6 Toddler Christmas Gifts to Help Develop Gross Motor Skills
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Time for us moms to run around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to make everything perfect for the holidays. Don’t get me wrong, there is truly something magical about Christmas, especially with a toddler. Seeing things through my son’s eyes put them in a whole new light! This will be the first Christmas that E kind of sort of understands what’s going on. He enjoys unwrapping presents and likes looking at the lights and listening to Christmas music. Christmas morning will be really fun this year!
There is nothing like the smiling faces of your child opening gifts on Christmas morning, but Katie and I both agree that we don’t want to buy toys just for the sake of our boys having extra things to open under the tree. Especially for us, as E’s birthday is in late November, he has no shortage of toys. Because of this, I make a huge effort this time of year to find things that are educational, sustainable and can help E work on age-appropriate skills. I know. This is the therapist side of my brain working and it sounds like I would be the worst gift giver ever, but I promise there are so many great toys out there that your child will love that also helps them develop their strength, coordination, and balance. Plus, all of these toys can be used indoors! So if you have weather like we do here in Michigan and your kiddo is stuck indoors a lot during the winter months, they can use these toys to burn off some energy. Check out my list of some of the best gross motor toys for toddlers:
P.S. You can shop the items on this list by clicking their names or visiting our Amazon Idea List directly right here
- Stepping Stones - These are one of my favorite tools to use with my PT clients, and one that kiddos love having at home! These stepping stones are perfect for creating obstacle courses and playing "the floor is lava". These help children develop their balance and their motor planning.
Help your kiddos build the skills to climb stairs safely by stepping from one stone to the next, one foot at a time
Practice their jumping stills by standing on the stepping stone and jumping down to the floor
Work on overall coordination and color recognition by playing “twister.” Older kiddos can work on identifying Right and Left with this game as well!
- Balance Beam - Not just for aspiring gymnasts! A balance beam is a great addition to any playroom. They are an awesome way to increase the difficulty in an obstacle course or make a "bridge" between one side of the room and the other. The boys have both used the beam picture/linked in our heading, but this beam is a great option too if you need to store it in a smaller space at home.
Improve balance by practicing walking forward, sideways or backwards from one side to the other
Working on jumping down from the beam, or for older kiddos jumping over the balance beam
Create your own obstacle course, for a fun activity place puzzle pieces on one end of the beam and the board on the other. Take turns carrying each piece across the beam before placing it on the board
Increase arm strength in older kiddos by having them place their hands on the floor and feet on the balance beam and “bear walk” across.
Photo Credit: Amazon.com
- Monster Feet - What kid doesn't like to pretend they're a monster?! These are essentially stilts for kids and are amazing for developing leg strength, balance, hand eye coordination and motor planning skills. All you have to do is have your kiddo stomp around the house and they will have a blast while getting stronger and challenging their brain. It's a win-win for everyone!
Have “Monster Races” down the hallway to see who is the fastest
Use painter’s tape on the floor to create curves or zig-zag paths to follow
- Trampoline - I begged my parents for a trampoline when I was a kiddo! Now I get to be the cool parent who actually got one for my son lol This toddler trampoline will not only help with your kids strength and balance it will also keep them entertained for hours when they're stuck inside during the winter months. The best part about this trampoline is that it folds up to nearly a quarter of it's size for east storage.
- Tunnel - Tunnels are always one of my son's favorite parts of the play ground, so why not bring one home?! This tunnel folds up so it is easy to store and is fun for both babies and big kids. Whether you have a crawler or a runner they will love playing with the tunnel. I love that this tunnel is light weight and made of a water resistent material so we use it indoors in the winter months and take it outside when it's warm!
Encourage new crawlers to move through the tunnel by placing toys half way through or at the end of the tunnel
Play hide and seek with toddlers
Play “Steam Roller” for sensory seekers or kiddos with high energy. Have them lay on their back inside the tunnel and roll side to side
- Fly Bar - This is the modern and (much safer) version of a pogo stick. Perfect for older toddlers (3+) who have mastered jumping on their own and have decent balance. Have them climb onto the fly bar and jump around to their hearts content. This toy will help improve balance, build leg and core strength and improve coordination. Fair warning: it does squeak every time they jump (every parent's worst nightmare)
If you’re looking for gifts that will keep your child moving and entertained, try these! Not only will these challenge their bodies, but they will challenge their brains as they develop hand-eye coordination and motor planning skills. Another bonus is that all of these gifts are “battery-free!” Not only does that mean that you don’t have to worry about having expensive batteries on hand on Christmas morning, but you also don’t have to worry about obnoxious songs and lights playing all day long. And while it’s nice not to have to listen to the same out-of-tune song over and over, battery-free toys encourage open-ended play and increase children’s imaginations. It’s a win-win!
Let us know which of these you have tried and loved! or any gifts we should add to the list!
