This is our BIG week here in Smartyland – our annual holiday toy gift guide. We divvy ’em up by ages and our Smarty bloggers get to work helping Santa figure out who gets what. Today Smarty Carroll lists her top gifts that her babes would like under the tree (besides just a bunch of wrapped presents to destroy! :-)).
Infantino’s Sensory Balls, Blocks and Buddies:
If blocks seem too jagged and balls too slippery, this set is your perfect compromise for sweet little fingers just beginning to work on fine motor skills. One of the spiky-looking textured balls alone is worth the set. We used to take it on neighborhood walks for miles’ worth of entertainment – and teething! And they’re easy to spot when tossed overboard!
Magifire’s Tummy Time Baby Water Mat:
If only I’d been paying attention when my littles were doing tummy time on their boring ol’ blankets or boppy pillows. This water-filled mat will bedazzle your baby with a mini-aquarium of sea creatures. He or she will be too busy eyeing everything to worry about the discomfort of head-lifting! Ages 3 months and up.
Learning Resources’ Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog:
My three sons all played with this hedgehog toy in their preschool classrooms, which tells you how good it is. They can work on fine motor skills by putting pegs into Spike’s bag while also having fun as they age, sorting by colors and patterns and learning to count. Ages 18 months and up.
Lakeshore Learning’s Button-Size Sorting Box:
It’s like a shape-sorter and a piggy bank coin toy combined. Something about the feel of the buttons make them as enticing to pick up as coins and more fun to sort because of their range in size and color. This is a great manipulative toy to start at age 1 and watch last into ages 3 and 4.
Boon Building Bath Toy Bundle with Pipes, Cogs and Tubes:
Ever notice how some of the best toys you get are gifts from other moms? That was this toy for us. It has been a fixture in our bath tub ever since we got it. Starting at 12 months, your littles will love pouring water into all these contraptions just long enough for Mama or Daddy to get them clean and great for distractions if there are multiple kiddos in the tub.
