Holiday Gift Guide 2025: Safe, Skill-Building Toys Recommended by Our TES Providers - Total Education Solutions

Holiday Gift Guide 2025: Safe, Skill-Building Toys Recommended by Our TES Providers

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December is Safe Toy and Gift Month, making it the perfect time to choose holiday presents that are not only fun but also support your child’s growth, development, and confidence.

To help make shopping easier, our Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), Speech Therapy, and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) providers hand-selected their favorite toys. These toys develop important skills through play while maintaining safety and age appropriateness.

Below, you’ll find our curated list along with affiliate links for toys available on Amazon. If you choose to purchase through our links, a small portion of the sale supports our programs at no additional cost to you.


Occupational Therapy (OT) Toy Recommendations

Perfect for building fine motor skills, hand strength, bilateral coordination, sensory exploration, and early pre-writing skills.

1. Kinetic Sand KitGreat for sensory play and hand strengthening. [Click Here]

2. Therapy PuttySupports hand strength, finger dexterity, and grip development. [Click Here]

3. Pop BeadsEncourages bilateral coordination and hand-eye precision while creating fun bead chains. [Click Here]

4. Lacing Beads or Lacing BoardPromotes fine motor control, sequencing, and attention. [Click Here]

5. Nuts & Bolts Builder SetImproves grasp strength and problem-solving skills. [Click Here]


Physical Therapy (PT) Toy Recommendations

These toys help develop balance, coordination, gross motor strength, motor planning, and active play.

1. Stomp RocketJumping + aiming = a great blend of power and coordination. [Click Here]

2. Obstacle Course ConesCreate endless indoor or outdoor movement challenges. [Click Here]

3. Floor Dots / Agility SpotsPerfect for agility drills, balance practice, and direction following.
[Click Here]

4. Ball Toss & Catch SetBoosts hand-eye coordination and bilateral skills. [Click Here]

5. Ride-On ScooterStrengthens core muscles, coordination, and balance. [Click Here]


Speech Therapy Toy Recommendations

Great for developing expressive language, vocabulary, pretend play, and early communication skills.

1. Farm Animal SetPerfect for labeling, sound imitation, and storytelling. [Click Here]

2. Food Play SetEncourages pretend play, vocabulary development, and social interaction. [Click Here]

3. Magnetic Story TilesSupports sequencing, language expansion, and creativity. [Click Here]

4. Mr. Potato HeadA classic for teaching body parts, directions, and turn-taking. [Click Here]

5. First Words Picture CardsIdeal for early vocabulary and articulation practice. [Click Here]


ABA Toy Recommendations

These toys promote social skills, imitation, cause-and-effect learning, pretend play, and cognitive development through structured, fun activities.

1. Musical Instrument SetGreat for imitation, rhythm, creativity, problem solving, and sensory regulation. [Click Here]

2. Doctor KitSupports pretend play, desensitization, and role-playing skills. [Click Here]

3. Marble RunInstant cause-and-effect fun and a great way to practice following directions.
[Click Here]

4. Two-Piece Matching PuzzlesBuilds early matching, visual discrimination, and problem-solving skills. [Click Here]

5. Baby Doll SetEncourages nurturing play, daily routine imitation, and social-emotional skills. [Click Here]


Safe Toy Tips for the Holidays

When choosing toys this season, keep these tips in mind:

  • Select age-appropriate toys with clearly labeled safety information.
  • Avoid small pieces for children under age 3.
  • Look for toys made from non-toxic materials.
  • Make sure ride-on toys are used with supervision and safety gear.
  • Check toys regularly for wear or damage.

Happy Holidays from TES!

We hope this guide helps make your holiday shopping easier and supports meaningful play throughout the season. Safe, skill-building toys can spark joy while helping your child grow in ways that last far beyond the holidays.

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