OT Approved Toy | 7 Etsy shops for OT Approved Toys

One of my favorite way to support small businesses (other than local businesses) is to shop on Etsy. I can find something handmade (often customized!), have it mailed to my door, AND support small businesses, all at the same time! Can't beat that! In honor of Small Business Saturday, I'd like to share a few of my favorite Etsy shops.

Here are seven great Etsy shops with OT approved toys:

1. Imagination Kids | This shop features a variety of hand made wooden toys. OT Approved: Wooden Rainbow Stacker, Inchworm Push Toy, Wooden Vegetable Play Food.
2. Beeps Peeps | This shop sells hand sewn items for toys for babies and toddlers. OT Approved: On-the-go Car Mat, On-the-go Train Mat, and Customized Soft Storybook.
3. CakeInTheMorn | This shop features Montessori toys, felt stories, and flannel boards. OT Approved: Fabric Marble Maze.
4. MASProductionArts | This shop features Montessori and Waldorf inspired travel toys. OT Approved: Color Sorting Toys, and I-Spy Seek and Find Bottle.
5. JanetR Designs | This shop features I-Spy Bags and sensory gifts: OT Approved: I-Spy Bag.
6. Little Sapling Toys | This shop features a huge variety of wooden toys for kids. OT Approved: Peg Puzzle, Wooden Lacing Toy, Wood Baby Teether, Wooden Toy Car, Wooden Baby Rattle.
7. apple n amos | This shop features eco friendly Waldorf and Montessori wooden toys. OT Approved: Wooden Ring Stacker, Classic Cup N Ball Game.

Bonus shop: 

Can Do Kiddo | As I mentioned in my post earlier today, Rachel Coley is a pediatric occupational therapist who has used her knowledge as both a new mom and an occupational therapist to create activity play mat quilts for babies. These quilts are awesome and would make a great gift for the new mom or baby in your life!

Update: The Inspired Treehouse put together a similar list with their favorite Etsy shops. Be sure to head over to their blog and check it out!


Do you have any favorite Etsy shops that you would add to this list? Please share in the comments below!
 

OT Approved Toy | Small Business Saturday

Over the past month, I've been sharing some of my favorite toys. While I do stand by all of the toys that I have shared, they tend to be toys that are from big-box retailers (but be sure to check your local toy store, they might be there too!). Today, in honor of Small Business Saturday, I'd like to share a few OT approved toys that come from small businesses. Some of them are even toys created by occupational therapists! Double win!

Rachel Coley, of CanDoKiddo, is a pediatric occupational therapist and she has used her knowledge as a new mom and OT to create activity play mat quilts for babies. These play mats feature 45 creative play activities to promote development during the first four months of life. Great for the new babies or soon-to-be parents in your life!

Tonya Cooley, of Therapy Fun Zone, is also a pediatric occupational therapist has created a fun Munchy Ball Game. This game helps develop fine motor skills and would make a great stocking stuffer! Great for ages 4-6.

Together, Nicole M. Sergent, a pediatric physical therapist, and Lacy Morise, a speech language pathologist, created a set of child development cards called 1-2-3 Just Play With Me. This set of 75 cards provides information about developmental milestones, as well as activities to help develop skills in children ages 0-3. This would make a great gift for the new parent in your life!

Shasta Kearns Moore is a mother to twins, one of which has cerebral palsy. She noticed that her boys loved simple books, but got bored of reading the same books over and over, so she created her own! The reason her book is OT approved is because it is all black and white. Her book, Dark & Light, is full of simple, high contrast images, which babies love to look at!

OT Approved Toy | Morphology

You guys, I'm not going to lie. This game is hard! Morphology is a bit different from the other toys and games I have been sharing, in the sense that it doesn't have a direct motor component (although it does require fine motor skills to manipulate the pieces). What I really love about this game is the creativity and flexible thinking required. In this team game, one person is chosen to be the "morphologist." That person must "morph" the game pieces into the word on the card, and the teammates have one minute to guess the word. There are both "easy" and "hard" words to choose from, as well as a clue. Can you guess what the pieces in the picture above are?


Best for ages: 10 and up

Side note: I once played this game with a group of freshman that I was running a Social Thinking group with, and they complained about playing a "Junior" version of a game. I told them that I am waaaay older than them, and I play the Junior version of the game myself. After one round, they all agreed that Junior was the way to go :) It appears that Morphology Games has since re-released this game, and it looks like the original Morphology Junior is now being sold simply as Morphology. Probably because this game is challenging enough as it is.

Skills addressed: 

• fine motor
• turn taking
• cooperative play
• executive functions (initiating, planning, sequencing, recall)

Where to buy:

Purchase Morphology on Amazon.

For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: This game was received complimentary of Morphology Games in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions and writing are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links. 

OT Approved Toy | Frida's Fruit Fiesta Game

Yesterday I shared The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game and today I'm back with another educational toy with tongs. (Remember? OT's love tongs!) In this game, there are three spinners, which really just adds to the fun (and provides more opportunities for visual scanning!). Use the Frida Tongs to pick up a letter that matches a letter from your spin and place it on the corresponding letter on your card. First to to get four fruit bowls in a row wins!

Best for ages: 4-6 years

Skills addressed: 

• fine motor
• visual scanning
• letter identification
• turn taking
• cooperative play

 

Similar games: 

Here are some more fun games from Educational Insights that work on similar skills and have tongs! Have I mentioned that I love preschool boardgames with tongs?
Frankie's Food Truck Fiasco Game - Seriously? A food truck game? What's not to love about that?
Shelby's Snack Shack Game - For the dog lovers out there!
The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game - The original Educational Insights board game with tongs!

 

Where to buy:

Purchase Frida's Fruit Fiesta Game on Amazon or directly from Educational Insights.

For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: This game was received complimentary of Educational Insights in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon and Educational Insights are affiliate links. 

OT Approved Toy | The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game

Educational Insights consistently knocks it out of the park with their games. Like so many of their games, The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game not only has great artwork, but also works on fine motor skills. Yay! OT's love tongs for developing fine motor skills and strengthening the muscles of little hands and guess what? This game includes a squirrel that is actually tongs!! The concept of this game is similar to Hi Ho Cherry-O, but the players use the squirrel tongs to pick up the little acorns and place on their logs. Be the first to fill your log with acorns and you win!

Best for ages: 3-5 years

Skills addressed: 

• fine motor
• color identification
• matching
• counting
• turn taking
• cooperative play

If you love this game, you might also like The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Card Game. I haven't seen the game myself, but I hear speech language pathologists love it!

Where to buy:

Purchase The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game on Amazon or directly from Educational Insights.

Similar games: 

Here are some more fun games from Educational Insights that work on similar skills and have tongs! Have I mentioned that I love preschool boardgames with tongs?
Frankie's Food Truck Fiasco Game - Seriously? A food truck game? What's not to love about that?
Shelby's Snack Shack Game - For the dog lovers out there!
Frida's Fruit Fiesta Game - Tongs and letter identification. Yes!


For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: This game was received complimentary of Educational Insights in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon and Educational Insights are affiliate links. 

In My Therapy Bag | Lauren from The Inspired Treehouse

Today I am so excited to welcome Lauren from The Inspired Treehouse! Lauren is a pediatric physical therapist and is part of the amazing trio that makes up The Inspired Treehouse, an educational blog packed full of great child development tips from pediatric physical and occupational therapists. Read on to see what Lauren has in her therapy bag and then be sure to hop on over to their blog for more great tips!

What's in my therapy bag?

 

My therapy bag is a huge abyss of toys that the kiddos I work with dig through with a vengeance the minute I set it down. One of the most popular toys in that bag is my set of Stepping Stones. This simple toy is perfect for tackling all kinds of developmental skills - teaching balance and coordination while providing sensory feedback in the form of proprioceptive and auditory stimulation (they are filled with air and make a great little gushing noise when you step on them).   I use them the traditional way -- encouraging kids to step on them -- and I mix it up and use them in ways that are certainly unintended but definitely beneficial for child development!  I also have a set of Flip Flop Faces that get thrown in the mix of stepping stones too!

How I use stepping stones in therapy:

 

The Stepping Stones come in a set of 6 and can be used in a million ways to create all kinds of great gross motor activities.  Here are some ideas:

-You can space them out to create a path that your child can walk on through their very own “garden”.  If your child is smaller, be sure to put them closer together to make it easier to get from stone to stone.  Place your garden objects randomly on the ground along this path and have your child try to pick them up as she goes! The challenge for the child is to stay on those stepping stones as she walks and as she squats down to pick up the objects.  When I do this in therapy sessions, I tell the kids to pretend that there is a river that they are trying to cross.  If they fall off, their feet will get all wet!  Every child LOVES this challenge!

-Walk without shoes to make this a bit easier — greater proprioceptive input!  :)

-If walking across the path is too difficult for your child, have the child try standing on two stones — one foot on each.  Just balancing here may be difficult enough to start!  When that gets easier, try playing catch with him while he’s balancing on his two stones!

-Space the stones even farther apart for a greater challenge or put them in a curvy line instead of straight.

-Place objects between the stones that your child would have to step over before getting to the next stone for an added dose of motor planning, balance, and coordination practice.

-These stones are numbered so mix up the numbers and ask your child to hand you 5 flowers or 3 sticks…whatever corresponds to the numbered stone they are standing on.

-Need some friendly competition and have a few kiddos around?  Have each child try to stand on one foot on a stone.  Who can do this the longest without falling off?

-Need a creative way to use stepping stones without really stepping on them?   Your kiddos can use them as bowls to catch a tossed beanbag or walk with them on their head to encourage good posture!

Your child will probably come up with a few ways of her own to play with these super fun “stones”.  If so, please let us know what they are…we may be able to add them to the tricks in our therapy bag!  :)

Connect with The Inspired Treehouse:

Website: www.theinspiredtreehouse.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/inspired.treehouse
Instagram: www.instagram.com/insptreehouse
Twitter: www.twitter.com/inspiredtree
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/inspiredtreehou/
Google+: www.plus.google.com/u/0/+Theinspiredtreehouse/posts

Be sure to check out all of the other great posts in this series to find out what must-have items therapists have in their therapy bags.

Do you have an item in your therapy bag that you'd like to share? I'd love for you to share it in an upcoming post! Just send me an email, AbbyPediatricOT {at} gmail {dot} com for more information. Open to all therapists! You don't have to be a blogger to participate!

OT Approved Toy | Mega Bloks

I LOVE building toys! They are great for pretend play, as well as for developing fine motor skills. I especially like Mega Bloks because the size and ease of connecting the blocks is great for a first building block set. I use these when babies are first learning the concept of pulling apart and pushing together. They are also great for practicing releasing objects into a container. As kids get older, you can sort by size or color for more educational activities.

 
Best for ages: 1 - 4 years

Skills addressed: 

• fine motor
• grasping/releasing
• bilateral coordination 
• pretend play 
• eye hand coordination

 

If your kids are a bit older:

I recommend Lego Duplo Blocks for ages 3 -5 and traditional Lego Blocks for ages 5 and up.

Where to buy:

Mega Bloks can an typically be found anywhere that toys are sold. You can also find a wide selection on Amazon.



For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links. 

OT Approved Toy | Play-Doh

I LOVE Play-Doh! I use Play-Doh nearly every day in my therapy sessions because I'm able to address so many different skills with it. Oh, and the kids love it, too! The original Play-Doh comes in a variety of colors, or you can make your own! I personally like to make my own so I can customize the color and even the scent for an extra sensory component. Once you have your Play-Doh, then the fun begins! Grab a few things from your kitchen and start playing! A rolling pin, some cookie cutters, and even toothpicks are a great place to start! OT's also love to use Play-Doh to teach scissor skills. For even more ideas, this post is full of homemade playdough recipes and lots of fun activities.

 
Best for ages: 2 - 6 years

Skills addressed: 

• fine motor
• hand strength
• grasping
• bilateral coordination 
• sensory exploration
• pretend play

 

Where to buy:

Play-doh can an typically be found anywhere that toys are sold. You can also find a wide selection of colors and accessories on Amazon. Or, you can go with my personal favorite, and make your own!


For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links. 

OT Approved Toy | 12 piece puzzle

I LOVE these 12-piece puzzles from Melissa and Doug! They are a great way to introduce interlocking puzzles to preschool age kids. Twelve pieces seems to be just the right number for it to be a challenge, but not too much of a challenge. In the OT world we call that the just-right fit. I have this set of vehicle puzzles, and they are a hit among boys and girls. Another thing that I really like about these puzzles is that the back of the puzzle pieces are labeled with a shape. It helps keep the puzzles organized, and also adds another educational factor: sorting!

 
Best for ages: 3-6 years

Skills addressed: 

• fine motor
• hand eye coordination
• visual perceptual
• sorting
• matching

 

Where to buy:

Michaels carries Melissa and Doug products and they frequently have 40% off coupons available on their website! That's how I purchased mine! Michaels in-store selection can be better than their online, but it really varies by location. You can also find a wide selection of 12-piece puzzles by Melissa and Doug on Amazon.

For younger kids interested in puzzles, smaller peg puzzles are great for 2-3 year-olds developing a pincer grasp, and larger knob puzzles make a great first puzzle for babies!


For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links. 

OT Approved Toy | Wooden Knob Puzzle

Puzzles with wooden knobs make great first puzzles for babies. The knobs are easy for little hands to grasp and the shapes are often larger than other puzzles, making it easier to place the puzzle pieces in the puzzle. I personally love Melissa and Doug products, although I've noticed the Amazon reviews have been going down a bit (quality issues maybe?). With that said, I have this geometric puzzle from Melissa and Doug, and I love it! I love that it works on basic colors and shapes, in addition to developing fine motor skills!

 
Best for ages: 12 - 24 months

Skills addressed: 

• fine motor
• grasping
• hand eye coordination
• visual perceptual
• matching

 

Where to buy:

Michaels carries Melissa and Doug products and they frequently have 40% off coupons available on their website! Michaels in-store selection can be better than their online, but it really varies by location. You can also find a wide selection of knob puzzles on Amazon.

For older kids interested in puzzles, smaller peg puzzles are great for 2-3 year old kids developing a pincer grasp, and these 12-piece puzzles are great for preschoolers!


For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links. 

OT Approved Toy | Design and Drill Socket to Me

I've written about Design and Drill Socket to Me before and for the record, six months later, kids still love this toy! This is such a simple toy that when I first opened the box, I thought, "wait? that's it?" Yes, it's just four shapes (robot, boat, rocket, car), a bunch of bolts, and a wrench. And it's simplicity is what makes it so awesome! Seriously, I cannot tell you how much the kids I work with love this toy. I think the Design and Drill Socket to Me would also be great for a preschool or kindergarten fine motor station. Is there a teacher in your life that a needs a gift this holiday season? This might be a great addition to their classroom!

Best for ages: 3-5 years

Skills addressed: 

• fine motor
• bilateral coordination
• color identification
• sorting
• matching
• counting

 

Where to buy:

Purchase Design and Drill Socket to Me on Amazon or directly from Educational Insights.


For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: This game was received complimentary of Educational Insights in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon and Educational Insights are affiliate links.

OT Approved Toy | Robot Face Race

You guys. This game is so cute. I'm not going to lie, I'm a sucker for great artwork in a board game and like many Educational Insights games, Robot Face Race does not disappoint in that department. But really, cute artwork aside, this game is an OT's dream! First, shake the Robot Randomizer, which will show you the colors of the robot's face, eyes, nose, and mouth. Then everyone scans the game board full of robot faces to find the ONE robot face that matches. The first player to find the matching robot earns a token. Gather five tokens to win the game! This is such a fun and simple game for young children AND it works on so many visual skills at the same time! Like I said, an OT's dream game.

Best for ages: 4-8 years

Skills addressed: 

• visual perceptual
• visual scanning
• visual discrimination
• turn taking
• cooperative play

 

Where to buy:

Purchase Robot Face Race on Amazon or directly from Educational Insights. If you know a kid that likes Robot Face Race, then they might like Spot It, too!

For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: This game was received complimentary of Educational Insights in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon and Educational Insights are affiliate links. 

OT Approved Toy | Mr. Potato Head

Mr. Potato Head is a classic toy that OTs love. Why do we love this toy? Because, as MamaOT points out, it is such a versatile toy that can be used to facilitate so many skills. Grasping, body awareness, bilateral coordination...the list goes on and on. You know what else is great about this classic toy? Kids love it! That a win-win! Speech therapists love Mr. Potato Head, too!

 
Best for ages: 2 - 5 years

Skills addressed: 

• fine motor
• hand eye coordination
• bilateral coordination 
• body awareness
• pretend play

 

Where to buy:

Mr. Potato Head (and Mrs. and many other varieties, too!) can typically be found anywhere that toys are sold. You can also find a wide selection on Amazon.


For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links. 

OT Approved Toy | Pop-Up Toy

A pop up toy is a classic baby toy that is a favorite of therapists. It's even in Natalie's PT toolbox! As an OT, I like this simple toy because it works on fine motor skills, as well as cause and effect. Babies like pushing the animals down and then as they get older, they develop the skills to manipulate the buttons and knobs. It can also be a motivating toy for encouraging kids to crawl, cruise, or walk!
 
Best for ages: 6 months - 2 years

Skills addressed: 

• fine motor
• cause and effect
• animal identification

 

Where to buy:

This is one of those toys that you can find fairly easily at yard sales and second hand stores, but if you don't have time to hunt for one you can always order it from Amazon.


For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links. 

OT Approved Toy | Plastic Rings

Plastic rings are such a simple toy, but they provide a great amount of entertainment for babies. Rings are great for reaching, grasping, and tactile exploration. Attach them to the car seat or stroller for toys that can't be thrown while on the go! These rings are also great to attach to a baby gym for extra opportunities to reach and grasp. I especially like the plastic rings that are textured and babies usually like them too-for feeling with their hands and with their mouth!
 
Best for ages: newborn - 12 months

Skills addressed: 

• reaching
• grasping
• hand eye coordination
• tactile exploration
• oral exploration

For more toy ideas for babies, check out Holiday Gift Guide for Babies and Mama OT's 15 Toys for Baby's First Year.

 

Where to buy:

These can be found at most stores that sell baby toys, including the dollar store! If you prefer, you can order them from Amazon.


For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links.

OT Approved Toy | Wooden Lacing Beads

Wooden lacing beads are classic, simple and sturdy. What more can you ask for? Oh, and they're great for developing fine motor skills, too! Wooden beads come in so many shapes and colors, you're sure to find something that matches your child's interests! To add in an educational component, you can also use the beads for sorting and counting. Or hide the beads in a sensory bin for some fun tactile exploration.

 
Best for ages: 2 - 5 years

Skills addressed: 

• fine motor
• hand eye coordination
• bilateral coordination

 

Where to buy:

I personally like to pick up Melissa and Doug toys at Michaels when I have one of those infamous 40% off coupons. It's hard to beat that deal for such high quality toys! If you prefer (and for a wider selection) you can order wooden beads from Amazon. If the selection is too overwhelming, I personally like these ones and you can find the farm animal beads pictured above here.


For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links. 

In My Therapy Bag | Deborah from North Shore Pediatric Therapy

Please welcome Deborah Michael from North Shore Pediatric Therapy! Deborah is a pediatric occupational therapist and the founder of North Shore Pediatric Therapy. With four locations in the Chicago area, she and her colleagues help each child blossom to their ultimate potential.

What's in my therapy bag?

One fabulous tool for your occupational therapy toolbox is theraputty. This tool is a resistant play dough that works on strengthening the small muscles of the hands and fingers. Theraputty can be used in a variety of ways to improve hand strength, while also being highly motivating for children.

8 Fun Ways to Use Theraputty to Develop Hand Strength:

1. Hide marbles or buttons in the putty, and have your child go on a treasure hunt to find the items.
2. After your child finds the objects in the putty, have him hide them in the putty and give the putty to a sibling to go on a treasure hunt.
3. Hide plastic alphabet letters in the theraputty. When your child finds one, have him practice writing the letter or words that begin with that letter. 
4.  Use theraputty as a fidget tool or squeeze ball. Form the theraputty into a round ball and have him squeeze it multiple times.
5. Use theraputty as play dough during play time. Have your child create animals, shapes or other creatures out of the putty. 
6.  Practice feeding utensil skills by cutting theraputty with a fork and knife. 
7.  Hide coins in the putty. What your child finds, he can keep! 
8.  Hide game pieces in putty (i.e. Checkers pieces, pawns for Sorry!) before family game night. Your child has to find the pieces in order to play the game.

These activities using theraputty develop your child’s hand strength, which will facilitate fine motor skills, handwriting and the ability to independently complete tasks.

Connect with North Shore Pediatric Therapy:

Website: www.nspt4kids.com
Blog: www.nspt4kids.com/resources/blog
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NSPT4kids
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/nspt4kids
Twitter: www.twitter.com/nspt4kids

Be sure to check out all of the other great posts in this series to find out what must-have items therapists have in their therapy bags!!

Do you have an item in your therapy bag that you'd like to share? I'd love for you to share it in an upcoming post! Just send me an email, AbbyPediatricOT {at} gmail {dot} com for more information. Open to all therapists! You don't have to be a blogger to participate!

OT Approved Toy | Musical Book

This musical book is engaging and motivating for babies. Babies love the colors and lights, and of course, the music! For busy babies who aren't willing to sit and look at a standard book, this can be a good alternative. As an OT, what I really like about this musical book, is that the animal on the edges work as tabs for babies to grab onto to help turn the pages. Another bonus, this is a very durable toy!

Best for ages: 6 months - 2 years

Skills addressed: 

• fine motor
• bilateral coordination
• cause and effect
• pre-literacy

 

Where to buy:

I believe this toy (or similar) is available at most big stores, like Target or Toys R Us, or you can always order it from Amazon.


For more OT Approved Toys, be sure to stop by my Toy Page.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links.