We put together a list of some of our favorite games and activities for our 2019 holiday gift ideas. We separated them into general categories but most games and activities address multiple skill areas.
1-3 years old
Fine motor Games
Mr. Potato Head
Melissa & Doug Classic Peg Puzzle – Fish Colors Mix ‘n Match
Gator Grabbers or any tweezer toys
Hi Ho cherry-O
Don’t Spill the Beans
Ants in the Pants
Sneaky Snacky Squirrel
Froggy Feeding Fun
Fruit Stand Avalanche
Don’t Break the Ice
Spot it! Disney Frozen – Alphabet
Hohner Kids Toddler Music Band
Kinetic Sand/Sands Alive
Plasma Car
Tactile play/discrimination
Hide N Go Fish
Play Foam
Moon dough/sand
Play-doh
Finger Paint
Kinetic Sand/Sands Alive
Visual Perception/Ocular Motor
Jigsaw Puzzles
Bilateral Coordination/gross motor
Pull/Push Toys
Building toys
·Tunnel
Golf
Balance Boards
Hop Scotch Rug
Stomp Rocket
Bowling games
Parachute
Gator Golf
Target games
Cariboo (Cranium); Cranium Hullabaloo
Monster feet/Stompers
Flying Turtle scooter
Jump rope
Stepping Stones
Plasma car (this is often on sale via Zulily)
Building Toys: great for bilateral coordination, visual perception, motor planning and hand strength and control
K’nex (they have many products for all agess
Battat Take a part Airplane/Crane/Roadster/4×4
Zoobs Jr.
MagnaTiles
3-5 years old:
Fine motor Games
Melissa & Doug- Snap and Sort Color Puzzle
Gator Grabbers or any tweezer toys
Hi Ho cherry-O
Don’t Spill the Beans
Ants in the Pants
Sneaky Snacky Squirrel
Froggy Feeding Fun
Fruit Stand Avalanche
Don’t Break the Ice
Spot it! Disney Frozen – Alphabet
Spot it! Junior
Hohner Kids Toddler Music Band
Kinetic Sand/Sands Alive
Plasma Car
Scatterpillar scramble
Plush Craft Pillows
Perfection
Operation
Lite Brite
Wok N Roll
Pop the Pig game
Melissa & Doug Shape Sequence Sorting Set
Hungry Hungry Hippo
Pig/Dino Poppers
Tumbling Monkeys
Kerplunk
Operation game
Banana Blast
HoneyBee Tree
Tactile play/discrimination
Play Foam
Moon dough/sand
Play-doh
Finger Paint
Kinetic Sand/Sands Alive
Ned’s head
Operation Brain Surgery
Cut Crease Create Blue
The Touch
Shark Mania
Visual Perception/Ocular Motor
Jigsaw Puzzles
Tricky Fingers
Bilateral Coordination/gross motor
Hop Scotch Rug
Stomp Rocket
Bowling games
Parachute
Gator Golf
Target games
Cariboo (Cranium); Cranium Hullabaloo
Monster feet/Stompers
Flying Turtle scooter
Jump rope
Stepping Stones
Plasma car (this is often on sale via Zulily)
Kite
Hula-Baloo
Hippity Hop
Balance Board (ex. Alex Monkey)
Card Games
Cat in the Hat I Can Do That!
Melissa & Doug Shape Sequence Sorting Set
Building Toys: great for bilateral coordination, visual perception, motor planning and hand strength and control
K’nex (they have many products for all ages)
Battat Take a part Airplane/Crane/Roadster/4×4
Zoobs Jr.
MagnaTiles
Melissa & Doug 60-Piece Standard Unit Blocks
Tinkertoy Building Set
Legos
Super Stretch ABC
Others
Nickelodeon, Paw Patrol – Look-out Play set
Doc McStuffins All Better Game
Moustache Smash
Logic Links
5-8 years:
Fine motor Games
Pig/Dino Poppers
Tumbling Monkeys
Kerplunk
Operation game
Jenga
Topple
Jenga
Quirkle
Kerplunk!
Connect 4
Mancala
Othello
Blokus
Tricky Fingers
Dr. Microbe
Dr. Eureka
Rainbow Loom
There are more strategy and fine motor games for older kids listed under ocular motor/perceptual
Tactile play/discrimination
Cut Crease Create Blue
The Touch
Shark Mania
Visual Perception/Ocular Motor
SprayZa
Richard Scarry Busy Town (I Spy)
Spot it
Rush Hour Jr.
Bingo
Guess Who
Connect Four
Jigsaw Puzzle
Moustache Smash
Electric Snap Circuits
Mancala
Q-bitz
Goldie Blox (all different themes)
Battle Ship
Simon
Fibber
Jake and the Never Land Pirates Who Shook Hook Adventure Board Game
Gravity Maze
Dr. Eureka
Lava Lamps
Mastermind
Rush Hour
Amazing Labyrinth
Scrabble
Passwords (10+ years)
Others
Moustache Smash
Logic Links
Bilateral Coordination/gross motor
Twister
Wobble Deck
Card Games (great for bilateral use of hands, visual perception/scanning, processing)
Cat in the Hat I Can Do That!
Melissa & Doug Shape Sequence Sorting Set
Spot It (now with 20+ editions!)
Uno
Blink
Pictureka
Apples to Apples Jr
Cranium Brain Breaks
Tapple – Fast Word Fun for Everyone
Auditory Processing Games/Auditory Stimulation
Music
Instruments
Turn and Tell Wooden Clock
Plan Toys Preschool Musical Band
Loopz Game
Bop-it (also good for bilateral coordination)
Brain Warp
Cranium Brain Breaks
Building Toys:
Zoobs
The Learning Journey Techno Gears Marble Mania Vortex 2.0 Construction Set
Spirograph Deluxe Design Set
Melissa & Doug Suspend
Electric Snap Circuits
Gravitrax
Hydraulic Engineer Kit
Activities to provide Vestibular and Proprioceptive Input
Scooters
Ride-on Toys
Swings
Exercise balls
Sit-n-spin
Bicycle/Tricycle
Bean Bag Chair
Memory Foam Pillow Chairs
Rocking chairs
Ball Chairs
Medicine Ball
Weighted Items
Rody Pony
Carpet Skates
Cranium Hullabaloo
Resistance Play Tunnel
Body Sock (ex. Space Explorer for fun and function)
Bazoongi Bouncer Trampoline
Crafts/Art Supplies/Projects
Stickers
Finger Paint
Paints
Scrapbook supplies
Beads/string
Craft kits
Stamps
Sponges for sponge paint
Molding Dough/Clay
Model Kits
Play Doh and Tools
Weaving Loom
Tile and Mosaics
Paper (construction/Tissue/roll for easel)
Crayola Color Wonder paint/markers/paper
Spirograph Deluxe Design Set
Cut Crease Create Blue
Paint- Your- Own Rocks
Crafts can be enjoyable, relaxing and build skills such as organization, perception and motor control. Jewelry making, woodworking, the popular rainbow looms. Even making your own play-dough or paints can be a lot of fun!
If your little one likes to bake/cook or just be a helper in the kitchen, encourage this! Gifts for a young cook could include a little apron or chef’s hat, a stool to reach the counter, a cookbook. There are so many tools in the kitchen that promote coordination and strength; rolling pin, measuring cups, whisk, tongs and just our hands!
Props and Toys to promote pretend play are always beneficial as well.
One of your child’s main occupations is to PLAY! That is how they learn about the world they live in, develop and strengthen their skills.
We hope this list may give you some ideas of how so many toys and games can facilitate skills in so many developmental areas. Multi-sensory input is so important for developing brains and bodies!
We wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday season!