Happy December! Many of us are busy getting ready for the holidays and gift giving season. The therapists at Blue Door Pediatric Therapy have  collaborated to share with you some of our favorite holiday gift giving ideas and activities. This list is certainly not exhaustive, and we will be sharing more specific gift giving ideas for books, games and sensory friendly lists in days to come!

Babies: 0-24 months

Speech:

Books: Board books, Sensory Books that are soft cloth or textured books, wearable and interactive books. 

Language: Spill and Fill toy sets, Black and White contrasting cards such as Wee Gallery Art Cards, Puppets, Chunky Puzzles, Balls, Bubbles, Baby Sign Classes at Blue Door Pediatric Therapy

Occupational Therapy:

Fine Motor: Pop Snap Beads, Button Art (By Alex Toys), pipSquigz, Melissa & Doug Pop Blocs Farm Animals, 

Hand Eye Coordination: Pound-a-Ball, Stacking rings, Blocks,  Chunky Puzzles, Pop up toys, Bean bags, Spill and Fill sets, Inflatable Water Pat mats

Physical Therapy:

Baby play mat because this encourages time on the floor. It gives babies many things to look at for tummy time and encourages arm and leg movement which will eventually lead to rolling.

Older babies- a walk behind toy. For babies who are learning to walk, this gives them independence and a little assistance while still challenging their balance and making them work those core muscles.

Toddlers (2-3)

Speech Therapy:

Books: Lift the flap books, Wearable and interactive books, picture books, Textured books, Picture books, Nursery rhyme books

Language: Board games, Memberships to local zoo, theaters, museums, Balls, Bubbles

Drama/Imaginative Play: Dress up clothes, Doll house, Dolls and Action figures, Train table/train set,Cash register/Store/Bank, Shopping cart, Play food Sets-Kitchen sets, Farmyard and Animals, Art Sets, Work bench and tools, Dinosaur figurines, Race track/cars, Castle,  Antsy Pants Sets

Occupational Therapy:

Fine Motor: Design and Drill (By Learning Resources), Super Sorting Pie (By Learning Resources), Magna-Tiles, Do-a-Dot markers,Stickers, Melissa and Doug playsets (pancake, pizza, cookie cutting), Squigz, Mr. Potato Head, cutting fruit sets, Basic skills board with fasteners (Melissa and Doug button, snaps, zipper, etc.), Smaller tweezer/tongs activities, Coloring books, Wind up toy, Brio Builder Set, K’Nex, Play Doh, Pizza Parlor Game (By Green Toys)

 Hand Eye Coordination: Large beads/blocks (for stringing), Duplo blocks, Chunky Puzzles (inset and chunky), Lacing cards, Bean bags, Tinker toys, Lincoln Logs

Physical Therapy: Tricycle- this promotes leg strength and lower body coordination, Mini trampoline- keeps kids active, burns energy, and strengthens those little legs!

Preschoolers (4-5)

Speech Therapy:

Books: Picture books, I Spy Books, 

Language: Board games, Memberships to local zoo, theaters, museums, Art classes, Handheld popper toys, Kindergarten Readiness Classes at Blue Door Pediatric Therapy

Drama/Imaginative Play: Magician role play set, “Career” Sets: Doctor, dentist, vet, hairdresser, chef, etc., Dress up clothes, Doll house, Dolls and Action figures, Train table/train set, Cash register/Store/Bank, Art Sets, Work bench and tools, Dinosaur figurines, Race track/cars, Castle, Antsy Pants Sets

Occupational Therapy

Fine Motor: Bunchems!™, Snap Cubes, Squigz, Mr. Potato Head, Smaller tweezer/tongs activities, Coloring books, Wind up toy, Marbles and Marble ramps, Brio Builder Set, Legos, K’Nex, Rainbow Scratch paper, Play Doh, Pizza Parlor Game (By Green Toys)

Hand Eye Coordination: Duplo blocks, Playmobil sets, Puzzles, Bean bags, Learning Locks (Lakeshore Learning), Tinker toys, Color by number books, Lincoln Logs

Physical Therapy:  

Balance bike or bicycle- promotes balance, coordination and leg strength. Also great to build cardiovascular endurance.

Early Elementary (6-8) 

Speech Therapy:

Books: Picture books, Chapter books, I Spy Books, Recipe Books

 Language: Board Games, Card Games, Memberships to local zoo, theaters, museums, Art classes, Cooking classes, Crafting classes, Handheld popper toys,  Cooking and baking supplies

Drama/Imaginative Play: Magician role play set, “Career” Sets: Doctor, dentist, vet, hairdresser, chef, etc., Dress up clothes, Dolls and Action figures, Art Sets, Antsy Pants Sets

Occupational Therapy:

Fine Motor: Mini Squigz, Melissa and Doug Suspend Family Game, Marbles and Marble ramps, Legos, Rainbow scratch paper, Play Doh

Hand Eye Coordination: Puzzles (interlocking/jigsaw), Velcro mit ball catching, Small beads for stringing (jewelery), Wikki Sticks, Small pop beads, Sequential/Step-by-step drawing books, Origami, Spirograph, Tinker toys, Color by number books, Stacking cups game, Tangrams

Physical Therapy: Jump rope- total body coordination, leg strength and cardiovascular endurance. Twister game- great to work on balance!

Middle Elementary (9-11)

Speech Therapy:

Books: Biographies, Nonfiction books, Chapter books, Recipe books

Language: Board Games, Card Games, Memberships to local zoo, theaters, museums, Art classes, Cooking classes, Crafting classes, Handheld popper toys, Cooking and baking supplies

Occupational Therapy

Fine Motor: Melissa and Doug Suspend Family Game, Klutz string art, Legos, Fidget toys

Hand Eye Coordination: Jigsaw puzzles

Physical Therapy: Full-size trampoline- keeps kids outside and active and promotes cardiovascular endurance

Middle School (12-14) 

Speech Therapy:

Books: Biographies, Nonfiction books, Chapter books, Recipe books 

Language: Board Games, Card Games, Memberships to local zoo, theaters and museums, Art classes, Cooking classes, Cooking and baking supplies, Crafting classes, craft sets

Occupational Therapy

Fine Motor: Legos, Fidget toys 

Hand Eye Coordination: Jigsaw puzzles

Physical Therapy: Gear for their favorite sport or club. Anything that gets them moving and that they are interested in! Soccer ball, basketball hoop, etc. Admission to a trampoline park or adventure park

Teenage (15 and up)

Speech Therapy:

Books: Biographies, Nonfiction books, Chapter books, Recipe books

Language: Board Games, Card Games, Memberships to local zoo, theaters, museums, Art classes, Cooking classes, Cooking and baking supplies, Crafting classes, Craft sets. 

Occupational Therapy:

Fine Motor: Legos, Fidget toys 

Hand Eye Coordination: Jigsaw puzzles

Physical Therapy: Gear for their favorite sport or club. Anything that gets them moving and that they are interested in! Soccer ball, basketball hoop, etc. Admission to a trampoline park or adventure park.

Thanks for checking out our 2019 Blue Door Pediatric Therapist recommended holiday list, be sure to check back in to see our recommended lists of books, games and sensory friendly toys!