We are excited to share this carefully curated list of toys that we use the most to help our play times be just as helpful as they are fun. Not only will this list give you some great gift ideas, but over the next few weeks we will target these specific toys on our website so you can learn how to use them and how they most benefit your child. We hope you enjoy our Best of 2022: Christmas Edition!
We will start with the toys most recommended by our Speech-Language Pathologists. I have provided a link for each of these as well as an image for reference.
Pound-It Ball tower
Little People Helpers Home
What's In Ned's Head?
Fat Brain Toys Spin Again Kids Stacking Toy
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DEBB3N0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FCD334H42K6H491R6GZK
Hoberman Rainbow Sphere
Battat – 3 Car Garage – Shape Sorting Toy Garage
Fisher-Price Little People Sit 'n Stand Skyway
Melissa & Doug Wooden Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter
Next, our occupational therapy elves have given so many great gift ideas that I couldn't link them all! They are grouped into categories, and I have offered images to help you in your search. Any simple google or Amazon search will lead you to these great gifts that are all sensory based.
*Messy Play:
FOAMING BUBBLE SOAP:
I MEAN...IT'S JUST FUN! :)
WATER BEADS:
DEVELOPS SENSORY SKILLS AND HAND EYE COORDINATION
SENSORY BINS:
HANDS ON TACTILE PLAY THAT ENGAGES THE SENSES
KINETIC SAND KITS:
IMPROVES FINE MOTOR SKILLS AND PROVIDES A SENSE OF CALM AND REGULATION IN SOME CHILDREN
*Movement:
ELEFUN GAME:
PROMOTES OCULAR MOTOR (EYE MOVEMENT) SKILLS
SIT AND SPIN:
PROMOTES LARGE MOTOR SKILLS AND CORE STRENGTH
RIVER ROCK WIGGLE STEPS:
HELPS DECREASE THE NEED TO FIDGET AS WELL AS IMPROVES BALANCE AND COORDINATION
KID PEANUT BALL:
DEVELOPS AND BUILDS GROSS MOTOR SKILLS
SCOOTER BOARD:
PROVIDES LOADS OF SENSORY INPUT AND BODY AWARENESS
SENSORY FLOOR MATS/TILES:
HELPS TO IMPROVE GROSS MOTOR SKILLS AND FOCUS
HANGING POD SWING:
PROVIDES VESTIBULAR INPUT WHILE GIVING THE BODY A SENSE OF CALM AND REGULATION
WOBBLE BOARD:
IMPROVES BALANCE AND IMPROVES MUSCLE STRENGTH
BODY/SENSORY ITEMS:
BODY SOCK:
A COMPRESSION HUG FOR THE BODY
WEIGHTED STUFFED ANIMALS:
PROVIDES PRESSURE AND COMFORT FOR ANXIETY
THERABRUSH:
HELPS TO TREAT SENSORY INTEGRATION ISSUES
WEIGHTED BLANKET:
OFFERS WEIGHT AND COMFORT FOR YOUR AUTONOMIC SYSTEM TO REDUCE STRESS AND ANXIETY
RAINMAKER:
HELPS TO IMPROVE FINE MOTOR SKILLS AS WELL AS BRINGS A SENSE OF RELAXATION TO THE BODY
SQUIGZ FIDGETS:
HELPS WITH VISUAL MOTOR COORDINATION AND PROVIDES PROPRIOCEPTIVE INPUT