Gift Ideas from CSS
Gift-giving is an art that goes beyond mere material exchange; it’s an opportunity to inspire and nurture growth, especially when choosing presents for children. As speech and occupational therapists, we understand the importance of selecting gifts that stimulate a child’s development. In this blog, we’ll explore thoughtful and purposeful gift ideas that not only bring joy but also contribute to a child’s speech and occupational skills.
Choosing gifts that align with the principles of speech and occupational therapy not only brings joy to a child but also plays a crucial role in their holistic development. Whether it’s honing language skills, refining fine or gross motor abilities, or fostering creativity, thoughtful gifts can make a lasting impact on a child’s journey toward growth and self-discovery. As therapists, we encourage parents, family members, and friends to consider the developmental benefits when selecting presents, transforming gift-giving into a meaningful and supportive experience.
Here’s a list of gift ideas:
1 – Fine Motor Skills Toys:
Building blocks or Legos
Playdough or clay with tools
Puzzles with large, easy-to-grasp pieces
Bead kits
Small, child-friendly scissors for cutting practice
Scissor skills workbook and scissor
2 – Gross Motor Skills Toys:
Jump ropes
Adjustable Size Colorful Jump Rope for Kids and Teens
Obstacle Course Toys
Balance boards or stability balls
Scooters or ride-on toys
Sports equipment (e.g., soccer ball, basketball)
3 – Sensory Toys:
Fidget toys (e.g., stress balls, textured items)
Kinetic sand or sensory bins
Stationery Fun at The Farm Sensory Bin Kit
Weighted blankets or lap pads
Vibrating toys or massagers
Talk Tool Mouth Vibration Jiggler
4 – Therapist Recommended Board Games:
Peaceable Kingdom Friends and Neighbors
Tetra Tower Game-Balance Stacking Block
Games that involve movement or physical activity
The Original The Floor is Lava!
5 – Books:
Interactive books with textures or flaps
Fish Baby Books Toys, Touch and Feel Cloth Soft Crinkle
Picture books that explore emotions
A Little SPOT of Emotion 8 Plush Toys with Feelings Book Box Set
Visual Perception Books
6 – Therapy Swings and seats:
Kangaroo Chair
7 – Educational Toys:
STEM toys (science, technology, engineering, and math)
Osmo – Genius Starter Kit for iPad & iPhone
Building and construction sets
Creative Construction Engineering
Early Learning Toys
Musical instruments for auditory stimulation
8 – Adaptive Equipment:
Adaptive utensils and plates for mealtime
Specialized writing tools for better grip
When choosing gifts for kids, it’s important to select items that promote communication, language development, and speech skills.
Here are some gift ideas:
1 – Books:
Interactive books with flaps, textures, or sound buttons.
Baby Einstein – Amazing Animals
Picture books with clear and expressive illustrations, and repetitive and rhyming text.
Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up?
Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up?
2 – Educational Games:
Games that promote vocabulary development and language skills.
Bilingual Learning Toys for Children
Word-building games like Scrabble or Bananagrams.
Sentence Building Kit for Kids
Board games that encourage communication and turn-taking.
Link Alike Social Skills Game for Kids
3 – Articulation Games:
Games specifically designed for speech sound practice.
Sound Hounds Word Building Card Game
Super Duper Publications | Say and Do® S, R, L and Blends Artic Games
Flashcards with pictures and words for targeted speech sounds.
Talking Flash Cards for Toddlers
Coogam Short Vowel Spelling Flashcards
4 – Puzzles with Speech Components:
Puzzles with pieces that have letters, numbers, or words.
Wooden Number and Alphabet Puzzles
The Learning Journey: Match It!
5 – Language Apps:
Educational apps that focus on language development and communication skills.
Apps that offer interactive stories or language-building activities.
6 – Toys that Encourage Pretend Play:
Dolls and action figures to encourage storytelling and role-playing.
Playsets with miniature scenes for imaginative play and language development.
7 – Board Games that Encourage Conversation:
Games that involve discussion and sharing of thoughts, like storytelling games.
Games that prompt questions and encourage expressive language.
BestSelf Conversation Cards for Kids
Link Alike Social Skills Game for Kids
Zingo – Bingo game with pictures
8 – Musical Instruments:
Instruments that encourage vocalization and rhythm, such as shakers or tambourines.
Musical Instruments Set Natural Wooden
Karaoke machines for singing along and practicing speech sounds.
9 – Language-Enriching DVDs or CDs:
Educational DVDs or CDs that focus on language development.
Music CDs with sing-along songs and repetitive lyrics.
10 – Interactive Learning Toys:
Electronic learning toys that reinforce language skills.
Toys that respond to voice commands or encourage conversation.
11 – Storytelling Kits:
Kits that include story cards, props, and activities to inspire storytelling.
Story cubes for creating unique and imaginative stories.
Social-Emotional Storytelling Kits