Miracle Farm Speech Therapy
The Annual Holiday Recommendations
2019
Happy Holidays! We are so grateful to our wonderful clients. All of us at Miracle Farm Speech Therapy consider ourselves blessed to work with you and to have such a rewarding job. We wish you peace this holiday season and hope that you all get a chance to enjoy time with your family. Please find below a list of suggested toys, games, and gift items that we have personally recommended to Santa! We hope you like them!!
Games:
–Yeti Games!!!- Yeti in My Spaghetti, Yeti Forgetti, Yeti or Not!, Yeti, Set, Go! and pair it with a Yeti Play Set, Yeti Slippers, and the great book, “No Yeti Yet”. I like to include a Yeti stuffed animal and a pair of fake binoculars so you can play “find the hidden Yeti” at home!
–Obstacles– This is a great new game by Eeboo. It sparks creativity and problem solving. You have to come up with creative ways to use your “tools” to get around the various “obstacles” and make it home.
-Bumparena– This amazing game by Cranium Games is a great way to work on strategy and planning. It involves building somewhat of a pinball machine, adding bumpers on each turn. There is a lot of movement and fine motor involved which keeps kids engaged.
–Ring It and Color Smash- More great games by Blue Orange Games- great for executive functioning!
-Stare- A game of visual memory for ages 6 and up!
–Orangutwang (by Play Monster)- This is a fun game that combines language, problem solving, and fine motor!
–Aladdin’s Flying Carpet Game (Goliath games)- Another game of problem solving, coordination, and fine motor.
–Zoo On the Loose (MindWare) This is a game for younger kiddos that works on matching
-Silly Street (Buffalo Games)- A game with movement and language!
-Who, What, Where? Junior- A silly game of drawing and guessing.
–Seek-A-Boo- (by Mindware)- a great game for toddlers to introduce directions and vocabulary. Has great big photo cards that can be used in many different ways!
Active Toys:
-Pretend Sink and Dishes- (By Walmart) The kids just love this play sink that has running water and is durable and portable.
– Bubble Blowers and Whistles-Who says bubbles are just for summer? Theraproducts.com has a great selection of bubble blowers and whistles.
– Mesh and Marble Fidget– These are great little fidget toys that are being used in schools to help with attention and focus.
–Door Pong-This is like a ping pong game that you hang in your doorway. This toy was invented by a young boy who wanted to create a game of ping pong that his younger brother with autism could play. This game is in stock at Baby-Go-Round in Hampton Falls, NH
–Indoor Snowballs– great way to bring active play indoors. Have your child toss them in a bucket or try to throw them through a hoop to work on aim, coordination, and concentration.
-Pretend Sink and Dishes- (By Walmart) The kids just love this play sink that has running water and is durable and portable.
Books and Apps:
–Have your children tell the story page by page with the “Good Dog Carl” book series. “Carl’s Christmas” and “Carl’s Snowy Afternoon” are particularly perfect for this time of year!
-“The Old Lady” series. She can swallow some snow, a bell, a rose, a chick…. Makes a great gift when given with a puppet.
-“The Wonky Donkey” and puppet for hours of laughter!
-Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson
-I love the entire “Bug Book” series by David Carter. Your children will love them, too!
-Usborne books has some great books and the “Busy Santa Book” is so fun for the holidays!
Pretend Play:
Playmobile Toys- The Playmobile Advent Calendar is a great gift for kids of all ages and opens up communication around building a scene. Playmobile also has a ton of winter themed play sets such as a ski van, a ski shop, a snowcat, etc. If you are planning on a mountain trip this winter, these are great gifts.
Kids love to open a purse. Why not get them their own. A children’s purse (or get one from a second hand store- even better!) with a variety of gadgets inside makes a great gift. Fill it with a pretend phone, hairbrush, makeup brushes, old keys, some jewelry, and pretend money. The ideas are endless!!
Pretend Play- Melissa and Doug now have a great smoothie and coffee shop set that are great for play at all ages. They also have a Charcuterie Board, Breakfast Set, Birthday Cupcakes, and many more. Their toys are timeless and durable.
Insta Snow continues to be one of my favorite items for winter. Mix up some pretend indoor snow and gather your little people or figurines! They can have their own winter wonderland!
Green Glitter Kinetic Sand is also a magical gift for the holidays.
For Babies:
-Sweetooth baby teether (teether that smells and is shaped like an ice cream) Made with all safe materials. Check it out at www..babysweettooth.com
-Chewelry Necklace- Baby Go Round in Hampton Falls has a beautiful selection of this jewelry that mom’s can wear and babies can chew!!
-Baby Mirror
-Massaging teether by Nurtureland
– Oli and Carol make a series of safe mouthing toys that are beautiful.
-The Baby Banana is a tiny baby safe, soft, and flexible toothbrush!
-Yeti Shape Sorter
-Old Fashioned Pop Beads
We all wish you health and happiness in 2020 and remember this quote from Buddy the Elf:
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”