When it comes to picking out toys for your child, it can be challenging to figure out which toys would be fun, but also functional in supporting your child to reach their developmental milestones. Today, our occupational therapist and physical therapist on the Panel have collected a variety of toys that support fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and provide positive sensory experiences for children from birth to school age.

Babies 0-4 Months (Pre-sitters/Crawlers)
These toys have bright lights, music, support your child in reaching/grabbing, and encourage visual engagement by offering things to look at during tummy time.

Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes
Manhattan Toy Baby Whoozit 6"
Bright Starts Lots of Links
Baby Einstein Floor Activity Mirror
Oball
Indestructible Books

5-9 months (Sitters/Crawlers)
These toys include balls, teethers, and other toys that roll to support reaching and hand to mouth coordination for oral exploration.

Teethers - Wobbl
Highchair Toys
Busy Beads
Blocks and Balls
Rolling Toys (Rollobie)
Stacked Rings

9-12 Months (Prewalkers)
These toys support pretend play, may include switches and knobs for fine motor skills development, as well as toys that support cause and effect understanding. There are also options for push and pull activities to encourage crawling/standing/walking.

Pull Back Cars
Standing Activity Table
Push Toy
Ride on Toy
Baby Dolls
Cause and Effect Toys

1-3 Years Old (Toddlers)
These toys encourage imagination and exploration, practice dressing, stringing activities for bilateral coordination, and balls for throwing and kicking.

Blocks that Snap Together/Stringing
Dressing/Fasteners (This busy board includes common fasteners to help aide in development of dressing skills and fine motor coordination)
Wooden Hammer and Pegs
Busy Box
Simple Crafts
Simple Puzzles
Fine Motor Games
Learning Games
Shape Sorter

Preschool—Kindergarten
These toys encourage pretend play, support balance, and encourage jumping and throwing at a target.

Pretend Play (Train and Kitchen Set)
Balance Bike
Jumping Games
Magnetic Fishing Game
Sneaky Snacky Squirrel
Bowling
12-20 Piece Puzzles

School Aged Children (1st Grade and Older)
These toys are awesome for school aged children because they can improve coordination, support learning and use of social skills, and promote critical thinking skills.

I Got This!
Sturdy Birdy
Hopscotch
Erector Set
Sensory Play (Water Beads)
Twister
Two-Wheeled Bike
Legos

Weighted Blankets

These are a great option for kids who might need extra input to help them relax at bedtime. The typical weight for a weighted blanket is 10% of child’s weight plus 1-3 pounds depending on the size of the blanket.

Paw Patrol Blanket
Frozen Blanket

These are just a few suggestions to support your child’s gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and support sensory integration this holiday season. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to occupational therapist or physical therapist on the Panel.


Susan Robins, PT
Pediatric Physical Therapist
susan@collaborativecorner.org

Aubrey Kohler, OTR/L, DRS
Occupational Therapist
aubrey@collaborativecorner.org

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