Kick Start's Toy Guide 2020

Therapist Approved! Here are our toy recommendations for children ages 0-12 years.

INFANT - 12 MONTHS+

Occupational therapist, Clare Walsh, recommends PipSquigz for infants 6 months and older. These suction cup toys address motor skills and strength while stimulating the visual, auditory, and tactile sensory systems. The large suction cups stick to a variety of surfaces - the floor, walls, tables, or tubs - so your child can reach, grasp, and gain trunk control whether they are doing tummy time, sitting up, crawling, or cruising. PipSquigz will continue to engage your child as they get older and their creativity and imagination grows!

Developmental Therapist, Natalie Notaro, recommends “Poke-a- Dot: First Words” for ages 1+. Learning first words has never been so fun! These books help your little one explore full-color pictures and familiar objects all while encouraging language development, color recognition, and fine motor skills!

Occupational Therapist, Clare Walsh, recommends stacking toys such as Toy Tobbles for children 12 months to 2 years. These stackable sphere-like shapes are great for building fine and visual motor skills, bilateral coordination, visual spatial awareness, and motor planning. They are a fun cause and effect toy as they wobble, wiggle, stack, and crash!

2-3+ YEARS

Speech Therapist, Shayna Brickman recommends the Fold & Go Barn. This can be used to expand a child's vocabulary by labeling animals or locations ("in the barn") and targets following directions ("put the cow inside the barn"). This toy can also be used for a variety of pretend play activities such as feeding the animals, cleaning the animals, and putting the animals to sleep.

Developmental Therapist, Natalie Notaro, recommends “Where’s Bear? The Hide-and-Fine Stacking Block Game”. This game focuses on physical, cognitive, and language skills-including balancing, matching, sorting, following simple directions, and so much more!