The holidays are upon us! Many parents are buried in a to do list which might include shopping for gifts for little ones. You also probably have family members asking you for gift ideas for your children.  

The giving season is a great time of year to reflect on the purpose of toys – which is to play! Play is a child’s work! It is how they learn, explore, and engage!  

But unfortunately, no matter what the advertisements tell you there is no “magical” list of toys for every child.  

Things to look for:  

• Toys that are ACTIVE! Toys that encourage active work could include scooping, driving, knocking down, singing, mixing, opening, or growling. Active play promotes experiential learning, exposes kids to new vocabulary and ideas, and encourages kids to interact with others 

• Toys that encourage PRETEND! Pretend play helps children process the world around them, create stories, and solve problems! 

• Toys that are OPEN ENDED! Look for toys you can play with in different ways. Every child plays differently, and this means these toys can also grow with your child. 

Things to avoid: 

• Toys that are PASSIVE. Toys that are mostly buttons or switches encourage passive play. Passive play is usually mostly watching. These toys also often encourage solitary play. We can’t learn language alone!  

• Toys that are geared as “learning” toys. These toys often use recorded messages to tell your child an idea rather than helping them experience the concept. Children will best learn concepts like numbers, letters, colors, and shapes by interacting with you through play! 

• “One hit wonders” – avoid toys that wow the child one or two times, and then they inevitably lose interest and move on. Noisy toys can also discourage your child from adding their own sound effects and words during play. 

Here are some ideas and toys that our therapists love!