Toys and games for the holidays that promote learning through play!

Parents always ask me what games would be good for their child who struggles with an aspect of language learning, literacy or even autism spectrum disorders. Even typically developing children need toys and games that stimulate their senses and keep them engaged!

Read on for some great gift ideas for a special child in your life. Many of these toys are recognized on PlayOnWords.com as exceptional toys that promote language and creative play.  

The following are toys for infants that help babies explore texture, color and sound.  Parents can work on vocabulary when they talk with their baby with these exciting items:  

Flower Friends by HABA

Go With Me Mobil by Blue Box Toys

Lil' Shopper Playset by Earlyears

Mix 'n Match-Max by Alex

Some excellent games for children ages 3 and up that work on pre-literacy skills, visual memory, matching, colors, shapes and numbers are:

Angellinga Ballerina Dance With Me! by I can do that! 

Chuggigintong's Traintastic Cargo by I can do that!  

I Built it! Memory Match + Tic Tac Toe by I  Built it!

I Built it! Snakes and Ladders by I Built it!

Where is Sock Monkey? by Cardinal Games

Alphabet Matcher by Twister Toys

Games for children ages 4 through 6 to encourage asking and answering questions, categorizing, deductive reasoning and feelings/emotions are:

Splish! Splash!

Tell Tale by Blue Orange Games

Who am I? By HABA

Mermaid Beach

Frog Puppet Kit by Folkmanis

Games for children ages 8/9+ that work on brainstorming, more abstract conpcets, literacy, language, vocabulary and thinking skills are:

Smart Mouth by Thinkfun

Word on the Street Junior by OUt of the Box Publishing 

Flashwordz 

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Lighthouse Island

Apples to Apples

Dabble by INI, LLC

Check out these website for toys,games and online activities for children with Autism, Asperger's and Sensory Processing Disorders:

http://www.playabilitytoys.com/

http://www.animalagentz.com/home.aspx

http://www.nlconcepts.com/

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/

http://www.melissaanddoug.com/?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=cj&utm_...

AND...Books!  Reading to your child is so important!  It's never too early to start- newborns love the sound of your voice :)

Happy Holidays!