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Holiday Gift Ideas: Games

Need holiday gift ideas for your kids? Want to find games that are fun AND build skills? Read our recommendations below!

As a parent, I know how busy the holiday season can be. Between family, work, and school activities, it’s hard to find time to shop. I also understand how challenging it can be to balance both fun AND function when it comes to buying toys for the kids. As an occupational therapy practitioner, I work with children everyday and engage their skill development through play. After all, play is the main “occupation” of children. So, to help make your shopping a little easier, we have compiled a list of some of our favorite fun, skill-building games for a variety of ages. Happy Holidays!

(Please note: This blog post contains affiliate links. Grow receives a percentage of the proceeds when you purchase items using these links.)

Games for Younger Children

Hi Ho Cherry-O

Baa Baa Bubbles

Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel

Games for Older Children

Easy Button Sandwich

There are so many cute ideas on Pinterest using felt to create buttoning activities. However, if you aren’t super crafty, you can easily transform pre-made felt foods (like these sandwich pieces from Melissa & Doug) into a fun way to practice buttoning skills.

Here’s how we created a button sandwich!

1. Sew a strip of ribbon to the center of one slice of bread.

Tip #1: Longer ribbons are easier to manipulate compared to shorter lengths. We used 3-inch strips, but you can use shorter pieces to increase the challenge.

2. Sew a button to the other end of the ribbon.

Tip #2: Large buttons are easiest, but just make sure the slits are large enough! We found these big 1.5” buttons at Joann.

3. Use sharp scissors or an xacto knife to create a slit in the center of the felt that is slightly larger than the button. Thick felt with extra details might be too challenging to slit, so you’ll likely want to put those pieces aside.

Since it was full of stuffing, instead of creating a slit in the second piece of bread, it can just sit on top. If your end pieces are thin felt, feel free to slit those too!

4. Enjoy your new button sandwich!

Aside from buttoning, here are some other ways to play:

Practice color and shape identification or letter sounds when sorting the food to develop academic skills
Take sandwich orders from family members and have your child remember the ingredient list to enhance short-term memory skills
Scan for ingredients scattered on the floor to promote visual perceptual skills

Easy enough, right? If you try it, show us your finished product!

PS – Let us know if you want to see more posts like this!

Halloween Tips & Tricks for Kids with Sensory Needs

Halloween can be fun, or it can be a night of fright for parents and kids with sensory challenges.

Here are some tricks for making your Halloween a treat!🎃

1.) Talk to your child about your Halloween plans. Details might include places you’ll go, who you’re going with, things they might see (costumes, spooky decorations), ways to stay safe, and how to say “trick or treat.” You can also read social stories with your child; here’s a list of some free stories about Halloween!

2.) Sensory-proof your child’s costume. Allow your child to try on his or her costume and wear it for an extended period of time (ex: 1 hour) to ensure they will feel comfortable for the duration of whatever Halloween event you attend. Common irritations can include tags, elastic, Velcro closures, or certain fabric textures.

3.) Opt for smaller events. You might also choose to stay home & pass out candy, or pick 1 familiar street for trick-or-treating. This decreases the likelihood of sensory overload or meltdowns.

4.) Know your child’s limits. Be mindful of his or her signals indicating overstimulation and fatigue. Have a backup plan if your child becomes upset, especially if you’re with a group of other children.

Do you have other tips? Let us know how you survive Halloween!