USD pediatric expert puts together holiday gift guide

When it comes to holiday gifts for kids, the options can seem endless — so a University of South Dakota professor did her best to hone in on options that will help them best develop.

Shana Cerny is an associate professor of occupational therapy and created a holiday gift guide of developmentally appropriate toys and games.

She focused on toys and games that kids seem to most enjoy at occupational therapy – ones that are designed to build new skills and develop confidence. Cerny structured her ideas by age range and skills being learned.

“The main occupation of childhood is play, so when working with children on any developmental skill, that work really needs to be done in the context of play,” she said. “When children are having fun, fear is disarmed, and they feel comfortable to challenge themselves and learn new skills. As an OT, I am constantly analyzing the different skills that are being used and demands being placed on the child when engaging with certain objects or when engaging in different types of play.”

The list is a simplified way for gift-givers to do the same, she said. Most of her ideas came from her practice or other OT practitioners. Most items can be purchased from major distributors.

Here’s a look at the list for babies and toddlers:

For the youngest on your list, Cerny especially likes books.

“Attachment and bonding is honestly the most important component of a child’s development,” she said. “Babies experience a sensory bath – visual, auditory, proprioceptive, tactile – when reading a book that is calming and organizing.”

Another great choice: an activity table.

“Pull to stand occurs around 7 months on average,” Cerny said. “Standing and engaging in safe exploration of tabletop activities reinforces the child’s exploration efforts, and they engage in sensorimotor play – exploratory play – they begin to learn cause/effect.”

Cerny’s favorite gift is on the adaptive/daily life skill list: wooden cutting fruit.

It “works on the cognitive skill of matching, bilateral coordination of one hand stabilizing the fruit while the other learns to cut safely,” she said.

“The pieces are velcroed so the child has to use adequate pressure, and it gives a satisfying sound and tactile feedback when successful.”

Gross motor play gifts will keep kids active. Cerny especially likes the Sit N Spin/Dual Twister.

“Children can control the level of vestibular – sensory receptors of the inner ear telling us how our body is moving in relationship to space and gravity,” she said. “It is the sense that allows us to coordinate movements. … This is a great gift for children who crave movement.”

You can’t go wrong with the classics on the fine motor play list. Lite Brite and Operation are great for fine motor skills. And have you heard of Wikki Stix?

This is a “reusable fine motor tool – press, pinch, roll, twist, shape, stick,” Cerny said.

For sensory play, weighted stuffed animals can be calming to kids — go with about 10 percent of the child’s weight. And consider the game What’s in Ned’s Head.

Cerny said it teaches in-hand manipulation, how to identify items by touch and fine motor skills.

And for children and teens with sensory preferences, “consider the properties of the toys or treats you are gifting to best match what makes them feel best,” she added.

Here are some ideas to guide you: