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My favorite toys as a pediatric occupational therapist
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items Hi! I’m Mackenzie! I’m am a pediatric occupational therapist who has worked both in an outpatient clinic and inpatient in the hospital. These are my TOP toys for both settings! Feel free to check it out!
Sections
5
Fine motor
Gross motor
Visual motor
Sensory processing
Self care
Fine motor
Great for younger 1-2 year old beginning initiation of bead stringing due to wooden dowel.
TOP BRIGHT Wooden Lacing Beads for Toddlers
Great for fine motor grasp hand strengthening
Squigz - Best Bath Toys for Ages 3 to 5
Great for hand strengthening to assemble and disassemble. Large animals easier the task however still challenging due to resistance of plastic
Learning Resources Snap-n-Learn Matching Dinos
Promotes age appropriate grasping pattern for kiddos learning to write.
Jumbo Crayons
Amazing for fine motor coordination and manipulation along with visual motor of identifying colors and matching. Great for ages 3-6
AluAbi Button Art Toys, Color Matching Pegboard
Gross motor
Great for balance coordination- additionally with texture on the feet benefits tactile sensory processing
Stepping Stones for Kids – Balance & Movement Toy for Playrooms
Core strengthening development can be used from young ages (3 months) to older adults
Exercise Balls & Accessories
Promotes hand and knee play for kids of all ages
Hide N Side 6ft Crawl Through Play Tunnel
A ball- any medium sized ball. Great to practice throwing, catching with two hands. As well as kicking!
Balls For Kids
I love these scooter because not only can it support with lower body strengthening with kiddo pulling themselves with their legs but that will also support with core strengthening. Additionally kiddo can lay on it and use their arms to propel them an...
hand2mind Blue Indoor Scooter Board with Handles
Visual motor
Great for progression of placing pegs in a hole, but additionally adds increased complexity as child ages by including number recognition and math
Counting Peg Board - Montessori Math for Kids
Large knob handles with different shapes help with beginning progression of visual motor skills by identifying location of where pieces should be placed. Large know helps with ease of manipulation of pieces in hands
Target
Great for visual motor development by manipulating coins in hand to be placed into thin slit at top of piggy bank toy
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank, Interactive Baby Toy
Stacking cups is great for promoting visual motor engagement identifying size of next cup and lining up to limit the tower from falling!
The First Years Stack & Count Stacking Cups
THIS TOY! It is in my top 5 favorite toys, not only does it promote visual motor development but also it helps with color identification and provides calming visual sensory input
Spinning Stacking Rings Educational Toddler Toy
Sensory processing
Great for sensory tactile and visual exploration in 0-2!
Inbeby 16 Set Assorted Textured Sensory Mats
Any swing- you can just go to a park too! But promotes vestibular input! Back and forth input is calming, spinning helps alert kiddos!
Swurfer Coconut Baby Swing
Any toy that includes bouncing (even if just jumping on the ground) provides proprioreceptive input which calms and supports regulating the body
Fisher-Price WonderJump 36" Round Indoor Trampoline Kids Toy, Multicolor
For indoor play I love kinetic sand! It allows kids to experiment with building but also provides tactile sensory input!
Kinetic Sand | One Pile of Sand, Endless Possibilities
I love body socks! They provide sensory input and containment feeling which is calming and regulating for kids, kids love to run and play in them because it calms so well. NOTE: make sure to look at sizing
SANHO Yopo Dynamic Movement Sensory Sox, M
Self care
Easy to use for parents and great visual aid for kids
Upgraded 2 in 1 Bedtime & Morning Routine Chart
These light up for time needed to brush teeth, great visual cues for young toddlers/kids for length of time needed to brush teeth
Toothbrush – FIREFLY
Built up handle supports with grasping and bowl/plate to mouth feeding development
DRKIO 8-Piece Toddler Utensils Set Silicone
Caregivers can help with straw introduction by squeezing bear and controlling the flow at which water is recieved
The Original Honey Bear with Flexible Straw
This is a great visual cue for toileting including a visual tracker towards a reward and a visual schedule for while in the bathroom.
Bright Seed Reusable Magnetic Cars Potty Chart