OT Corner: Holiday Gift Ideas with an OT Twist
By Amy Wagenfeld, Ph.D., OTR/L
Originally printed in December, 2004

I would like to offer you some holiday gift ideas that warm my OT heart.  What you will 
find below is a list of ideas, separated according to age groups.  I will also have you 
refer to the 'code' that indicates why a particular toy has made my list.  The coded 
letter(s) will follow each gift idea.  Please let me know what your top picks are as well!

F	=	Fine motor
G	=	Gross motor
H	=	Handwriting/pre-writing
S	=	Sensory
V	=	Visual perception

Birth to 18-months

1.	crib mobiles and toys  S, V
2.	musical toys  S, V, F
3.	rattles with LOTS of different types of handles and sounds  F, S
4.	shape sorters  V, S, F
5.	jingle socks or wrist bands  G, S, V
6.	climbing tunnels  G, S, V
7.	soft squeeze toys  F, S
8.	cloth or heavy cardboard books, especially those that invite the baby to 
        participate by touching  F, V, H, S
9.	lullaby CD's (don't forget that your voice is the preferable one though!)  S
10.	bubbles (for you to blow)  V, S

18-months to 3-years

1.	chunky trucks and other vehicles - I am the old fashioned type who likes 
        them without all kinds of noise makers - I like to hear children make the 
        vehicle sounds  G, F, S, V
2.	bubbles and bubble toys (that are not choking hazards)  V, S
3.	play balls (there are many textured balls available that are very nice)  G, V, S
4.	percussion instruments  F, S
5.	large handled tops  V, F
6.	stacking and nesting cups  V, F
7.	simple dressing dolls (with zippers, Velcro, and large buttons - safety checked first!)  V, F
8.	rocking horses  G, V, S
9.	dress up clothes  F, V, S
10.	wooden blocks - preferably a set that has a variety of shapes  V, F
11.	riding toys that are "child" propelled  G, S

3 to 5-years

1.	toy hammer and workbench  V, F, S
2.	simple puzzles  V, F
3.	smaller handled tops  V, F
4.	oversized tongs or tweezers  V, F
5.	markers shaped like animals (contact me if you want a source for them)  H, F, V
6.	sand and water toys  V, G, F, S
7.	pretend play toys such as play food and pots and pans  F, V
8.	building toys such as Duplos(tm) or Kapla(tm)  V, F, S
9.	toy flutes or whistles  S, F
10.	wind up toys  F, V

5 to 7-years

1.	chalkboard  V, F, H
2.	easel (free standing or table top)  V, F, H
3.	Wiggle Writer(tm) (vibrating) pen  V, F, H, S
4.	Doodle Tops(tm)  V, F, H
5.	fun markers or pencils  V, F, H, S
6.	maze books  V, F, H
7.	simple word search books  V, F, H
8.	Hippity Hop(tm) toy  G, V, S
9.	large (24"+) diameter play balls  G, V, S
10.	potholder loom  V, F, S
11.	noisy clay, such as Gak(tm)  F, S

8 to 10-years

1.	crossword puzzle books  V, F, H
2.	Sculpy(tm) clay  F, S
3.	cat's cradle string and book  V, F
4.	origami (simple) kit  V, F
5.	cursive writing books  V, F, H
6.	gel writer pens and black paper  V, F, H
7.	board games such as Scrabble Junior(tm) and Operation(tm)  V, F
8.	finger skate boards, bikes, and snow boards  V, F
9.	jacks  V, F, S
10.	stickers and sticker book  V, F

These are just a few rather low-tech ideas.  I frequently find great little fine 
and sensory motor toys in the party favor bins at toy stores.  Next month, we will 
finish up talking about body mechanics and after that, start talking about kindergarten 
and preschool readiness, then move onto the whole OT services thing, and then ramp up 
into handwriting.  Until then, have a great month!