Are you looking for toy ideas to foster language, fine motor, sensory, and gross motor development? Look no further! Here are our Top Ten toys for children ages 3 to 4 years old, along with a direct purchase link to make shopping easier!
1. AquaDoodle
AquaDoodles are so much fun! Best of all, they are mess free! Simply fill up the marker with water, and your child can practice handwriting and drawing on this fun mat. Different colors will appear as the wet marker hits the AquaDoodle mat. This is also a great way to encourage a child who struggles with handwriting to practice by making it fun!
2. Melissa & Doug Wooden Fishing Puzzle
This magnetic fishing puzzle allows a child the opportunity to learn hand-eye coordination and fine motor development within play. You can also teach descriptive concepts, vocabulary, colors, counting, turn-taking, and more!
3. Do A Dot Art Markers
These Do A Dot markers are washable and a great way for a child to paint and complete crafts without the mess. You can find dot printables online and help your child work on visual spacing and hand eye coordination skills as well. This is a great stocking stuffer!
4. Candy Land Board Game
Candy Land is one of the top board games in our offices. This is a great way to teach turn-taking, counting, colors, and more. Children can be rewarded after ‘work turns’ by taking a turn at this board game!
5. Learning Resources Deluxe Food Market Set
Pretend food can be used to teach role playing, work on concepts and descriptive words (hot/cold), model mealtime routines, turn-taking, vocabulary, colors, actions, and more.
6. Melissa & Doug Bead Sequencing Set
This Melissa & Doug sequencing set promotes matching, sequencing, and fine motor skills. The card combinations become more complex as you go!
7. Kinetic Sand & Folding Sand Box
Kinetic Sand is a great sensory gift that can be incorporated into many activities! The sand oozes, moves and melts right before your eyes. It flows through your fingers like a slow-moving liquid, but leaves them completely dry. We often put objects, letters, and other therapy targets in the sand to make it a fun game!
8. Learning Resources Alphabet Acorns
Alphabet acorns help children learn letter identification and much more. Bottoms of acorns feature written letters—tops have matching colors. Kids will learn as they match them together! Each acorn has a color counter inside that corresponds to the letter.
9. Learning Resources Muffin Matchup
This game is one of our favorites! Develop math skills with these mini muffin counters, along with color recognition, matching, sorting, counting, and early math skills. The Squeezy Tweezers increase fine motor skills and hone skills needed for writing
10. Play-doh Play Sets
Plah-doh sets are great to encourage creativity while building fine motor, language, and social skills. This play-doh set teaches shapes, colors, grasp, and other skills!