OT Gift Guide: Toys and Tools That Build Skills

The holiday season is here — and that means it’s time to find gifts that bring joy while also supporting your child’s growth and development. As occupational therapists, we love when playtime becomes purposeful.

This OT-approved gift guide is packed with ideas that promote fine motor skills, sensory processing, coordination, creativity, and social-emotional development.

Infants (0–1 year)

Focus: Sensory exploration, visual tracking, and grasp and release

Top gift ideas:

• Soft textured rattles or crinkle books

• High-contrast board books

• Stacking cups or rings

• Baby-safe mirrors for tummy time

 OT Tip: Encourage reaching across the body and encourage tummy time — these early movements are the foundation for later motor coordination.

 Toddlers (1–3 years)

Focus: Gross motor, fine motor, imitation, and problem-solving

Top gift ideas:

• Shape sorters and nesting toys

• Push/pull toys or balance bike 

• Play tunnels or soft climbing blocks

• Simple puzzles with knobs to promote pincer grasp

 OT Tip: Two-handed play helps toddlers develop bilateral coordination — a key skill for dressing, feeding, and writing later on!

Preschoolers (3–5 years)

Focus: Pre-writing, sensory play, and social interaction

Top gift ideas:

• Play-Doh

• Magnetic tiles

• Fine motor games (“Pancake pile up,” “Yeti spaghetti”)

• Beginner scooter boards

 OT Tip: Pretend play builds language, creativity, and emotional regulation

 

Early Elementary (6–8 years)

Focus: Coordination, attention, and teamwork

Top gift ideas:

• LEGO sets or small construction kits

• Board games that build self-regulation (“Zingo,” “Headbanz,” “Uno”)

• Art supplies (Wikki Stix, interlocking beads, watercolor sets)

• Beginner sports gear (jump rope, mini basketball hoop on door)

• Balance toys (stepping stones, wobble board, balance beam)
  
  

 OT Tip: Board games are built for turn-taking, planning, and frustration tolerance.

 Older Kids & Tweens (9–12 years)

Focus: Executive functioning, creativity, and independence

Top gift ideas:

• Strategy games (Rush Hour, Kanoodle)

• Maker or craft kits (wood building, jewelry)

• Weighted lap pads or fidgets

• Journals or planners for time management practice

 OT Tip: Let your child help choose their gear — ownership builds motivation and self-confidence!

 

Teens & Young Adults

Focus: Stress management, organization, and self-care

Top gift ideas:

• Aromatherapy diffusers or weighted blankets

• Cooking tools for simple recipes

• Adult coloring books or sketch pads

• Digital planners or habit-tracking apps

• Experience gifts (art classes, rock climbing, volunteering)
  
  

 OT Tip: Experience-based gifts support real-world life skills and promote independence.

 

By choosing toys and tools that support sensory, motor, and social development, you’re giving your child the opportunity to learn through play — and that’s what OT is all about!

 

Please Contact Allcare Therapy Services if you have any questions!