I love kids toys, but when I’m picking out gifts for kids, I want to make sure I’m also supporting their development. Yes, I’m an Occupational Therapist (OT), so developmental skills are always on my mind…but why shouldn’t they be? These toys are just as fun and promote fine and visual motor skills, sensory exploration, postural skills, etc.
I’ve created this gift guide to help you choose toys like an OT! You’ll find 9 options for each age group, along with what skills they promote.
You can download this guide here, but also keep reading to see how I might use some of these toys in therapy.
Best Gift for 0-12 Months
Pip Squigz Loops
I love these little suction cups for our babies! These suction cups will stick to hard, non-porous surfaces. So if the baby is in tummy time, you can attach it to a mirror in front of the child to promote back extension and upper body weight bearing. Once they are sitting in a highchair, you can attach them to the table top. The child can reach for them and bring them to their mouth, without them falling to the floor 100000 times. They are the perfect size for oral exploration, which teaches them how to move their tongue in their mouth which promotes skills to prepare for feeding. I also like to attach them to the fridge in a spot just a bit taller than the child to promote reaching above their head. You can eventually place them higher and higher to promote tall kneelings and eventually standing.
Tales Crinkle Book
I bought this for my niece and I fell in love! Not only is it a crinkle book, which is great for sensory development (tactile, auditory), but it also has tail tags! They can explore with their hands and mouth which helps promote fine and visual motor skills.
Tummy Time Mat
Tummy time is such an important thing to practice that supports postural stability, gross motor skills, sensory exploration, etc. You can read more about it here. It can be a hard one for kids in the beginning, but making it fun and interesting will help. This tummy time mat is filled with water and under the sea animals. You’ll place the child so that the upper half of their body is on the mat, so they can look at the fish and explore the tactile experience with their hands. As the child gets older and begins sitting, tape it to a wall to help promote seated reaching!
Best Gifts for 1-2 years old
Stacking Cubes:
So simple and has been around forever, but still one of the best toys you can get for a child. They work on postural stability and bilateral coordination by encouraging both hands to grasp some of the bigger cubes and reaching overhead (and with control) to stack them. It promotes sequencing when learning the size order of the cubes. I even like to use the cubes on their own to hide items inside of, practice nesting the cubes into each other, and placing around the room for the child to find.
Wobble/Climb Disk
This is like getting 2 toys in one! When you place it round side down, you turn it into a wobbly seat that helps strengthen postural muscles, provides vestibular input, and can help support balance skills. Turn it so the round side is facing up and you’ve created a large stepping stone! Use it in an obstacle course, to help them reach something high up, or even to stand on and squat (to reach something by their feet).
Lacing Beads
Not only do you get to practice lacing with these beads, but you also can engage in really fun pretend play. This set comes with fruit, veggies, and animals! The wooden dowel makes the task easier for our younger kids to be successful and teaches them the motor pattern to use. Once they master the dowel, use shoe ties or other threading material to make it one step harder. I love to hide the beads in containers to add an extra step to the task while working on other skills (buttoning, snapping, twisting).
Best Gifts for 3-5 Year Olds
Squaregles
Squaregles are a new magnetic building toy, but so much better! These squares stick together to create structures that turn into raceways (some sets come with cars and people), homes, and what ever else your imagination can think of. They come with inserts for the squares which can support imagination and ideation, and all the sets work together!
A Weighted Animal
Weighted animals are a great toy for kids that seek out heavy work. Heavy work is anything that is resistive, so think additional weight. These are fun to carry around, but also help with self regulation by providing calming input.
Kitchen Tools
Including kids in food prep tasks helps them build independence and comfort around new foods! If you want to create positive food interactions, getting them in the kitchen is one of the first place to start. This set is toddler safe, meaning they can join in all the food prep fun without cutting themselves. It promotes fine and visual motor skills, and bilateral integration.
Best Gifts for 6-9 Year Olds
3D Pen
Have you seen these?? They can create a 3D structure just using a pen and plastic filaments. I’m sure there is a learning curve, but this looks like an ideal gift for any creative kid out there. They can draw what they want to make first, then trace the object using the pen to create a 3d structure. This works on so many skills and can really help promote handwriting readiness and motor control. I might even have them make 3D letters or name plates….oh and then turn it into jewelry!
Squishes
Another crafty gift here! Use this set to create “squishies”, a little squishy figurine. It will work on sequencing, problem solving, following direction, fine and visual motor skills. They get to play with what they create after, which makes it even more motivating!
Pogo Ball
Did you have one of these as a kid?? I did! They are so fun and an excellent way to work on balance and postural stability.
Want even more suggestions? Download the 2022 Gift Guide
