Happy Holidays everyone! In this week’s video and blog post we are talking about toys! I have quite a bit of experience with toys. As the mom of 3 boys and a Pediatric PT for over 20 years I have spent a lot of time playing with toys. Should I admit that?
https://youtu.be/ObiQwJC_NQc
After all these years, I have found some great toys that really engage and entertain kids. As a bonus, they each promote important gross and fine motor skills. Check out this week’s video to see the toys in action, or peruse the list below and see if anything strikes your fancy. I hope you find something you like!
- Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror: Babies love the human face. Having a good sturdy mirror to look in can be very entertaining for little ones. I love using mirror to entertain babies while they are laying on their tummies.
2. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank: I have been using this toy for over 10 year. After all that time, I still can’t explain what it is about this toy that kids just love! I have used it with babies working on sitting all that way up to preK and Kindergarten aged kids who are working on squatting (I place Mr Pig on the table and “accidentally” drop all the coins out on the floor. I need my friends to help me squat down and pick them up.) This toy has definitely stood the test of time.
3. Fisher-Price Snap-Lock Beads: Pop Beads are one of my favorites. They are easy for little hands to hold, teach problem solving skills, and are a great way to work on balance. It’s not easy to keep your balance when you pop these beads apart!
4. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Pounding Bench: Kids love to play with toys that you bang. These toys help with eye hand coordination and fine motor control. As a bonus, they make lots of noise! Here are some other great options: Melissa & Doug Pound & Roll Tower and Fisher-Price Tap & Turn Bench.
5. Small World Toys Glow Gertie Ball: Gertie balls are one of my favorites. These balls are super soft which is greater for little ones just learning ball skills. If they happen to bop themselves on the face it won’t hurt. They are also super squishy which means kids of all ability levels can grasp them and join in on the ball fun. By letting a small amount of air out of the ball you can really control how easy it is to grasp.
6. Dondor Sliding Zoom Ball: I call this toy the zippy ball, and I love it. To play, each person grasps a set of handles. Then, they spread their arms apart which makes the ball zip along the lines to you partner. This ball is great for teaching cause and effect, motor planning, and to work on strength. This toy also comes in a softer version: Prime Time Toys Splash Bombs174
7. Melissa & Doug 20 Animal Magnets in a Box: Magnets are a super simple and fun toy. Placing them on a vertical surface like the refrigerator can encourage reaching and standing on toes. Using them on a cookie sheet is a great creative and quiet activity for car rides. Here are a few other fun magnet sets: Melissa & Doug Magnetic Wooden Alphabet or Melissa & Doug Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Wooden Magnets.
8. Fat Brain Toys Squigz Starter Set: You guys! I am obsessed with this toy!! Squigz are a super fun suction cup toy that you can put on any surface. I use them on walls, doors, the floor, and wheelchair trays. The different shapes allow hands of all ability levels to grasp and pull them. And the fun popping sound makes it super rewarding for kids. There are so many cool things to do with these toys. I have an entire video coming out next month with all my ideas! Here are some other sets of Squigz for different age groups: Fat Brain Toys 30 pc Mini Squigz, Fat Brain Toys Whirly Squigz, and Fat Brain Toys pipSquigz.
9. Connect Four: This is a very useful and versatile game. While playing the game per the instructions is for kids over 6, little ones can have fun with this game too. I use it for pattern making and learning how to place something in a slot. Kids really enjoy watching the rows fill up.
10. BunMo Pop Tubes Sensory Toys: Pop tubes are a super simple and inexpensive toy that can provide tons of fun. Pulling the tubes apart and pushing them back together is great for strength, bilateral coordination, and problem solving. As an added bonus, the make a really cool sound!
11. Push Bubble Fidget: If the kid or adult in your life enjoys popping bubble wrap, this toy is for you. I actually keep this one in my desk to occupy my hands during long meetings.
12. Melissa & Doug Primary Lacing Beads: Lacing beads are a great toy to develop fine motor skills. They toys come in a variety of shapes and sizes. If lacing the beads on a string is too challenging, try lacing them on a pipe cleaner. For older kids I usually pick up smaller beads online or from The Dollar Tree. We use them to make bracelets on pipe cleaners. Make sure to only use these beads with older kiddos and under supervision as they can be a choking hazard.
13. Razor A Kick Scooter: Ahh the old faithful scooter. These toys never go out of style. Not only are the fun, lightweight, and easy to store/transport, but they are great for strengthening and the development of balance and coordination skills. If you have a younger kiddo, take a look at the 3 wheeled scooter.
14. Razor Rip Stick: As a mom of 3 boys, this was a favorite toy in our household for many years. As a mom I loved it because it encouraged my boys to play outside. As a PT I loved it because it really works those core muscles and balance and coordination skills.
In the interested of time, some of my favorite toys didn’t make the video or post. But, I wanted to share them with you in this section:
- Card Games: Uno, Skip Bo, and Phase 10.
- Card Holders: Gamewright Little Hands Playing Card Holder and YH Poker Set of Two Hands Free Playing Card Holders. Check out this video to see how I use these.
- Stacking Blocks: Melissa and Doug Alphabet Stacking Blocks (great for tower building and knocking down!)
- Barrel of Monkeys
- Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog
Happy Holidays everyone!
-Heather
*Disclaimer: All toys mentioned in this post and video have age and use guidelines created by the manufacturer. These guidelines and adult supervision should be provided at all times. Please see our Disclaimer for further information.
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