Toys and games that promote language, social communication, sensory regulation and fine motor skills

Looking for holiday gifts for little ones can be HARD, there are so many options that may make it difficult for parents or loved ones to find a gift that will keep a child engaged while also targeting some skills they are working on in therapy. We compiled a (short) list of some of our favorite toys and games that we use in speech and occupational therapy to help encourage expressive and receptive language, build core vocabulary, develop fine motor skills and explore our sensory system to help you navigate gift giving this season. Something these toys have in common are that they are simple and promote interactions, which from a social communication level--we love! These are for the most part very low-tech and allow room for the caregiver to model and encourage language while playing!

1. “Learning Resources Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog” (ages 18 months +): Language goals/core vocabulary to incorporate: “in/out, colors, my turn, pull, push.” Targets fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination.
2. “Melissa and Doug Pizza Party Wooden Play Food Set” (ages 3+): Language goals/ core vocabulary to incorporate: “more + food, counting, eat, I want + food, yummy, yuck!, cut.”
3. “B-Toys- Interactive Red Barn” (Ages 2+): Language goals/core vocabulary: “Ready, set, GO!, down, up, push, open, close, animal names + sounds, ball, roll, slide, spin, peek-a-boo!” Target spatial concepts, following 1-2 step directions and fine motor skills.
4. "Melissa and Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set” (ages 3+): Language goals/core vocabulary to incorporate: “more + flavor/color, on, off, help me, hot, cut, open.” Target spatial concepts (i.e. put it on top, take it off, cut.”
5. “Magna-Tiles” (ages 3+): Core vocabulary to incorporate when requesting additional tiles: “More + color, colors, shapes, up, down, on, off.” Can incorporate special concepts and following directions.
6. “Melissa and Doug Take Along Tool Kit Wooden Construction Toy” (ages 3+): Language goals/core vocabulary to incorporate: “bang bang, boom, turn, help, on, off, in, out and dump.” Targets fine motor skills with turning gears and tools.
7. “Ocean and Sand Sensory Bin” (ages 3+): Language goals/ core vocabulary to incorporate: “uh-oh, hide, my turn, shake shake, dig + animal names.” Targets fine motor skills, imaginative and sensory play skills.
8. “Melissa and Doug Examine and Treat Pet Vet Play Set” (ages 3+): Language goals/core vocabulary to incorporate: “Ouch! Boo-boo, help, open, shot, look!, dog, cat, meow, woof + body parts.”
9. “Melissa and Doug Magnetic Matching Picture Game” (Ages 3-5): Language goals/ core vocabulary to incorporate: “on, off, up, down, go, stop, swing, vroom, drive, bus, + farm animals.” Target spatial concepts, matching and following 1-2 step directions.
10. “Let’s Go Fishin” (ages 4+): Language goals to increase core vocabulary: Open/close + Colors. Fine motor skills: pincer grasp. Social communication: working on taking turns.