pages to work on crossing midline and locate the different animals (visual scanning). There are a bunch of different themed books, but the farm one is the best!
See all 9 gift ideas for 1-2 year olds when you download the free guide!
Gifts suggestions for 3-5 year olds
Digger: If you have a sandbox or a dirt pit, you’ll want to add this digger! You simply place it on the ground and the child can start digging. It helps develop core stability, bilateral coordination (you have to pull/push the handles to pick up the sand), fine and visual motor skills. You can even place objects in the sand for them to pick up to work on some additional visual perceptual skills.
Rock Crayons: These are my favorite for promoting a more functional grasp pattern. Lots of people suggest big, fat crayons, but those actually promote a more fisted grasp rather than strengthening the thumb, index, and thumb. These rock crayons are the perfect size for those little hands. Beware: if you have a child that mouths things, they will likely attempt to put them in their mouth. Model how to correctly use them. I have used these with kids as young as 2.5, but again, be mindful of them going in their mouth.
Magneti’Book I just found out about this activity this year and it’s so much fun! In this book, each animal is split into 3 different magnet pieces. You can follow the cards to create the animal with correct sequence or have them make their own. Overall it works on fine and visual motor skills, visual perception, and motor planning. There are different themes, so you can choose which one will motivate the child most.
See all 9 gift ideas for 3-5 year olds when you download the free guide!
Gifts suggestions for 6-9 year olds
Blockus Shuffle: Umm…A Blokus and Uno collab?? Yes, please, and thank you. This one will work on visual perceptual skills, sequencing, problem solving, fine motor control…so many things while being so fun!
Giant Coloring Book: These poster sized coloring pages are perfect for your budding artist, or if you want to encourage more coloring! Work on fine and visual motor skills, and visual scanning as you try to find what item you want to color in. This link is for a map of New York City, but they have ones with aliens, princesses, the ocean, etc.
Crankity Brainteaser: This is a super fun, problem solving and sequencing game. You’re given start and end point, but you have to figure out how to lay out the gears between the two so that they work. This is a good sized for travel too.
I’m so excited for you to see the rest of the gift suggestions! I’ve included so many of my absolute must haves when working with kids and I just know they are going to be a hit at home too!
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