Our therapists have compiled a list of their favorite gift recommendations based on the age of your child.

Scroll down to the age range you are looking for and read the blurbs on why we love these toys. Click on each picture to shop online!

For Babies:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Sit to Stand Walker

The music and lights are great for keeping your baby’s attention during tummy time, sitting, side-sitting, and learning to walk!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Mirror

This portable mirror is perfect for addressing visual tracking and neck range of motion during tummy time.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Stacking Rings

This set of silicone stacking rings is great for sensory exposure, fine motor skills, bilateral coordination, visual perception, and hand-eye coordination.

See, Touch, Feel Book

This book is great for providing visual, tactile, and auditory sensory input during tummy time with your baby!

Speech Language Pathologist Danielle, seated in the Sensory Gym

Sensory Piano

This easy-activation keyboard is ideal for independent play while your baby is in tummy time, sitting, and learning to crawl.

Speech Language Pathologist Danielle, seated in the Sensory Gym

Water Mat

This inflatable mat is great for keeping your baby entertained during tummy time AND makes for mess-free sensory exploration!

For Kids Ages 1-2:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Little People Toys

These toys are fantastic for developing imaginative play and communication skills. PLUS they grow with your child!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Let's Learn Piggy

Piggy banks are great toys for learning visual and motor development; this one allows your child to pratice numbers and colors.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Knob Puzzles

Knob puzzles make it easy for your child to develop motor control, matching, manipulation, and visual perceptual skills through play!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Spin Again Toy

This “spin” on a stacking toy not only works on sorting and visual-motor skills, but it also provides a visual and auditory sensory component to increase your child’s engagement and attention.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Squigz

This is one of our Emerge favorites! It helps children learn the concept of pushing and pulling.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Hammering Toy

This safe hammering set allows for children to develop fine motor control and visual-motor skills.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Alphabet Alligators

This toy teaches motor control by pushing and pulling animal pieces together and apart. It also works on matching colors and can be used with older children for letter identification.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Play Tunnel

Tunnels encourage use of crawling which aids in gross motor development and provides sensory input. As children get older, they can be used to play sequencing games or provide a nice spot to relax!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Balance Bike

This bike is fantastic for gross motor development and overall environment exploration!

For Kids Ages 2-3:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Lacing Beads

This toy is great for motor skill development, learning shape identification, and learning how to count!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Velcro Food

This activity is fantastic for fostering imaginative play skills and provides opportunities for matching, fine motor coordination and strengthening.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Play Kitchen

So many imaginative play ideas! This set allows for opportunities to develop motor control when putting dishes and food away!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Cash Register

This seems to be one of our kid’s favorites! It’s wonderful for play skill and motor skill development.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Easel

This dual-sided easel helps with proper posture and mature grasp development. They are also a great way for children to develop their drawing skills!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

I Spy Books

These are a great item to have in the car to keep the kids interested and busy! They’re also perfect for practicing object identification and visual perceptual skills.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Cootie

This is a fun turn-taking game that also fosters fine motor control and bimanual coordination!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Let's Go Fishin'

Another “grow with me” game! As you catch the fish, you can practice color identification and fine motor control.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Magnetic Fishing Puzzle

This is another great puzzle for motor control! Younger kids can easily use the knobs and kids with more advanced motor control can use the rod.

For Kids Ages 4-5:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Sneaky Snacky Squirrel

We love this game for cooperative play and fine motor skill development. The tongs are great for development of grasp and hand strength.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Drill N' Design

This is a fun activity for creativity and the development of fine motor, visual-motor and visual perceptual skills.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Lite Brite

A classic! This activity provides opportunities for fine motor, visual motor and visual perceptual skills.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Tangrams

Tangrams are a great way to develop visual perceptual skills as well as motor control, problem solving and force grading.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Marble Run

Another Emerge favorite! This is a great way for children to foster their problem solving skills while also developing their fine motor coordination.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Guess Who

While usually recommended for children 6+, this activity can be modified in many ways to help with problem solving and language development!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Pop Beads

These are so great for fostering creativity as well as developing fine motor control.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Flexible Fingers

This is a great activity to work on fine motor skills and problem solving, especially while in the car!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Zoob Tubes

A great alternative to legos. These are perfect for working on fine motor skills and fostering problem solving and building skills!

Sensory Toys for All Ages:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Theraputty

This simple activity provides endless entertainment while providing opportunities for fine motor strengthening and heavy work for regulation. (recommended for ages 3+)

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Kinetic Sand

This is a great tactile activity for your children. The sand sticks to itself making it easier to build with it!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Water Table

This activity is really great for building fine motor coordination skills and is recommended for children 1+.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Scooter Board

Scooter boards provide proprioceptive or heavy work input to calm and regulate the body. Children can sit on this board or lay on their bellies!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Mini Trampoline

If your child has a lot of energy, the mini trampoline is a great way to provide movement input to regulate the body without going outside!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Body Sock

A body sock is a great way to provide tactile and proprioceptive input to calm the body. It also provides feedback for those children who have difficulty with spatial awareness.

Recommendations by Dr. Sarah Johnson OTD, OTR/L, CLC & Jessica Presnell MS, OTR/L
Guide created by Amanda Pahl

Related Blog Posts

10 Tips for a Sensory-Friendly 4th of July

The 4th of July is a time of celebration, filled with vibrant festivities, parades, barbecues, and, of course, fireworks. However, for children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), these activities can be overwhelming and distressing. As a parent, it's essential to...

Why You Should Be Getting Messy At Home!

We all know the saying “don’t cry over spilled milk”, but imagine it’s a busy morning getting the kids ready for school, lunches packed, and breakfast made, all while still preparing yourself for your own day ahead. A gallon of milk on the floor in the midst of that...

Season of Giving Food Drive

According to Feeding America, there are 1.2 million people in North Carolina that face food insecurity, 353,450 of which are children. This means 1 in 6 children are facing food insecurity.At Emerge, we have 6 core values that define our role in our community, the...

Locally Made Sensory-Friendly Clothing

This blog post is written by Lindsey Bendat, an Emerge parent who is starting her own sensory-friendly clothing business! You can help her with product development and testing by filling out the survey using the buttons below. The first 20 people to complete the...

Sensory-Friendly Halloween Costumes

Halloween is a fun and exciting holiday, but for kids with sensory differences or SPD, costumes can pose a challenge. Here are a few tips and tricks that may help your child with their Halloween costume this year.General Tips Check what materials the costume is made...

Related Videos