Therapist-Recommended Toys for Kids by Age Group
Welcome to our therapist-curated toy guide!
Every toy on this list has been hand-picked by our pediatric OT and PT team based on what we actually use and recommend during real therapy sessions, not just what’s trending online.
Play is one of the most powerful tools we have for building motor skills, sensory processing, and cognitive development, and the right toy at the right stage can make a real difference in your child’s progress.
We’ve organized this guide by age and developmental stage, from infant sensory toys all the way up to games for elementary-age kids and beyond.
For each pick, you’ll find why we recommend it, what specific skills it supports, and a direct link to purchase it.
Use the quick links below to jump straight to the age group you’re looking for, or scroll through to explore all of our favorites.
Infant Toys
Rain Shaker Rattle
(2-6 months)
Baby Einstein’s Music Box
(2-6 months)
These toys provide visual and auditory input for young infants. This is helpful to support visual tracking throughout cervical range of motion.
Therapeutically, it is often used with children diagnosed with torticollis to assist in maintaining visual attention while practicing endurance of passive or active ROM.
You can buy them here:
Manhattan Toy Winkle Rattle
This rattle has wonderful texture, color, and shape, allowing the baby to explore with their hands and eyes. It is easy to grip and can be held with one or two hands.
As the baby gets older, it can be used as a manipulative or for conceptual play such as “in” and “out”.
Rainbow Jingle Bell Rattle
This wonderful sounding rattle can be used by the parent as early as one month to provide an auditory and visual target for the baby to look at and listen to.
The baby will need to strengthen the head, neck, and arm control before holding it-so explore holding it together and see when baby takes control!
Buy this here: Rainbow Jingle Bell Rattle
Playskool Pop up Toy
This a wonderful toy to start during tummy time and supported sitting when used as a motivating visual target while you open and close the doors.
At the baby begins sitting independently, their hands can explore the doors and buttons.
As they approach 10 months old, they can start to explore the cause and effect concept of “open/close” as well as progress the fine motor movements to manipulate each button.
Fisher-Price Baby & Toddler Toy Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank
(Starting at one month for visual targeting and can start touching it with hands once sitting. Using the coins will come after sitting and more hand/arm development is completed.)
This is used in most of our baby sessions! The size makes it a great visual target for tummy time and prop sitting.
As the baby develops, the coins can provide strength and grip training for the hands, eventually leading to coordination of the coins into the slot.
Colors and labels facilitate language development as well. This toy has enough to do even without the electronics!
Buy it now: Fisher-Price Baby & Toddler Toy Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank
Suction Cup Spinner (1 month and up)
This spinner gives gentle visual information without sound for developing eyes.
Once the baby ages, they can start to explore it with their own hands in any developmental position achieved.
The suction cup allows the spinner to stick to a tabletop or mirror.
You want to buy it? Here’s the link: Suction cup spinner
For Toddlers
Little Tikes Grocery Cart (12-30 months)
This cart assists new walkers with motor planning timing and placement of a stepping pattern. Can be used similarly to a push toy for this age group.
Additionally, it can be used to push up or down a ramp for independent walkers who need increased eccentric control and glute strength.
You can buy it here: Little Tikes Grocery Cart
Pre-K and Up
Uneven Stepping Stones (4-7 years)
These balance stones are a good way to practice reciprocal stepping, dynamic single leg balance and general postural stability.
The varying heights a step offs add an additional challenge. They make a great obstacle course!
You can buy this here: Uneven Stepping Stones
Mellisa and Doug Ice Cream Set
This toy is a wonderful match for toddlers and older exploring pretend play.
Play can simply be identifying each object, how it is used, and combined for make ice cream combinations.
As the child gets older, concepts can progress until they are running an ice cream shop!
Fine motor is strengthened by using the tools, and gross motor challenges can be added while walking or jumping to give the ice cream to others.
Buy this: Mellisa and Doug Ice Cream Set
Honey Bee Tree (3 years and up)
This toy has many functions based on the age and number of children playing.
Setting up the pieces trains fine motor skills. Playing with others encourages turn taking, visual skills, and different fine motor challenges.
Buy this: Honey Bee Tree
HullaBaloo (3 years and up)
The perfect game when kids need to move and think! Listening to the speaker gives clues to facilitate reading, listening, counting, color matching, and how to pause.
This is a great one to get kids moving OR slow them down a bit-you choose!
Buy it: HullaBaloo
Learning Resources Rock ‘n Gem Surprise (3 years and up)
This toy develops fine motor skills simultaneously with visual skills. It comes in its own travel bag, and can be used over and over again.
Sorting, matching, counting, and turn taking occur while searching for a child’s favorite gem!
Elementary School and Up
Waffle Topple (8 years and older)
Develops fine motor, visual motor, and strategies while averaging a 10 minute play time per game. It also helps picky eaters engage with food concepts!
You can buy this here: Waffle Topple
Spot It (6 years and up)
This card game is portable and can be played anywhere-perfect to keep in a bag.
Searching for matching items develops visual skills, analytical skills, and response times!
Buy this here: Spot It
Vintage Favorites
Fisher Price Oreo Matching Game
(Any age for holding and carrying-and more skills develop as the child ages.)
Some of our favorites can only be found as others clean out their closest-and this is one of them!
Old school Oreos match together by shape-developing visual and fine motor skills.
If you can find it, grab it and will it down through the generations!
All Ages
Sequin Pillows (All Ages)
These pillows can keep children engaged for hours!
Use the color changing sequins as a creative surface to make shapes, letters, and more while enjoying an overall tactile experience.
You can buy it here: Sequin Pillows
