What's on my Wishlist?? A PT Approved Gifting Guide

Just in time for Black Friday…..phew! Just under the wire :)

I get asked a lot about the toys I have in my therapy bag and what I recommend for different ages and stages of development. There are seemingly endless options out there but throughout my career I’ve discovered a few brands that stand out.

BRANDS I LOVE:

  1. Fat Brain Toys - These have been a favorite of my children since they were infants. So many of their toys grow with your child and their easy to navigate website breaks products down by age.

  2. Lovevery - A subscription company focusing on play kits delivered every 3 months that target the key areas of development for that specific age. They also have a great block set and infant play gym. These are high quality toys that will last through multiple children and each kit even comes with a booklet of activity ideas for purposeful play with your little one!

  3. Lakeshore Learning - Not just for the classroom! Lakeshore Learning has gifts for all ages with a focus on learning. They have great STEM toys and even arts & crafts!

  4. Sassy Baby - Perfect for the littler ones in your house, Sassy Baby has great toys in bright contrasting colors that are super engaging for birth - 24 months.

  5. Haba Toys - Beautiful wooden toys made in Germany.

  6. Green Toys- 100% recycled toys made in the USA.

  7. Melissa and Doug- Toys that spark creativity, free and pretend play for all ages.

Now, I know you’re going to ask me what my favorite toys from all of those companies are, and honestly - my list is pretty exhaustive BUT I’m gonna put at least a few here for you to go off of for the holiday season. Happy shopping!

INFANTS 0-12 MONTHS:

Lovevery Play Gym - the perfect place for your baby to do their floor time! Babies need lots of free movement time for healthy development. Comes with toys to hang, black & white cards and mirror for visual engagement during tummy time and more!

Lovevery Play Kit Subscription - seriously you wont need any other toys for your little one. These kits will give you all you need to engage your little one during each developmental phase.

Sassy Suction Toy for High Chair etc. - I love that this can suction to any flat surface - like restaurant tables, high chairs etc! Great for sensory exploration

Haba Clutching Toy - great for teething and grasping!

Green Toys Rolling Elephant - perfect for when they start to crawl

Haba Soft Blocks - great for sensory exploration

Melissa and Doug Pop Up Tunnel - my favorite trick to motivate reluctant crawlers

Fat Brain Toys Rolling Giraffe - another good crawling toy

Skip Hop 3 in 1 Activity Table - I love a multipurpose item (don’t start using the exersaucer portion until baby is sitting up independently)

Toofeeze Teether - put in the freezer/fridge for the perfect cure for sore gums.

Baby Einstein Light Bar - teaches cause and effect

Sensory Ball Set

Rolling Light Up Monkey - great for crawlers


TODDLERS 12-24 Months

Little Balance Box Walker - simple is best when it comes to toys!

Fat Brain Toys Spin Again - one of my TOP toys!

Haba Shape Sorter - great for fine motor skills

Haba Rolling Dump Truck

Melissa and Doug Shopping Cart - use as a push walker and for pretend play

YBike Ride On Toy - can also be used as either a push walker or ride on toy - yay for multipurpose!

Fisher Price Piggy Bank - an all time favorite of all my PT clients

Never Touch A Dragon Book - my toddler loves the sensory inputs from this book

TODDLERS 2-3 YEARS

Magnatiles - endless open ended play and long term appeal even for older kids

Haba Toy Camera - great for pretend play

Melissa and Doug Latches Board - great busy board to develop fine motor skills.

Melissa and Doug Stacking & Nesting Alphabet Blocks - learn letters while building tall towers (we’ve used these in SO many different ways!)

Melissa and Doug Magnetic Fishing Puzzle - hand eye coordination + puzzle = win!

Green Toys Tea Set - good for pretend play


PRESCHOOLERS

Woom Balance Bike - highly recommend starting with a balance bike around age 3-4

Fat Brain Toys Squigz - endless uses for these fun little toys

Fat Brain Toys Teeter Popper - good indoor gross motor toy

Lakeshore Fort Building Kit - perfect for rainy or snowy days

Zingo Bingo - this gets played allllllll the time at my house and the kids can play it independently!

Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game - super cute game that incorporates fine motor skills

Fat Brain Toys Box & Balls - open ended toy with lots of variations

ThinkFun Marble Run - great for creative building

Wiki Stix - perfect for on-the-go and creativity

Mini Trampoline - great for gross motor development

Wobble Board - good addition to the playroom

And if you’re really ready to splurge….this is what I’m eyeing for our basement playroom:

EZPLAY Koala indoor gym

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