‘Tis the season for holiday cheer and gift giving to our loved ones! Follow this occupational therapy gift guide for toy ideas to help facilitate improving your child’s skills in the different areas of OT. 

Sensorimotor: The following items help provide sensory seekers with increased inputs by promoting movement and heavy work. 

• Scooter Board 
• Trampoline 
• Sit and Spin 
• Doorway Swing 
• Three-Step Slide 
• Crash Pad 
• Pop-Up Tunnel 
• Therapy Ball 

Sensory Regulation: These items are great for kids that need help with calming and regulating their bodies. 

• Inflatable Lounger 
• Lycra Body Sock 
• Vibrating Pillow 
• Vibrating Animal Massager 
• Wiggle Seat 
• Liquid Lava Timer 
• Squishy Balls 
• Tent 

Tactile Exploration: We love messy play! These items promote tactile (touch) exploration which improves awareness of the hands as well as sensory processing. 

• Water Beads 
• Shaving Cream 
• Kinetic Sand 
• Floam 
• Instant Snow 
• Colored Sand 
• Water/Sand Table 
• Beads  

Fine Motor and Visual-Motor: These items promote using the eyes and hands together, as well as increasing hand and finger strength necessary for school skills and self-care tasks. 

• Wooden Lacing Kit 
• Bee Hive and Tongs Game 
• Beading/Stringing Kit 
• Pop Tubes 
• TheraPutty Set 
• Wind-Up Toys 
• Large Droppers 
• Bristle Blocks 
• Build and Play Dinosaurs 
• 12-Piece Jigsaw Puzzles 
• 24-Piece Jigsaw Puzzles 

 Reach out to your child’s occupational therapist for more gift ideas or instruction on how to use these items! Happy holidays from your Blue Bird family!