Best Toys for Sensory and Motor Development
18 to 24 Months
Are you wondering what toys to get your child for the holidays that she will love AND promotes sensory and motor development?! We have the perfect ideas for you!
Toddlers are on the move and their hand and finger control is getting better by the day! Toddlers enjoy problem-solving and like to do things with small objects. They are becoming more independent, but of course still need close supervision during play. My top toy pick for this age? Fill it up! Fine Motor Jars
Although Lakeshore recommends this toy for 3 to 5-year-olds, we think it is most developmentally appropriate and beneficial for our 18-24 month olds with adult supervision and guidance. See recommended activity ideas for this age range below!
Sensory and Motor Tasks:
Grasping development for pencil grasp and buttoning
Problem solving: grade the task by switching the tops- first use the big hole with the pegs and then grade the task up by presenting all objects and containers at once
Visual motor integration skills
Mobility, coordination, and transitioning by placing pieces on raised surfaces, like couch or play set, to encourage child to climb
General strengthening by placing pieces on raised surfaces to encourage squat-to-stand
Trunk control and proximal stability by having child place objects in containers while maintaining various positions, such as quadruped, tall-kneel, or half-kneel
Vestibular processing by placing pieces on raised surfaces to encourage squat-to-stand and therefore, increased vestibular input
Oculomotor skills by encouraging visual fixation and saccadic eye skills (tracking) to locate desired pieces
Vestibular processing by having child sit in long sitting position with pieces positioned between legs and container positioned between feet to encourage calming linear vestibular input during reaching
Crossing midline/rotational skills by transferring objects across midline or rotating trunk to place into containers
Bilateral coordination skills by manipulation of pieces with one hand and stabilization with the other hand
Tactile processing by placing objects in various textures, such as shaving cream, water tables, or rice/bean bins
Proprioceptive and vestibular processing by incorporating pieces into simple obstacle course
Bilateral coordination by adding a string to string buttons around 24-months
Bonus Ideas!
Social: requesting, protesting, eye contact, turn-taking
Quantitative Concepts: one, some, all, many, few
Qualitative Concepts/Attributes: big, little, colors, bumpy, smooth, sticky
Simple Directions: put on, get the red one and give to me
Written By: Carleigh Brawley, MS, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
