Gift Guide season is here! It can be challenging to provide you with ideas that are different from the other gift guides out there. Before I get ideas from the various gift guides popping up, I wanted to share what is on our list of gifts we plan on purchasing for our kiddos, nieces and nephews and a few of my favorites as an OT!
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For the littlest ones on your list up to 18 months…
These play silks are great for so many ages- babies love them when you play peek-a-book you can place it in an empty tissue box and work on grasping, as kids grow they can become super hero capes or princess capes!
These are some of my tried and true favorites as well as some items I wish my kids had when they were this little! You can never go wrong with Grimms wooden toys- the stacker and grasping ball toy are just perfect and outstanding quality- something you will want to hold onto and pass onto your children’s kids!!! The Mozart music cube is something all kids seem to love- it can help teach rhythm and of course cause and effect with this push-button toy!
My kids LOVED and still use this wooden stroller- it is so much better than the plastic ones around… We also got so much use out of ball pit balls- put them in a laundry basket for little ones and then as they grow throw it in a bounce house for extra fun!!!
I always wanted one of these for my kiddos when they were little- I have no doubt in my head that they would still like it though! This is so so great for developing strength, motor planning skills, and getting some energy out for little ones!
For the 18 month- 3 year old….
This bounce house and Monkey Jump are the gifts that keeps on giving- so many ages love them and they last a long time! So great for rainy indoor days, burning some energy during the witching hours, or for a fun play date!
These are all such favorites for us! The Micro Mini scooter has lasted us YEARS!! It has been amazing watching kids master scootering on these scooters- the ride is so smooth! These drill pictures are so fun and work fine motor skills…Magnatiles, Magnatiles, Magnatiles- we ask for them every. single. year! You can’t have too many and there are SO many ways to play with them- they even stick to garage doors, metal deck wires, amaze us on the light table, are beautiful silhouetted against a window with afternoon light streaming in…
We have loved our Tee-pee so much- it even makes me happy just looking at it! The Kwik Stix are a favorite for mess-free art projects! They glide on the paper and the colors are very vibrant. The wooden marble tree is great for visual tracking, fine motor skills, and can be very calming for kids
For the 3 to 6 year old on your list….
Swings are such great gifts! They also grow with the kiddos so it is a gift that keeps on giving! I’ve been eyeing these climbing domes- I remember loving one at a park I played at as a child.
We love this balance board- for standing on, laying on to read, pretend play - it’s amazing!
My kids have LOVED using a Polaroid camera- I also love seeing the world through their lens (literally!) This digital camera is very cool!
Craft kits are always fun and Kids Made Modern makes such nice quality products. Marble Runs are so great for problem solving and building visual motor, motor planning, and fine motor skills!!! Weighted blankets are becoming more mainstream and affordable! You want to keep the weight at about 5-10% of your child’s body weight- it is so calming! Hello good nights’ sleep!
For the 6-9 year old….
This age group might really enjoy some craft kits- from Rainbow Looms, Friendship Bracelets to outer space STEM kits! Kids in this age range might also love more multi-step activities like Sculpey clay that can be baked and you can make the coolest things from beads, bowls, figurines, earrings, necklaces… the options are endless! And what can be more fun than a telescope, origami, or a beeswax candle kit?! Some of these gifts might even work for the 9-12 year old!
Stocking Stuffers….
These stocking stuffers are so great for building skills and some practical uses! In our household, we just discovered these Paint by Sticker books! We love the Land of Dough natural play dough, and this knitting fork is on my list to get for my 6 year old!
This was so fun to put together- if I get more ideas I’ll update it throughout the season! Please comment if you have some other great gift ideas!!!
