Gifts That Give More Gift Guide & Contest
Beautifully wrapped presents, surprises from Santa, stockings overflowing with goodies galore, ‘tis the season for gift giving!
Your little ones have most likely scoured store catalogs and flyers for the newest toys and must-have items to add to their gift wish lists. And, while you’ll want to have some of those special items under the tree, you should also consider gifts that are not only fun but offer developmental benefits as well.
“The best toys to give children are those that promote developmental growth during play,” said Allison Crumpler, a speech-language pathologist and the director of clinical compliance for Raleigh Therapy Services. “There are plenty of popular toys that help support and advance fine and gross motor skills, balance, memorization, imagination, social interactions, speech and much more.”
Our Raleigh Therapy Services’ team of expert pediatric speech-language pathologists and physical and occupational therapists use an assortment of learning toys and games in the therapy services they provide to their young patients. They’ve handpicked their favorite learning toys from Learning Express Toys of Raleigh-North Hills for you to consider as you start to shop.
Gifts That Give More
Infants to 12 months
Chewbeads & Bobeads
Age:
6 months and up
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Safe teething option
- Helps to strengthen jaw muscles needed for chewing
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Safe “chewing” option for oral seeking children who feel the urge to put objects in their mouths
Lollacup
Age:
9 months and up
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Supports straw drinking technique
- Straw drinking helps contribute to development of lip and mouth muscles needed for speech and sound production
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Holding the handles and cup help with fine motor skill improvement
- Helps children develop self-feeding skills
Take-Along Shape Sorter
Age:
9 months and up
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Supports shape and color identification and recognition
- Enables child to follow simple directions
- Introduces turn-taking opportunities
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Involves fine motor muscles for grasping and placing pieces
- Supports tactile exploration
- Promotes problem-solving strategies
Gross Motor
- Supports motor coordination development
1 to 2 Years
Migoga Junior
Age:
18 months to 5 years
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Introduces new vocabulary
- Supports color identification and recognition
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Involves fine motor muscles for grasping and placing pieces
- Helps develop hand-eye coordination
- Supports tactile exploration and auditory input
- Promotes problem-solving strategies
Gross Motor
- Supports hand-eye coordination
SpinAgain Stack
Age:
1 to 3 years
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Supports shape and color identification and recognition
- Enables child to follow simple directions
- Introduces turn-taking opportunities
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Involves fine motor muscles for grasping and placing pieces
- Helps develop hand-eye coordination
- Supports tactile exploration
- Promotes problem-solving strategies
Gross Motor
- Supports bilateral coordination
iPlay Funtime Tractor
Age:
1 to 3 years
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Introduces animal and environmental sounds
- Supports animal identification and recognition
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Involves fine motor muscles for grasping and placing pieces
- Helps develop hand-eye coordination
- Supports tactile exploration and auditory input
Gross Motor
- Encourages mobility
- Supports bilateral coordination
Touch & Feel Books
Age:
1 to 4 years
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Helps to increase vocabulary
- Introduces item labeling opportunities
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Page turning engages fine motor movements
- Touching and feeling support sensory opportunities and introduces new textures
Kidoozie Sand ‘N Splash Activity Table
Age:
2 to 8 years
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Encourages pretend play to promote language development
- Introduces opportunities for social interaction
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Supports fine motor control development
- Supports tactile exploration
Gross Motor
- Encourages mobility
- Supports hand-eye and bilateral coordination
Zoku Quick Pop Maker & Fish Pops
Age:
2 years and up
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Introduces opportunities to target and increase tongue range needed for speech
- Offers exciting way to introduce new food flavors and textures
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Supports oral tactile exploration
3 to 5 years
Wikki Stix Traveler
Age:
3 years and up
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Supports letter, shape and color identification and recognition
- Encourages pretend play to promote language development
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Involves fine motor muscles for grasping and placing pieces
- Supports tactile exploration
Gross Motor
- Supports hand-eye and bilateral coordination
Kidoozie Pop-Up ‘N Play Goal
Age:
3 years and up
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Introduces turn-taking opportunities
- Introduces opportunities for social interaction
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Involves proprioceptive input
- Promotes sensory regulation
- Encourages coordinated movement of the eyes, head, and body
Gross Motor
- Encourages mobility
- Supports bilateral coordination
- Engages both legs and arms
Fold & Go Trampoline
Age:
3 to 8 years
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Introduces turn-taking opportunities
- Introduces opportunities for social interaction
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Involves proprioceptive input
- Promotes sensory regulation
- Encourages coordinated movement of the eyes, head, and body
Gross Motor
- Helps to strengthen core muscles and movements
- Encourages balance and stability
- Engages both legs and arms
Bead Bouquet
Age:
4 to 8 years
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Introduces new shapes, colors, and patterns
- Enables child to follow simple directions
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Involves fine motor muscles for grasping and placing pieces
- Supports tactile exploration
- Promotes visual spatial awareness
Boogie Board Jot & Mermaid Sequin Board
Age:
4 years and up
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Supports letter and shape identification and recognition
- Encourages letter and sound correspondence
- Enables child to follow simple directions
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Involves fine motor muscles for grasping and writing/drawing
- Supports tactile exploration
Spooner Freestyle Board
Age:
4 years and up
Developmental benefits:
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Promotes sensory regulation
- Encourages coordinated movement of the eyes, head, and body
Gross Motor
- Helps to strengthen core muscles and movements
- Encourages balance and stability
- Engages both legs and arms
Hopscotch Action Game
Age:
5 years and up
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Introduces turn-taking opportunities
- Promotes sequencing
- Introduces opportunities for social interaction
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Promotes visual spatial awareness
- Encourages coordinated movement of the eyes, head, and body
Gross Motor
- Helps to strengthen core muscles and movements
- Encourages balance and stability
- Engages both legs and arms
Rush Hour Traffic Jam Logic Game Jr.
Age:
5 years and up
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Introduces turn-taking opportunities
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Involves fine motor muscles for grasping and placing pieces
- Helps develop hand-eye coordination
- Supports tactile exploration
- Promotes problem-solving strategies
Gross Motor
- Supports bilateral coordination
6 years and up
Sing-Along Pro Karaoke Microphone
Age:
6 years and up
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Promotes sound/word/phrase imitation
- Encourages melodic intonation and volume control
- Develops storytelling abilities
- Introduces turn-taking opportunities
- Introduces opportunities for social interaction
Rubik’s Race
Age:
7 years and up
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Introduces turn-taking opportunities
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Involves fine motor muscles for grasping and placing pieces
- Helps develop hand-eye coordination
- Supports tactile exploration
- Promotes problem-solving strategies
Gross Motor
- Supports bilateral coordination
Crazy Aaron’s Mixed by Me Glow in the Dark Thinking Putty Kit
Age:
8 years and up
Developmental benefits:
Speech/Language
- Enables child to follow simple directions
- Promotes sequencing
Fine Motor/Sensory
- Involves fine motor muscles for grasping, mixing, etc.
- Supports tactile exploration
- Promotes sensory regulation
Gross Motor
- Supports bilateral coordination
Enter to Win!
Filed under: Gift Guide, Parenting Tips