gifts – Miss Mancy

Miss Mancy’s Favorite Toy List

The parents I work with always ask me for a list of suggested toys for Hanukah or Christmas so this year I put together a little list for different age groups:

3 to 5 Years Old:

1- Dino Popper is a great way to strengthen little hands. I like the Dino more than the other animals because it fits better in small children’s’ hands.

2- Snap and Learn Lady Bugs: This toy works on so many wonderful skills. Not only can you build number concepts and color concepts but the resistance allows to strengthen little hands and also works on constructional skills like a puzzle.

3- Alex Toys ABC Beading: This is a versatile toy that not only helps children work on bilateral coordination skills through beading but it can be used to create words and learn letters.

4-Mr Potato Head: The classic Mr Potato Head is a great toy for little ones. They work on body part identification as well as strengthen little hands.

5- Smart Snack Cupcakes: Kids love this toy! They match the top and bottom of the cupcakes depending on the shape. I like to have older children try to put these together by placing the cupcake behind their backs so as to occlude vision.

5 to 7 Years Old:

1- Magneatos: Get ready for your child to be busy for hours! These balls and sticks are large magnets that can be used to create really cool structures.

2- Magnetiles: This is also a great toy! These magnetic shapes are flat and are used to create wonderful structures.

3- Design and Drill: This is another fabulous toy! Children can copy designs by screwing colored screws with an electric drill! Kids really love this! They can also create their own design. This is great for hand strength and to shape the arches of the hand.

4- Suigz: Love this toy for strengthening little fingers. By squeezing the squigz, children build structures that attach to one another with suction. Don’t forget to have children break apart the structures; another opportunity to strengthen hands/fingers.

5- Edu-shape Magic Symmetry: Here is a fun way for children to create mirror images. This is a wonderful visual perceptual activity that requires problem solving and visual motor skills.

7 Years and Up:

1- Spot it: Excellent visual perceptual game. Children race to find 2 matching shapes, letters or numbers on the card.

2- PathWords Jr: LOOOOOOVVVVVEEE this game. Such a smart toy! Children have to find the required words using different length/colored sticks. They must therefore use visual perceptual skills along with spelling skills. This is one of my favorite games for older children.

3- Chocolate Fix: Here is another very cool game that works on visual perceptual skills as well as motor planning and problem solving. By process of elimination they try to figure out where the different chocolates go on the tray.

4-Poppin’ Puzzlers: I grew up on this game and loved the thrill of finding the shapes before the tray popped! Now ypou can play against an opponent!

5-Curious George Discovery Beach Day: Kids really really like this game. I like that it works on visual perceptual skills and visual memory. Children try to remember where they found the item from the card they picked.

You can purchase any of these items on Miss Mancy’s AMAZON store. CLICK HERE for link

Miss Mancy’s Favorite FINE MOTOR Holiday Gifts

Parents ask me all the time to recommend toys for the Holidays. So here is a little list of some of my favorite games that work on a fine motor component. You can purchase all these items directly on MissMancy’s website either on my SHOP page or on my AMAZON SHOP! Enjoy!

#1 Cranium Cariboo: This is hands down children’s favorite game! It appeals to children of all ages. Children ask me for this game allll the time! They never get enough of it!!! I like it because it teaches little ones letter, number, shape and color concepts in a fun way AND I can adapt it easily by making cards to switch out depending the concepts i’m working on. The original Cranium Cariboo is discontinued (you can find it on ebay or Amazon at a very high price) HOWEVER, Cranium came up with a new version called Cranium ISLAND Cariboo. Kids love it too but I have to admit the original is wayyyyyy more appealing!

#2 Easel: This is my favorite product out on the market. I recommend this for allllll children! Trust me, your children will love coloring, writing activities with this travel easel. I have tried dozens of easels but this one draws children in!!! (It’s my secret writing weapon)

#3 Lite Brite: I loved this game as a child and still love it today. I like the travel version of Lite Brite. Most children don’t have the patience to complete the larger Lite Brite. I use it to work on finger strength and visual perceptual skills.

#4 Candy Land Castle Game: Little ones really like pulling the handle and searching for shapes and colors. It’s a wonderful sweet game!

#5 Kid K’NEX: Love all the different types of Kid K’nex games. This is a wonderful way to work on finger strength and constructional skills. Easily makes cool constructions and it has the just right resistance on fingers. Don’t forget that for kids with poor finger strength who need help building structures, there is great value in having them break apart the structure.