Occupational Therapy Gift Guide
With the holidays quickly approaching our team of occupational therapists share their gift guide that help promote OT skills!This is a subtitle for your new post
As a pediatric occupational therapist, we have the opportunity to work on promoting all kinds of fine motor and visual motor skills through play! And with the holidays quickly approaching, many families ask about recommended toys for their children for this holiday season! Listed below is a gift guide featuring some favorite toys of occupational therapists.
Poke-A-Dot Book
Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Z-Poke-dot-iKids/dp/1601694806
Ages: 1+ years old
Cost: $10.99
Promotes: There are so many different books in this style and they can promote learning numbers, letters, animals. Poking each of the buttons on the pages can help promote isolation of index finger!
Mr. Potato Head
Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Playskool-Potato-Head-Suitcase-Toddler/dp/B0050QJTBA
Ages: 2+
Cost: $19.99
Promote: Mr. Potato head is a classic! Manipulating the small pieces can promote fine motor skills, while using both hands (one to hold the head and the other to put pieces in) promotes bilateral coordination! It is also a great way to promote body awareness and play skills.
Stacking Rings
Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-N8248-Brilliant-Basics-Rock-a-Stack/dp/B00000IZQP
Ages: 6 months+
Cost: $6.99
Promotes: Another classic toy that is great for younger aged children. This toy promotes grasping and fine motor skills when holding and playing with the rings. It also promotes visual motor skills when stacking the rings in the correct order and placing rings on center peg. This toy can promote gross motor skills depending on the positioning of your child's body and placement of the toy!
Bath Tub Crayons
Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Crayola-Bathtub-Crayons-Assorted-Colors/dp/B0043BYOO0
Ages: 2+ years
Cost: $11.95 (for pack of 2)
Promotes: These washable crayons are to use on the bathtub wall! Drawing on a vertical surface (such as a bathtub wall) can promote shoulder strength and use of age-appropriate pencil grasp patterns. Additionally, these can promote pre-writing skills in a fun way or make bath time more enjoyable!
Marble Run
Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Meland-Learning-Educational-Construction-Building/dp/B0762HXK1Q
Ages: 4+ years old
Cost: $31.79
Promotes: Putting together these pieces to create large marble mazes can promote your child using both hands together, learning to use appropriate amounts of pressure to join pieces together, as well as problem-solving skills!
Reusable Sticker Pads
Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Reusable-Sticker-Pads/dp/B00FS5LQFK
Ages: 3+
Cost: $11.19
Promotes: These reusable stickers are great to promote fine motor skills and play skills!
Wooden Tool Kit
Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Take-Along-Wooden-Construction/dp/B00005RF5D
Ages: 3+
Cost: $14.99
Promotes: A child using one hand to hold a nail while using other hand to hold the tool can promote bilateral coordination. Holding the tools can promote age-appropriate pencil grasp patterns for toddlers, and as well as dexterity. This toy is also a great way to promote pretend play skills.
Pretend Play Food Set
Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Battat-Farmers-Kitchen-Accessories-Toddlers/dp/B01NBXZGVP
Ages: 3+ years
Cost: $11.95
Promotes: Using the play knife to “cut” play foods promotes bilateral coordination skills. This toy also promotes positive food experiences and pretend play skills.
Animal Popper Toys
Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Hog-Wild-Pig-Popper-Toy/dp/B003A0UDRC
Ages: 3+ years old (due to small parts)
Skills: These simple poppers are a great way to work on hand strength as a child has to squeeze the animal belly to push to ball out! Also, your child will have to use both hands to place the ball back in the toy and can help with bilateral coordination. These toys come in SO many different animals and characters in order to promote more engagement with your child!
Promotes: hand strength, bilateral coordination, play skills
Price: $10.99 (Amazon)
Play-Doh
Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Play-Doh-Dinosaur-Non-Toxic-Modeling-Exclusive/dp/B085WNKP4Z
Ages: 3+ years
Skills: Play-doh is a favorite among pediatric occupational therapists! Rolling the play-doh into logs or balls promotes fine motor skills. This set comes with child-safe scissors which can be a fun and safe way to practice scissor skills!
Price: $14.99
Indestructible Books
Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Indestructibles-Baby-Faces-Amy-Pixton/dp/0761168818
Ages: 0+ years
Skills: There are so many different versions of these indestructible books and this is just one example of the many out there! This is a great toy for children who may play a bit “rougher” and can promote learning of numbers, letters, and animals!
Price: $5.95
Check out our Physical Therapy Gift Guide!
![We’ve loved seeing your stories roll in over the past couple weeks and wanted to share one of our own, thanks to therapists Lauren & Maya and their friend Tiffany. ❤️
Last week, OT Ms. Lauren and ST Ms. Maya accompanied Tiffany on a HUGE adventure, attending the Special Needs Camp of Kentucky for activities, friendship, and growth ? Headquartered in Bath County, SNCKI is free to attend, with nearly 100 campers enrolled this year! Ms. Lauren shared her thoughts with the HTP team when she got home: “The other campers welcomed [Tiffany] with open arms, and she made so many new friends…A space where 76 teens/adults with disabilities of all kinds were free to just be them and make those connections with each other while having tons of fun. We have had moments that were trickier to navigate, but we did it together.”
One of the nights was family and community night, featuring a group dance and a talent showcase. ?Lauren said, “The amount of love and support in the gym was out of this world. For her mom to see that, to know that we’ve got her girl no matter what, means more than any treatment code or note I could ever write. She is already asking when she gets to come back…and even told her mom to ‘buy a new house at camp’? If you are not already, follow Special Needs Connections of Kentucky, Inc on facebook. They are doing such AMAZING things for our community here and deserve so much support.” ? We couldn’t agree more!
Therapy isn’t about treatment codes, billable hours, documentation, or recertification. It’s about the meaningful moments and the love we pour into these children every single day. This is why Hogg Therapy exists—to give every child the opportunity to experience a meaningful, joyful life. ✨ Thank you, Lauren and Maya for your support both in and outside of the clinic and for sharing this story! ?](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/747807719_18212073508337241_9129116297997701917_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=XHWOHNKbqngQ7kNvwHBxO-E&_nc_oc=Ado6shBMUfaBbZ4ewjx0ivsZmxI_fDZ3qAY3DldBqXDoVKuwiNEucbVIUkydJ_cKjYc&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=tmMyfCr378Iv_Aft0I3jYg&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQGDVFuEfoEQVHEgbaA488GpRxUyYqQIz3mP49J3luHFJ4FMgtgD9ThkqrO7X9_C_5QES4483Mcu8g&oh=00_AQA0IGFjWY5AjnjQz_Us-AnR5TEAJE-ZyT4xxDkEHJ0ypQ&oe=6A6EB98A)
![We’re sharing an occupational therapy success story from OT Mrs. Abby today! ? Meet Grayson! When he first started occupational therapy, everyday life felt hard. He was experiencing significant picky eating, struggled with daily routines and transitions, and had a difficult time managing big emotions.
Since then, Grayson has put in so much hard work. Through OT, he has built confidence, strengthened his self-regulation skills, and learned to take on new and challenging tasks with courage. Every small step has added up to something truly amazing! One of the biggest reasons for Grayson’s success has been the incredible partnership with his parents. They fully embraced therapy beyond the clinic by consistently practicing strategies at home through his Home Exercise Program (HEP). Their dedication, encouragement, and willingness to try new approaches have made all the difference.
Today, Grayson is trying new foods every week, navigating daily routines with greater independence, and enjoying more successful, joyful moments with his family. His growth is a wonderful reminder of what can happen when a determined child, committed caregivers, and a supportive therapy team work together.
?Congratulations, Grayson! We are so proud of everything you’ve accomplished, and we’re celebrating your amazing parents, too. Your hard work, perseverance, and teamwork are inspiring! ?
[This story & all photos shared with parent permission ??] #occupationaltherapy #hoggtherapypediatrics #hoggtherapy #feedingtherapy](https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/742695277_18211398901337241_3568386461214310976_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=oR7_fz2gWMoQ7kNvwGnz8pQ&_nc_oc=AdqSMqOpbiDNBQw4xWhycD-xWb8DSLuKHZEUuqtSVv1Hc5rG4oCHYfewJ1ud8NCskWA&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=tmMyfCr378Iv_Aft0I3jYg&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQFfV3AddsrTYYTl5xAyDImzDnBtwWOzSOLjTkzgdhMVb3i0ofNEDjHUCwrdBgbhsFgW1cYIcKB4rQ&oh=00_AQDxl6J3tRCCp9l30gDYebPNmyUMsLuqEhcMhmAGBWETQg&oe=6A6ED04E)
