2025 Annual Holiday Gift Guide: Fun, Therapeutic, and Developmentally Supportive Gift Ideas

The holiday season is right around the corner and Chicagoland has already seen its first snow! Whether you’re the type to finish your shopping before Thanksgiving or prefer a last-minute dash, we’ve got you covered.

Back by popular demand, our annual Holiday Gift Guide is bigger and better than ever! Westside’s expert therapists have gathered their favorite toys and tools that support growth, learning, and development for all children. Share this list with family and friends to make holiday shopping a little easier!

Gift Ideas from Occupational Therapists

Our Occupational Therapists have handpicked these toys and organized them by skill area so you can quickly find the best fit for your child.

Fine Motor Play & Handwriting:

Coloring Books (based on your child’s interests) with a variety of fun crayons and markers. Triangular crayons and crayon rocks help to develop strength and encourage a tripod grasp.

Perfection – This game challenges kids to use precise hand movements, finger dexterity, and visual-motor coordination to quickly fit each small shape into its matching slot before time runs out.

Grab that Monster – A fun grabbing and sorting game where kids use specialized grabbers to pick up mini monsters and place them into “monster houses”.

Magnetic Maze Boards – These boards strengthen fine motor control and hand-eye coordination as kids use a magnetic stylus to guide beads through paths, building the precision and directional skills needed for handwriting.

Structured Play:

Pop the Pig – Kids squeeze and load burgers into the pig’s mouth, building hand strength and timing skills as they wait for the pig to pop.

Sneaky Snacky Squirrel – Use squirrel-shaped tweezers to pick up acorns, promoting pincer grasp, color matching, and hand-eye coordination – you might even get to steal from another player!

Pop Up Pirate – Players insert swords into the barrel and watch for the surprise pirate pop-up, improving fine motor precision and turn-taking. Check out the new Bluey version of this game!

Candy Land – This classic game encourages taking turns, following rules, and visual tracking. Check out all of the variations of this game, including the Disney Princess version and the Bluey version!

Kerplunk – Players carefully pull sticks without letting the marbles fall, strengthening hand control and strategic thinking.

Visual Motor Skills:

Zoom Ball – A tug-of-war style game that keeps kids active while building upper body strength and coordination as they race to push and pull the ball.

iSpy – Can you find all of the objects? Searching for objects in busy pictures sharpens visual scanning and attention to detail.

Stringing Beads – A classic activity perfect for snowy days inside.

Magnetic Fishing Game – Work on visual tracking, grasp control, and coordination while catching fish!

Sensory Play:

Kinetic Sand – Kids can squish, mold, and shape the sand endlessly. It’s great for both imagination and sensory input!

Wobble Cushion – Sitting, bouncing, and wobbling on this cushion helps kids release energy and improve balance in a fun way. These are great for mealtime or homework time.

Fidgets – Built to keep restless hands occupied while supporting focus and calm. You can never have too many fidgets!

Body Sock – Stretching, jumping, and snuggling in this stretchy sack is a playful way for kids to explore movement and sensory input.

Gift Ideas from Applied Behavior Analyst (ABA) Therapists:

Whether or not your child is on the autism spectrum or in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy, these toys are designed to support learning, growth, and play in meaningful ways.

Sensory Bins – Kids can dig, pour, and explore different textures, keeping hands busy while encouraging creativity and focus.

Sensory Swing – Gentle swinging provides vestibular input that’s both fun and grounding for the body and mind.

Life Skills Dressing Board – Practice buttons, zippers, and snaps in a hands-on way that makes learning daily routines playful.

Feeling Boards – This is a variation of the “I Feel, I Can” chart. Any type of feelings or emotions board helps kids identify and express their emotions, build coping skills, and develop emotional awareness.

Gift Ideas from Child Counselors:

Looking to support your child’s emotional well-being? Check out these ideas from our Child Counselors:

Weighted stuffed animal friends – Similar to weighted pillows, these are adorable and provide comforting deep pressure.

Thinking Putty – Satisfying to stretch and mold, perfect for keeping hands busy during homework or quiet time.

Jenga – Encourages patience, turn-taking, and managing frustration in a fun, hands-on way.

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza – Fast-paced, silly gameplay helps kids practice self-control, focus, and emotional regulation through laughter and fun.

Gift Ideas from Speech Therapists:

These toys are all used regularly in Speech & Language Therapy at Westside, and can benefit children in all stages of speech development:

Baby & Toddler

Crinkle books – The textured, crinkly sounds encourage babies to explore with their hands and ears while supporting early listening and communication skills.

Easy Grip Ball – Rolling, tossing, and catching a lightweight ball helps develop hand-eye coordination and offers opportunities for verbal interaction like “go,” “catch,” and “throw.”

Farm Puzzle – Matching animals to their spots encourages naming, describing, and early problem-solving language.

Tissue Box – Pulling tissues in and out teaches cause-and-effect language, sequencing words, and hand coordination.

Toy Bus – Don’t forget to sing “The Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round…” while playing with this!

Surprise Boxes – These are SO fun! See if your child can name the surprise inside each box. See if they can remember which box their favorite surprise is in!

24 to 36 Months

Category Mystery Box – A hands-on way to explore categories, matching, and basic vocabulary as kids reach in and guess what’s inside.

Mr. Potato Head – A classic favorite for learning body parts and simple spatial concepts like in, on, and under—plus, it always brings laughs when pieces go in silly places!

Mini Barns – Works on animal names and sounds, matching, and object permanence.

Hullabaloo – Builds vocabulary, action words, and listening skills through fun, fast-paced direction-following play.

5 and up

Hedbandz – A fast-paced guessing game that builds skills in asking and answering questions, using clues, and making inferences while identifying categories.

Guess Who – Helps kids practice asking precise questions, understanding categories, and drawing inferences to narrow down choices.

Gift Ideas from Feeding Therapists:

Picky eating can be extra challenging around the holidays! Here are some Feeding Therapy – inspired ideas to help make mealtime more fun and relaxed.

Plate with Spinner – Make mealtime fun! Kids spin the arrow to pick their next bite, encouraging them to try new fruits, veggies, and more.

Game Plate – This game plate is a game-changer. Have your child work along the path, or pick their own path. Make sure to include some safe foods alongside any new foods!

I’m a Food Scientist Placemat – Any fun waterproof placemats will work, but this one highlights the different senses we experience when eating.

Toddler Knife Set – The more kids are involved in food preparation, the more desensitized they become. In time, this will lead to more willingness to try new foods.

Gift Ideas from Physical Therapists:

Our Physical Therapists are all about the fun! Check out their recommendations below:

Balance Beams – These floor beams build balance, coordination, and core strength while letting kids practice safe, steady steps.

Stepping Stones – Great for motor planning and balance, these stones challenge kids to step, stretch, and move with confidence.

Musical Activity Station – Great for tummy time!

Foam Climbing Mats – Soft, safe structures that promote gross motor development through crawling, climbing, and exploring movement.

Balance Bike – Helps little ones learn coordination, balance, and confidence as they glide toward independent bike riding.

Scooter Board – Builds core and upper body strength through fun movement games on the floor, like scooting, spinning, and racing.

Activity Cubes – Encourage fine motor skills and exploration from pre-sitting to cruising, keeping little ones engaged as they grow.

We hope this list helps you as you prepare for the holiday season! As always, Westside is here to help you navigate the season with pro tips from our therapists.

If you’d like to learn more about our therapy services, give us a call at (815) 469-1500 or click the link below. We’re here to support your child’s growth and development every step of the way.

From our family to yours, we wish you a joyful holiday season!