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Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids: Therapist Recommended Toys for Development & Fun
With the holiday season upon us, finding the right gift can feel overwhelming, especially when you're looking for items that are not only fun but also support your child's development. As an occupational therapist and mom of three, I wanted to share some of my most favourite toys and activities, for infants up to teens, (and tell you why I love them!) in the hopes that they will inspire ideas, lessen parental stress, and promote skills and fun for kids as you embark on your holiday shopping and beyond!
- Squigz: Fun and Functional Fine Motor Play
Why I love this: Squigz are a fantastic choice for strengthening little hands! These suction toys connect to each other and can stick to various surfaces, giving kids the chance to experiment with building, problem-solving, and testing their limits. They’re great for developing grasp strength and two-hand coordination, as well as introducing concepts like cause and effect. Plus, for younger kids, Squigz are fairly safe for mouthing, adding a sensory experience to play.
- Easel with Chalkboard and Whiteboard: Encourage Vertical Play
Why I Love this: A tabletop or stand-up easel with both chalkboard and whiteboard surfaces offers endless possibilities for creative expression. Working on a vertical surface supports a mature pencil grip and promotes wrist extension, which is crucial for upper body stability needed for writing and drawing. Kids can draw, write, or even stick magnetic letters on the easel, strengthening hand-eye coordination and providing a great foundation for future learning.
- O Ball: Lightweight and Easy to Grasp
Why I love this: The O Ball is designed with little hands in mind. Its lightweight, open design is easy for infants and toddlers to grasp and hold, while its texture and flexibility make it enjoyable to mouthe. If it rolls away, it’s light enough to be chased, encouraging reaching, rolling, creeping, and crawling to promote movement!
- Fine Motor Tool Set: Building Coordination and Strength
Why I love this:: A fine motor tool set is a wonderful introduction to the hand skills needed for using writing tools later on. Sets often include items like tweezers, scoops, and pinchers that encourage grasping, coordination, and strength-building. These tools are ideal for young kids as they develop the fine motor skills needed for daily activities and school readiness.
- Crash Pad: Safe Space for Energy and Sensory Play
Why I love this: Long winters make it tough to get out and move, but a crash pad provides an indoor solution for safe, active play (and it will likely save your couches!). Kids can jump, roll, or play games like “Stop and Go” on the pad. Jumping and crashing into the pad provides great deep pressure (proprioceptive) sensory input which helps regulate and calm the nervous system. You can even make your own crash pad by filling a duvet cover with soft items from around the house like couch cushions, pillows, and all those giant stuffies you have no doubt accumulated.
- Play Couch: Soft, Creative Fun for All Ages
Why I love this: Modular play couches, like the Nugget, offer hours of imaginative play, allowing kids to build forts, obstacle courses, and spaces for cozy lounging. These couches are made for crawling, climbing, and crashing, giving kids the freedom to explore movement in a soft, safe environment. I wish these would have been around when my children were younger!
- Galaxy Lamp or Projector: Calming Visuals for Mindfulness
Why I love this: Galaxy lamps and projectors create a soothing, starry ambiance that kids of all ages, from infants to teens, can enjoy. They’re perfect for creating a calm space for reading, winding down before bed, or practising mindfulness techniques.
- Putty: Fun for Strength and Sensory Input
Why I love this: Putty is a versatile tactile, moldable material that can strengthen hand muscles and offer a calming, mindful sensory experience. Children can stretch, squeeze, and hide small items in the putty for a hide-and-seek game that boosts hand-eye coordination and focus. Toddlers (with supervision!), preschoolers, and teens alike can use it to fidget, calm, and focus.
- Kinetic Sand: Mess-Free Indoor Sensory Play
Why I love this: Kinetic sand offers a unique sensory experience and is ideal for winter indoor play. Kids can use shovels, scoops, and molds to create shapes, engaging in fine motor activities that promote creativity and focus. This sand stays together for easy cleanup, making it manageable for indoor play.
- Weighted Lap Animal: A Calming Sensory Tool
Why I love this: Weighted lap animals provide calming, grounding input that can help kids focus and support nervous system regulation. It can be used while reading, eating, doing tabletop activities, or quiet playtime. This particular weighted lizard from Ability Hive is designed with sensory needs in mind and is locally sourced, making it a thoughtful addition to your child’s sensory toolkit while also supporting local.
- Fubbles: Visual Fun for All
Why I love this: Bubbles are one of my absolute favourite activities. Why? Little babes and visual learners love to simply watch as others blow bubbles for them which can foster some beautiful back and forth interactions. As your child gets older, they will certainly want to start trying to blow bubbles on their own which is great for oral motor (mouth) skills, breath control (for regulation!), and core strengthening. The Fubbles brand is great for little ones who want to hold them on their own (and what kid does not want to) - with Fubbles you can say yes since they are spill-proof!
- Magnetic Tiles: Creative Fine Motor
Why I love this: There are many different styles of magnetic tiles. Learning possibilities are endless with these open-ended play items - developing concepts (colours, shapes), promoting fine motor skills (two hand coordination, strength), sparking creativity, working together, visual sensory exploration, and more. Their value is lasting - they are easy for little hands to hold while also offering imaginative play for older children. The link listed is for a set that combines the benefits of the magnetic tiles with the creative exploration and sensory fun of a marble run.
Disclaimer:
The links shared in this blog are provided for your convenience and informational purposes only. Rooted Family Wellness Centres does not receive compensation for including these links, nor are we affiliated with the websites or organizations mentioned. We encourage you to evaluate the content and services provided by these external sources independently.
