By Sadie Brewster
The holiday season is finally upon us! However, riding right along with the holiday cheer is often the stress associated with finding the perfect gift for those little ones in your life. But, don’t worry because this year you’re going to crush it and I’m here to help!
Below is a list of toys that are not only fun and engaging, but also help to promote skill acquisition and development as well. I have sorted these toys into three main categories. However, it should be noted that there is a lot of overlap in the skills that these toys can address. This is a lengthy list to cater to many different interests and personalities, so please don’t feel like you need to buy everything on this list (because, let’s be honest… half of the time toddlers are more interested in playing with the box or the wrapping than the actual toy itself).
In the end, your time, attention and engagement in any activity with your child is far more important than any specific toy.
Okay, now, let’s get into it!
Toys for Sensory Processing:
These stones can be used to work on body awareness, coordination, motor planning, balance, and sensory processing. Set them up to play “the floor is lava” or as a part of a fun obstacle course!
This sand construction set is a great way to address sensory processing (tactile input), fine motor and play skills (both cooperative and imaginative).
These fidgets are great sensory and calming tools!
Fubbles Bubbles No-Spill Tumbler
Bubbles are a fun, engaging sensory tool and sensory experience for little ones! They also promote visual tracking, fine motor, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness and body awareness skills.
These toys help to foster fine motor control in addition to play skills such as understanding cause and effect.
These toys are an easy way to make bath time fun! They can also be used outside of the bath on mirrors and windows around the house, and help to develop fine motor, visual motor and bilateral coordination skills.
Pop tubes are super simple but engaging, and help to develop bilateral coordination and fine motor strength. They also offer good auditory input and resistance for those kids seeking additional proprioceptive feedback.
Toys for Fine Motor and Visual Motor Development:
These magnetic tiles encourage fine motor coordination and control, creativity, problem solving and critical thinking. Plus, they’re easy to take with you on the go.
This is a silly, yet challenging fine motor strengthening game that also addresses sequencing, turn taking and visual processing skills.
This is a shape sorter that can grow with your child over the next several years. Shape sorters work on fine motor, visual motor, spatial awareness, problem solving and shape/color recognition skills.
Chicken and Color Matching Egg Shapes
These toys offer a playful way to work on bilateral coordination and fine motor skills in addition to shape and color recognition! They are also easy to set up and incorporate into two-step retrieval actives which help to foster motor planning, sequencing, and attention to task. Two part retrieval sequences are an easy way to add sensory input and movement into learning.
Color Matching Pegboard Puzzle
This is a fun twist on your classic pegboard. This toy is great for working on visual motor integration, sustained attention to task, color recognition, visual processing and fine motor control/strength.
Toys for School Readiness and Play Skills:
Match’n Roll Farm Number Train
Duplo Legos help to further grasp pattern development as well as fine motor control and strength. These Lego sets in particular are helpful for promoting school skills such as color, letter and number recognition, in addition to the visual motor skills needed to copy the pictorial designs.
This toy encourages the learning of colors, shapes, counting and patterns. It helps to develop fine motor, spatial relation, concentration and pattern recognition skills.
Mess Free Musical Finger Painting Board
These two boards offer a fun and different way for a child to express their creativity. They can also be used to practice school readiness skills and pre-writing strokes (horizontal lines, vertical lines, circles, intersecting lines, etc.). Plus, they require little to no set up and make no mess which makes them an easy option to take with you on the go!
This play food set is a fun, creative way to foster bilateral coordination, fine motor control, and play skills.
Phew, you finally made it through all those recommendations! Hope you found something your little one will love. Happy holidays and happy shopping!
