2020 Holiday Gift Guides-Toys and Such

For some reason, it was harder to put this list together this year. As I am finishing it up, I am realizing that I was trying my absolute hardest to curate a list of toys that are not just for particular age groups, but also ones that would grow with your child and be good for family play. In this crazy year, I have heard from so many parents that they would rather get their children fewer but more meaningful gifts so as I was putting this list together, I was thinking about things that I would have wanted for my own daughter when she was younger. I was also mindful about sharing gifts this year that were more sensory and provided more hands-on learning opportunities since another concern parents had this year was to limit the gifts that they purchased that would have them on a screen of some sort. Another aspect of all these toys is that they can be used in multiple ways in order to work on a variety of skills based on what your child's interests and developmental needs might be. The last thing I wanted to include were open-ended toys that allow children to use their creativity and imagination instead of having to follow exact rules and expectations. I have found that in the last several months that kids are feeling a lack of control (rightly so) and that during my sessions I want to provide the comfort of providing them with structure and routine while also giving them choices at the same time. 

Innybin-Fat Brain Toys creates some of my all time favorite sensory exploration toys for the little ones on your list who aren't quite ready for your traditional shape sorter. Young kids push different large textured shapes through a bunch of elastic bands and then try and retrieve them. This simple toy works on the development of so many essential skills for children between 6 months and 2 years such as encouraging fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, provides an opportunity for sensory/tactile exploration and begins to teach young kids about cause and effect. 

Wooden Pastel Stacking Tower-who isn't familiar with the old-school Fisher-Price Rainbow Stacking toy from my childhood? Even if you are way younger than me, you know what toy I am talking about. Over the years, I have become a huge fan of wooden toys so when I saw this beautiful stacking toy by Avdar Toys on the Rose & Rex shop, I was sold. Stacking toys, while so simple, are a perfect addition to any baby/toddlers toy collection. Even before we can expect them to stack them in order, we want provide children with opportunities to explore and manipulate different sized objects. Next we want them to be able to pick the rings up and place them on the stand and eventually be able to place them in the right order. In addition to working on fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, stacking towers work on developing hand-eye coordination, bilateral coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and problem solving skills. 

Lalaboom Snap Beads-there are a few things that should always be part of a toddler's toy collection and snap beads are definitely one of those things. I have been using and gifting the Lalaboom beads for a few years now and really them because they are more than just pop beads and do so much more than the traditional ones. They can be used with children as young as 6-8 months (depending on when they begin to sit up unassisted) and because of their very special design, can be used with toddlers and even preschoolers. This set of 15 colored beads come in a variety of textures which encourages sensory exploration for younger children. Each bead can be twisted into two pieces and be mixed and matched with the other beads in the set. These are also designed so that kids can stack them and build with them and also have holes in them so you can string them with the provided needle and string in the kit. In addition to working on fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, they are great for working on encouraging bilateral and hand-eye coordination, increased upper body strength and when used for open-ended play, encourages creativity, imagination and problem solving skills. 

Lalaboom Pegboard-piggybacking on the Lalaboom Snap Beads, I have to share this cool pegboard that you can using the beads. It actually just arrived and I can't wait to test it out with my kids at work this week. Unlike the traditional pegboards where you push the peg in/pull the peg out, you have to twist these beads on and off the board. This set comes with 1 pegboard, 5-double sided cards and 10 beads of various colors and textures. One of the things that I love about this company and these products is that they about how toys can grown with the children. For babies, just being able to play and manipulate the beads is the purpose. As they get older, around 18 months, the goal is for kids to be able to screw and unscrew the beads into the matching colors on the board. This toy works on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, visual motor and visual perceptual skills., encourages bilateral and hand-eye coordination and executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, problem solving and organizational skills. A bonus is that they are safe for teething babies to chew on and easy to clean. 

Peekaboo Lock Boxes-This take on shape sorters is one my absolute favorite things at my gym. First of all, it's beautiful and sturdy and can be used for so much more than just a shape sorting toy. It can be used to build and stack with and encourages sensory and fine motor exploration. Kids not only have to find the correct place to put each shape, they also have to match the colored boxes to the correct spot on the board. Each box also has a different latch or fastener that they need figure out how to open and close which is great for working on the development of fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills. There are also opportunities for open-ended play using the blocks, the shapes and the board which is great for working on critical thinking, problem solving and imagination. 

Poke-A-Dot Alphabet and Number Cards-I have loved the Melissa and Doug Poke-A-Dot books forever and when I saw these cards at a local pharmacy I was really excited to share them on this years gift guide. These jumbo-sized Poke-A-Dot alphabet and number cards are a hands-on, sensory based learning tool that will encourage fine motor and manipulation skills at the same time. Each set includes 13 sturdy, double-sided cards with letters/numbers with pictures/objects that correspond to each letter/number on the card. These are also great for language development, encourage counting skills and improve hand-eye coordination skills. Great for on-the-go learning and fun for your toddlers and preschoolers. 

Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks-these magnetic blocks have been part of my gift guides for years. They were also one of the first sets of blocks that I got my daughter years ago and they are still in absolutely perfect condition. When I first began working in private practice, I was working with a child with cerebral palsy who was interested in playing with blocks but didn't have the control to play with them successfully. I went on a hunt to find something that would work and stumbled upon the Tegu blocks and was intrigued by the magnetic aspect and if he would have more success. I won't ever forget the look on his face as he played with the blocks for the first time. I have been recommending these blocks for years and years and personally give them as gifts to so many of my friends and family who have babies. Great for working on improving grasping and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye and bilateral coordination and works on developing visual motor and visual perceptual skills, and encourages creativity and imagination. 

Alphabet Play Blocks/Numbers Play Blocks Set-if I had to choose one thing for you to buy out of 
everything on this list, I would have to put these at the top of my list. Just like some of the previous toys, the alphabet and number blocks are considered an investment toy and will last forever. When I first saw these posted on Instagram, it took me all of 5 seconds to order them, even though I wasn't working with children in person. The alphabet blocks were the first new toy I introduced to my kids when I began working with them in person and they have been a a huge hit with kids of all ages! They love being able to find the object that matches with each letter, putting the letters in order and playing with some of the object blocks. They get kids excited to learn about letters and numbers and  can be used to encourage learning how to write. Grownups will be as excited to play with these blocks as their kids! 

Magna-Tiles-another staple to my holiday gift guide. MagnaTiles are pricey but worth the investment and will last you for a lifetime. My daughter is 10 years old and we still have her original set of MagnaTiles and are still in perfect condition. She may not use them as much but they are pulled out from time to time. MagnaTiles are also a huge hit with my kids in my social skills group and are a great tool to encourage creativity and imagination skills while also working on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills and improves bilateral coordination and hand-eye coordination. I like to have my kids at work use different characters and work together to build something for them to then play with the dolls. For example, I have seen kids use them to build a castle for the Disney Princess Magic Clip Dolls. It's so fun to watch them not only create together, but then come up with a story for the princesses. My new favorites are Magna-Tile Structures. These new Magna Tile sets have images on them such as Sesame Street characters, Eric Carle stories, Build-A-Bear Workshop sets and a series of vehicles and buildings. 

Lite-Brite-I have been using some of the newer versions of the Lite Brite in my private practice for years, but there is nothing quite like the simplicity of the original one. Some of the newer versions of Lite-Brite have had different shaped pegs which I found were sometimes challenging for the younger kids to manipulate independently. This updated version that resembles the original Lite-Brite but is now bigger and brighter, offers four different light options and comes with more pegs. It comes with 6 design templates but you can go to their website to download more options and you can create your own designs. Lite-Brite is great for working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization and task completion. I love that it also allows children to come up with their own creations and I have used it to have kids practice how to make shapes, letters and numbers. 

Wobbel Balance Board-one thing I have noticed about the pandemic is that there is a definite increase in children's sensory seeking behaviors. Starting in March, our kids had to adjust to so many changes with the most drastic one being that they stopped going to school in person. Until the stay at home orders happened all over the country, our kids were used to a very stimulating and active life. All of a sudden, their lives went digital and Zoom school, therapy and playdates were the new normal. When I made the switch to remote therapy, one of the first things I asked many of my families to order was the Wobbel Board. I have had one for my own daughter for years and I wanted my kiddos to have more opportunities to move during their remote school day and to use during our online sessions. It's also been a really good tool for me to add more gross motor and motor planning activities into my virtual sessions. If you go onto their website, you can download and print out a set of activity cards which have been a big hit with my kids. 

Natural Building Blocks-I love this handcrafted set of building blocks from Hope Learning Toys. Using natural birch and oak, these blocks open young minds to creative play and construction. Varying sized blocks make each play time new and engaging. 100% safe and all natural, they are sealed with beeswax. The 30 piece set comes with a gorgeous handmade woven basket for storage. In addition to working on creative play, children work on developing imagination, creativity and problem solving skills which are critical skills for developing confidence, self-esteem and lead to appropriate socialization skills with peers.  

Color Sorting Wooden Rainbow-I am a complete sucker for rainbow themed toys so when I saw this color sorting rainbow, I couldn't add it to my toy arsenal fast enough. Kids work on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills and so much more while putting the colored pom-poms in the matching color of the rainbow. In addition to fine motor skills, kids are working on visual perceptual skills, hand-eye coordination, bilateral coordination, matching, sequencing and executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization and task completion. Here are a  few things you can do to mix things up when using the rainbow: pick up pom-poms up with a set of kid's chopsticks/Zoo Sticks; have them roll a dice and count out that number of pom-poms to put in the rainbow. 

Wooden Tray Number Set-I am absolutely obsessed with these number trays and have used them in so many ways with my kids at work. Obviously, they are great for teaching younger children numbers, but they can be used to help them learn how to write their numbers, count, sort, sequence, etc. This set of 10 handcrafted number trays are used to engage early math skills through play and exploration. I like to use them combined with some kind of fine motor activity such as using Zoo Sticks to pick up small objects and place the correct number of objects in the tray. Encourage sensory exploration by filling a bowl with different kinds of objects (marbles, beans, pasta, etc.) and have kids sort them into the trays. 

Emotion Wheel-kids (and grownups) are experiencing lots of big feelings these days but may have a hard time expressing them to others. One of the things we do to kick off my social skills group each week is have everyone tell the group how they are feeling. Because it is often difficult for kids to choose an emotion, we have a poster with lots of feelings for them to choose. I fell in love with this Emotion Wheel when I saw it and can't wait to be back in-person and use it with my kids. For those of you who have younger children who doing remote learning, the Emotion Wheel could be a great way for your kids to start their day. At breakfast, everyone in the family can go around and share how they are feeling. This is a great thing to keep out in the open so if your child is experiencing a difficult moment in their day and can't talk about it you can direct them to go over and show you how they are feeling. Once your child is able to identify how they are feeling, you can come up with coping skills and strategies during those difficult time.  

Curve Ball-I am trying to include as many indoor-appropriate gross motor gift options this year since there is a really strong chance our kids will be spending a lot more time inside this winter than normal. Providing your children opportunities for movement during remote learning will help with their focus and attention, help decrease frustration that so many kids are experiencing with all this online learning and build up their confidence and self-esteem. Curve Ball from Fat Brain Toys is a fun game that can be played independently or as a family. Roll the wobbly weighted ball at just the right angle in order to avoid the obstacles to knock down the pin. Kids try and beat the 10 challenges that are included with the game and then can make up their own. Works on improving hand-eye coordination, visual motor skills and encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization, problem solving and critical thinking skills. 

Lego Dots Kits-I'm constantly on the lookout for toys and craft products that are good for older children and that's exactly where my head went when I discovered the Lego Dots kits. I picked up a couple sets for my once Lego obsessed daughter and was happy to see how into completing them. Kids can explore different ways to express themselves with a different room decor items or bracelets. My daughter loves her jewelry box. What I love about these kits is that they give you directions to make the base of the project (jewelry box, pencil holders, picture frames and bracelets) but then let kids use small, colorful Lego pieces to make the project reflect their personalities. The best part is that if they feel like changing things up, they can easily remove the pieces and re-design it. Great for increasing grasp strength and manipulation skills, works on improving visual motor and visual perceptual skills, improves bilateral and hand-eye coordination and encourages creativity. 

Kid Made Modern Arts and Crafts Supply Library-this is one of my favorite arts and crafts collections and love that it is appropriate for children of all ages and developmental levels. This collection comes with over 1000 pieces of art supplies including peg dolls, wooden loose pieces, pipe cleaners, beads, pom-poms, googly eyes and SO much more and come in a sturdy case with a handle so it can be taken on the go. While they give you suggestions on what you can make with the different materials, it is truly and invitation for kids to use their imagination and be creative using a variety of materials. This open-ended craft library allows children to think outside the box and figure out all the different ways they can explore and use materials to create which helps with improving confidence and self-esteem. 

Please be sure to come back and check in on this blog post in the next few days as I will be adding a few other things as they come to my mind. If you are looking for something special for the children in your life, please don't hesitate to reach out to me and I would be happy to make specific suggestions. There is so much more out there and I love helping people find the perfect gifts for the special little ones in their lives. Remember, I am always a click away and love hearing from you all. 

2020 Gift Guide-Stocking Stuffers and the Small Stuff!

This part of my gift guide is one of my favorite to put together year after year. I try and add as many new items as possible each year but there are some things that are just so good that they must be included year after year. I have included all kinds of fun smaller gifts/stocking stuffers that can be good for kids of all ages and work on a ton of occupational therapy and other developmental skills. You will see there is a real mix of craft kits, sensory materials and toys, games and so much more. One of the things I did was find things that you can find in many of your local toy or gift stores (and please, please, please support your local small businesses this holiday season). Many of these are actually gifts that I give my own family and friends but they have a home in my therapy closet. For example, the Ooly Play Again Reusable Stickers are a favorite of the kids during my therapy session and the kids have absolutely no idea that we are working on improving fine motor and grasping skills, visual motor and perceptual skills while encouraging play and language skills. Every single one of these gifts works on multiple skills. I also tried to include things that keep kids off screens since there is so much screen time these days with remote learning and therapy. In a time where we all feel like there is so much we can't control, we can be more mindful about what kinds of toys, games and craft materials we have available for our children. Another thing I was really happy to include were mindfulness and random acts of kindness cards. We all need to spend time not only taking care of ourselves, but making sure that children develop coping skills during this really unconventional time. 

1. Ooly Play Again Reusable Stickers

2. Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty    

3. Kid Made Modern Rainbow Weaving Kit    

4. Goober Car Pocket Crayons

5. Twee Chalk    

6. All of Us Crayons

7. Super Nee Doh Ball

8. Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets

9. Mr. Potato Head Chips Mini Doll

1. Jaq Jaq Bird Reusable and Erasable Paper Paper

2. The Dollhouse Book

3. Jaq Jaq Bird Bored Boards  

4. Zoo Sticks

5. Bubble Ball

6. Goober Peanut Crayons

7. Kid Made Modern On The Go Coloring Kit

8. OOLY Scratch and Scribble Kits

9. Jaq Jaq Bird Doodle It and Go Erasable Book 

1. Land of Dough Playdough 

2. Me: A Compendium Children's Journal

3. Robot Remix Magnetic Play Set

4. Kiko + Wakka Game

5. Sensory Stretchy Noodles

6. Frozen DIY Color Changing Window Clings

7. Ooly On-The-Go Stationery Kits

8. Funny Faces Magic Sketch Board

9. Sparkle Watercolor Gel Crayons 

1. Emotion Pegdolls 

2. DIY Flip Books 

3. Tenzi

4. WHATCHAMADRAWIT Game

5. Giraffe Poptubes/Hot Dog Poptubes

6. Random Acts of Kindness Cards

7. Mad Mattr Bakery Activity Set

8. Mindfulness Activity Cards 

9. Disney Princess Magic Clip Dolls

1. Razzle Dazzle DIY Gem Art Kit

2. Mad Libs

3. Sticker Puzzles 

4. Speak & Spell 

5. Jixelz 

6. Wikki Stix Game

7. Hog Wild Animal Popper Toys

8. Plus Plus Blocks

9. Hidden Pictures Books

I could have kept going with this list because there is just so much great stuff out there. I was excited to include some toys from my youth like the Speak and Spell, Mad Libs and Highlights Hidden Pictures books. It's amazing how some of these things don't lose their appeal even years and years later. If you are looking for specific recommendations for someone on your gift list this year, please reach out because I have so much more to suggest. Also, please let me know if you found some kind of amazing stocking stuffer or small gift that I should know about. I am always looking for new things to keep my kids motivated during their occupational therapy sessions in-person and while on remote sessions. I am only a click away and LOVE hearing from everyone. 

I must end by encouraging you to check out your local gift and toy stores this holiday season. While the holiday season is always important for these stores, this year it is so much more important after such a rocky several months of the pandemic. I was very mindful about including things that are easily found in smaller stores. Below, I share (again), the stores that I love in my home and work neighborhoods. Please feel free to share your favorite stores and where they are located:

Norman and Jules, Brooklyn  

Pink Olive, multiple locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and upstate New York

Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store, Park Slope 

Lulu's Cuts and Toys, Park Slope

Little Things Toy Store, Park Slope

Stationery and Toy World, UWS 

West Side Kids, UWS

Kidding Around Toys, Chelsea 

Mary Arnold Toys, UES

2020 Holiday Gift Guide-The SEL Book Guide

The last several months have been so eye-opening on so many levels but the most incredible thing to me is how resilient and wonderful the children have been. We have asked them to make so many changes to their lives and while some of them have been good and exciting for some of the kids, it's also been really challenging and has brought up a lot of feelings and emotions. In my social skills group, I have found that discussing some of these difficulties can be a challenge so have turned to reading them children's books. It's amazing what kind of conversations can come from a thoughtfully written book. Below, I share just a handful of my favorite books (some recommended by colleagues and other parents). I tried to focus on books that address some of the really big social emotional topics that have come out of the last several months: kindness, diversity, acceptance, flexibility, resilience, feelings, emotions and coping skills. 

The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt-a beautiful book that teaches kids that it is okay to be different. This little ghost doesn't understand why he's a quilt when his parents and all of his friends are sheets. Ghosts are supposed to be sheets so they can whirl and twirl and float and soar but he can't do any of that and when he flies, he gets hot. Being different makes the little ghost feel sad and left out and he just doesn't understand why he can't keep up with them all. But that all changes one Halloween when he has an experience that no other ghost could have and it only happened because he is a quilt and it helps him realize that being different is okay. A beautiful story to share with children who may feel or look different than their friends to help them understand that it's okay to be different and that sometimes it can actually make you even more special because of being different. 

Not A Box-this is one of my favorite books and great for teaching kids about being flexible and thinking outside of the box. Inspired by a memory of sitting in a box on her driveway with her sister, Antoinette Portis, encourages kids to use their imagination. A box is more than just a box if you take the time to think about it. From mountain to rocket ship, a small rabbit shows that a box can be anything you want it to be. What I love about this book is that it is easy to come up with accompanying activities to do after reading the book. Be sure to save some of your cardboard boxes and see what your kids can turn them into. 

The World Needs Who You Were Made To Be-written by Joanna Gaines and illustrated by Julianna Swaney, this beautiful book celebrates how creativity and acceptance can come together to make a wonderful adventure. The book follows a group of children as they each create their own hot-air balloons. As they begin to work together, they realize that they each have their own special talents and skills. In a time when so many people are struggling, I think it is more important than ever to teach our kids that we should always be willing to lend a helping hand to those in need, especially when our skills or talents will help them. If you want to add a nice little hands-on craft activity, print out a picture of a hot-air balloon and have your kids decorate their own. I can't wait until we are back to in-person sessions for my social skills group, TMH Juniors, and we can incorporate this book and some really fun art projects into our routine. 

The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings-we spend a lot of time teaching children about concepts such as colors, numbers and letters, but not enough time teaching them about feelings and emotions. This interactive pop-up book helps kids learn about emotions by matching them with a color and helps to open up the conversation about what feelings look like. One of my favorite things about this book is that they talk about how it's okay to feel more than one feeling at a time. Teaching kids to identify and handle big emotions is a really important skill and one that I think needs more attention now than ever before. After you read it, you can make your own Color Monster Feelings Chart. I did a quick google search and there are so many brilliant ideas out there from teachers, therapists and parents. 

The Feels Book-I stumbled on this book during my research and fell in love with this book (I think it is the adorable Yeti). Another great resource for parents to support their children during this crazy and uncertain times where big feelings and confusion is at an all-time high for so many kids. Join Yeti on a journey as she meets each of her feelings and learns how to take care of each one. Included with the book is a digital parent resource guide that provides a variety of questions and activities to help children develop positive emotional well-being and appropriate coping skills. You can also get this adorable Yeti Snuggler which comes with a mindfulness activity that works on regulating emotions and reducing anxiety. 

Ruby Finds A Worry-Ruby is a happy, curious and imaginative girl until one day, something unexpected happens: she finds a Worry. It begins out small but with each day, that worry grows and grows until she can't think about anything else. It takes meeting another kid who also has worries that Ruby learns everybody has worries and that there are ways to get rid of them. Ruby Finds A Worry is a great book for right now because so many children are experiencing a variety of worries and struggling with how to deal with them when that happens. Teaching kids strategies to decrease their anxiety at a young age is so important, especially during these times of so much uncertainty. 

I'm Not Just A Scribble-if you are not familiar with the author Diane Alber, I highly recommend that you take a look at her SEL books. We have been reading some of her Little Spot books during our remote social skills groups and the kids really love them. During our lesson about inclusion and kindness, we read I'm Not Just A Scribble and the conversations that the group had with each other after was so wonderful. Scribble, the main character of this book, never thought he was different until he met his first drawing. After being left out for being different than everyone else, Scribble decides to teach the drawings how to accept each other for who they are. This book comes with 100 stickers for your children to make their own scribbles and a feelings chart that you can hang up. Another fun activity to do is to have kids scribble all over a piece of paper and then see what they can turn the scribble into. 

The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt-a beautiful book that teaches kids that it is okay to be different. This little ghost doesn't understand why he's a quilt when his parents and all of his friends are sheets. Ghosts are supposed to be sheets so they can whirl and twirl and float and soar but he can't do any of that and when he flies, he gets hot. Being different makes the little ghost feel sad and left out and he just doesn't understand why he can't keep up with them all. But that all changes one Halloween when he has an experience that no other ghost could have and it only happened because he is a quilt and it helps him realize that being different is okay. A beautiful story to share with children who may feel or look different than their friends to help them understand that it's okay to be different and that sometimes it can actually make you even more special because of being different. 

Wish-this beautiful book by Chris Saunders teaches children about kindness, sharing and the magic of friendship. The story is about Rabbit who has never had a wish before. One day he gets three wishes but can't decide what to wish for so he asks his friends Mouse, Fox and Bear what they would wish for. Rabbit decides to grant all three wishes for his friends and they are so grateful that they share their wishes with him. Not only is this a beautiful story about being kind to other people, the illustrations are gorgeous. 

The Day You Begin-there are many reasons for children to feel different and this book by Jaqueline Woodson does a wonderful job talking about this topic. Maybe it's the way you look or talk, where you come from or maybe it is because you may have a harder time talking or walking. It's not easy to take the risks to join a group when nobody really knows you yet, but you know you have to do it. This book is a helpful reminder to children how we may all feel when you have to join a new group and that if you open up and share  some of your own stories, there just might be others that you can connect with. This is a story about being brave, especially when you feel like you might be alone. It also feels very important to share this story this year given the number of changes so many kids are experiencing during the pandemic. So many children I know have left their familiar school environment and may be starting new schools or doing remote learning and experiencing a lot of anxiety about being the new and different kid. 

After The Fall by Dan Santat-Everyone knows that when Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. But what happened after? Humpty Dumpty, an avid bird watcher whose favorite place to be is high up on the city wall―that is, until after his famous fall. Now terrified of heights, Humpty can longer do many of the things he loves most.

Will he summon the courage to face his fear?After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) is a masterful picture book that will remind readers of all ages that Life begins when you get back up.

Kindness Is My Superpower-I think one of the most important things I ever taught my own daughter is the importance of being kind to others. We never know what other people are going through and making sure children know this from a very young age. In this delightful book, kids learn about how kindness, sensitivity and generosity can make the world a better place. This book is chockfull of examples of kindness at home, school or in your community and how if we are all more understanding of others and accept them for who they are, the world will be a more empathetic place. There are also Acts of Kindness Cards included with the book that promote empathy and kindness. 

ish-in one of my favorite Peter H. Reyolds books, we meet Ramon who loved to draw. Anytime, anything and anywhere! Drawing is what Ramon does and what makes him feel good about himself. It is what makes him happy until his older brother makes a mean comment and he no longer can find the joy in drawing. Ramon can't draw without feeling sad and worried about what he is doing. Luckily for him, his younger sister the world differently and opens Ramon's eyes and makes him realize that things don't always have to be "just right". This is a great book for children who are always seeking perfection and need to know that "just right" is different for everyone and just because someone doesn't like care.

Tessie Tames Her Tongue-Tessie loves to talk but her constant talking gets her into trouble at home and at school. The more she talks, the louder she becomes. She talks with her mouth full of food. The problem with this is that she doesn't give others a chance to talk and her brother and classmates begin to ignore her. With the of her school counselor, Tessie learns the importance of listening and how to tame her talkative tongue. We never want to dampen a child's spirit or make them not want to share their stories, but when it means that other children/people don't have an opportunity to say what's on their mind, it can turn into a problem. 

Fair is Fair-"It's not fair!" This is something that parents and teachers hear all of the time when they think someone else, a sibling or classmate, is getting more than they are. Do special needs for one mean less love for another? This is the question explored in this short children's story of three zoo animals. They learn that being equally loved doesn't necessarily mean that they're treated the exact same. Rather, true love is expressed when each animal gets what they need. This is a perfect book for all families with siblings who think may think that things are never fair. 

All Are Welcome-after the events that unfolded this spring, I know that many parents are trying to find ways to teach their children about diversity and kindness and sometimes the best way to do this is through books. In this book, you follow a group of children in their school. They are all culturally different, celebrate different holidays and have different family traditions but that is embraced in this school. Kids learn about each other and different cultures and realize that everyone is welcome in their school and welcomed with open arms no matter what. 

While I linked all of these books to Amazon, I can't stress the importance of supporting your local bookstores during this crazy time. I have shared some of my local bookshops and encourage you all to share your favorite local bookstores in the comments below. 

Community Bookstore-Park Slope, Brooklyn
Greenlight Bookstore-Fort Greene, Brooklyn 
powerHouse on 8th-Park Slope, Brooklyn (there is also a second location in DUMBO)
Books Are Magic-Cobble Hill, Park Slope 
Bank Street Bookstore-multiple locations on the UWS of Manhattan
Books of Wonder-Union Square and UWS locations
Shakespeare and Co-UES and UWS locations

Norman and Jules 2020 Holiday Gift Guide

For those of you who know me, you know that I am passionate about supporting our local toy stores. For many of these stores, they have put their heart and souls into their store. Most importantly, these local stores end up knowing you and your children, they watch them grow up. If you are ever in Brooklyn, I can't stress how you should make sure to stop by Norman and Jules beautiful new store in Gowanus. It's between Park Slope and Carroll Gardens with many other stores and restaurants worth checking out. 

Working with Courtney, one of the owners of Norman and Jules, we have come up with this list of toys and products that will work on so many occupational therapy and developmental goals. For me, when choosing toys for my private practice, it's about finding ones that don't look like they are for special needs. Parents of the kids that I work with want their children to be able to play with the same kinds of toys that other children their age are playing with. Many of the items on this list are what I call investment toys because they will cost more but will last forever. Think toys that will not only last through your own children's childhood, but be passed down to their children. We were also mindful to try and pick products that would spark your child's imagination and encourage open-ended play. During this crazy time, kids are expected to follow so many new rules and play should about doing what they want and how they want to do it. 

Land of Dough-I am absolutely obsessed with the gorgeous play dough by this company.  It comes in the most beautiful and unique designs such as rainbows and space and galaxy. Whenever I pick some up for my daughter, I pick up two containers because she wants one to play with and one to keep all pretty. Not only is it totally unique and gorgeous, it is made from all natural ingredients such as beetroot, spirulina and organic jojoba and lavender oils. The dough comes in its own reusable, compostable bags making it easy to store and with a little wooden scooper. Playing with dough is great for encouraging sensory exploration, works on improving grasp strength and manipulation skills and improves bilateral and hand-eye coordination. Some of the things you can do with the dough is hide beads inside and have your child find them, practice making shapes, letters or numbers and practice cutting by rolling dough into "snakes" and have them snip into small pieces. 

Colour Me Crayons-one of the beautiful things about living in a place like New York City is being surrounded by people of every nationality and color. When I saw these crayons on Norman and Jules' Instagram feed back in the spring, I almost cried and then immediately purchased them for work.  This set of crayons comes with 12 vibrant skin colors so that every child can find the color that matches their skin. There are so many wonderful things about these skin-toned crayons. First of all, it is so important that when a child is asked to draw a picture of themselves that they have the option of finding a crayon that represents their skin color. Second of all, these crayons are triangular which encourages an appropriate grasp in young children. 

Goober Peanut Crayons-I am constantly on the lookout for different kinds of writing instruments, especially for the little ones that I work with. One of the most important things about introducing young children to crayons and other drawing tools is that they help to promote good grasping skills from an early age. What I love about these peanut shaped crayons is that they are a really good width and shape for little hands. The bean like shape is great for encouraging kids to grab them and then use a tripod like grasp. They are made from natural bean wax and all non-toxic ingredients so parents don't have to worry if your risk-taking little one decides to put them in their mouths. Another fun thing about the unique shape of these crayons are that they can stand up or stack on top of each other which your child will love! 

Eco Chains-I'm a sucker for any small manipulative toys, especially ones that are easy to throw in a bag to take on the go. Manipulative toys (think Legos and pop-beads) are very important for building up a child's hand strength and manipulation skills, which is crucial skills for the development of academic skills such as cutting, drawing and handwriting. Eco chains are colorful links that children can connect. In addition to working on grasp strength and manipulation skills, they are great for working on improving bilateral coordination, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness and logical thinking. Add challenges by having your children make patterns or sort them by color and link them together that way. Like I already said, these are great to throw in your bag when traveling or out and about to keep your little ones busy and off a screen. 

Jumbo Weaving Frames-I have always been a fan of all weaving toys but often times they are too small for the kids that I work with which leads to frustration and eventually, they give up entirely. Right off the bat, this is what I call an investment toy. It's a bit on the pricey side but once you see it, you will understand the reason. The quality of both the frames and the fabric strips is off the charts awesome. They will be able to handle major wear and tear of your rambunctious little ones and last you for ages. The set comes with a square, triangle and circle frames and several multi-fabric strips. It also comes with 15 large, double-sided weaving activity cards for children to follow. The nice thing about this set is that kids can try and copy the designs on the cards or make their own designs. The Jumbo Weaving Frames are great for working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves bilateral and hand-eye coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention and organizational skills. 

Make A Face-Moon Picnic makes beautiful wooden toys, including this Make A Face toy which I have used with my social skills group, The Meeting House, when we talk about feelings and emotions. Right now kids are experiencing all kinds of big feelings and emotions and don't always have the right words to describe them. For many kids, especially younger ones, talking about their feelings are difficult and often times embarrassing. In my social skills group, we start each session off with a feelings check in and this is something that I have suggested that the families of kids who are homeschooling or doing distance learning incorporate into their daily routine. If your child isn't quite ready to talk about it, this toy is a great tool to put in their work area and have them put together each morning. In addition to them becoming more aware of their feelings, children can work on improving their grasp strength and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye coordination and visual motor and visual perceptual skills. 

My Weather Station-one of my favorite parts of a preschool classroom is morning meeting and for some reason, listening to kids describe the weather seems like such an important part of that meeting time. With so many children not in a traditional classroom this year, I know many families are trying to bring the classroom to them and Moon Picnic's My Weather Station is a great addition to any home classroom or learning pod. This fun, educational and interactive toy has 4 movable parts (great for working on fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills) and 5 weather symbols to display. Great for teaching kids about seasons, temperature and so much more while encouraging them to notice details about their environment. 

Rainbow Bowl Sorting Game-some of my favorite things are fine motor toys, rainbows and really well made wooden toys. If you don't know about the Grimm's toy collection, I highly recommend you find out about it. When my now 10 year old daughter was about 3 years old, a client gifted me with the Grimm's Rainbow and it's always had a prominent place in our house. When Covid hit, that rainbow went right into our rainbow and has been there since. I digress, this rainbow sorting toy is a truly great toy that will teach your little one so much. Not only will they learn about colors and shapes, they will do so in a multi-sensory way which is so important. This set comes with 2 trays that hold 6 colored bowls, a pair of large tweezers and 3 different shapes in each color that you can put in the correct that you use the large tweezers to sort the same colored fish, star and heart in matching bowl. Children work on improving fine motor and manipulation skills, improve hand-eye coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages focus and attention. 

Peekaboo Lock Boxes-this take on shape sorters is one of my favorite things that I have at my gym. First of all, it's absolutely beautiful and sturdy, making it perfect for the wear and tear it goes through with many kids playing with it. Like the traditional shape sorter, a child has to figure out where all the shapes go, but this has so many other aspects that are so great for your little ones development. There are 6 colored boxes with not only a place to put the shape in, but one side with a different fastener you have to open and close, and a clear panel so you can see through. It also comes with a tray that has 6 colored squares for each box to go into. So not only is your child learning about shapes, they are learning about colors, matching and developing critical fine motor and manipulation skills. There are also opportunities for open-ended play; after my kids put the shapes in or practice the different fasteners, I left them play with the blocks and have seen them make towers, buildings or whatever else comes to their minds. This is a gift that really checks off a ton of boxes and is worth every penny! 

Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks-these magnetic blocks have been part of my gift guides for years. They were also one of the first sets of blocks that I got my daughter years ago and they are still in absolutely perfect condition. When I first began working in private practice, I was working with a child with cerebral palsy who was interested in playing with blocks but didn't have the control to play with them successfully. I went on a hunt to find something that would work and stumbled upon the Tegu blocks and was intrigued by the magnetic aspect and if he would have more success. I won't ever forget the look on his face as he played with the blocks for the first time. I have been recommending these blocks for years and years and personally give them as gifts to so many of my friends and family who have babies. Great for working on improving grasping and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye and bilateral coordination and works on developing visual motor and visual perceptual skills, and encourages creativity and imagination. 

Alphabet Play Blocks/Numbers Play Blocks Set-if I had to choose one thing for you to buy out of
everything on this list, I would have to put these at the top of my list. Just like some of the previous toys, the alphabet and number blocks are considered an investment toy and will last forever. When I first saw these posted on Instagram, it took me all of 5 seconds to order them, even though I wasn't working with children in person. The alphabet blocks were the first new toy I introduced to my kids when I began working with them in person and they have been a a huge hit with kids of all ages! They love being able to find the object that matches with each letter, putting the letters in order and playing with some of the object blocks. They get kids excited to learn about letters and numbers and  can be used to encourage learning how to write. Grownups will be as excited to play with these blocks as their kids! 

Wobbel Balance Board-one thing I have noticed about the pandemic is that there is a definite increase in children's sensory seeking behaviors. Starting in March, our kids had to adjust to so many changes with the most drastic one being that they stopped going to school in person. Until the stay at home orders happened all over the country, our kids were used to a very stimulating and active life. All of a sudden, their lives went digital and Zoom school, therapy and playdates were the new normal. When I made the switch to remote therapy, one of the first things I asked many of my families to order was the Wobbel Board. I have had one for my own daughter for years and I wanted my kiddos to have more opportunities to move during their remote school day and to use during our online sessions. It's also been a really good tool for me to add more gross motor and motor planning activities into my virtual sessions. If you go onto their website, you can download and print out a set of activity cards which have been a big hit with my kids. 

Magnetic Fishing Set-I am including this after the Wobbel Board because I think this is a great toy that you can use while on the board. I use the Wobbel Board and other balance boards with my kids at work all the time and the most important thing is combining it with the right kind of toy or activity because maintaining their balance can be tricky and frustrating making them want to get off right away. This beautiful fishing toy is a perfect way to distract your kids from the "work". This adorable set includes a fishing rod with a moveable reel and three magnetic fish, an octopus and a shell for kids to easily catch. 

Whether you are on a balance board or just playing, this little toy packs a real punch with all the ways it can help with your child's developmental skills. Kids can work on improving bilateral and hand-eye coordination, improves grasping and manipulation skills and encourages focus, attention and organizational skills. 

Wooden Swing Board-if you are fortunate enough to have the space for this, I say get it! I have something similar to this at the gym I work at but this one is so much better that I might have to replace it! Balance and coordination are critical for the development of so many other gross motor skills like jumping, running and learning how to ride a scooter and/or a bicycle. In addition this swing is great for working on improving body and safety awareness, motor planning and providing children with sensory input during these crazy Covid times. It can be used indoors or outdoors and your child should always be supervised!