Put a Twinkle in Their Eye and a Smile on Their Face — First Annual Gift Guide For the Kids on Your List

Holiday shopping season is in full swing, so I wanted to point out to parents some familiar toys, as well as some new ones, that will help young children develop visual skills such as hand-eye coordination, depth perception, spatial orientation and motor skills.

Many videogames can help with hand-eye coordination, but there are so many downsides to excessive screen time that none are included on the list.

If you’re buying your child’s first bike for Christmas, consider one of the newer “balance bikes” instead of a tricycle or a two-wheeler with training wheels. These bikes have no pedals or chain, and are designed to teach children to balance and steer first. To function properly, a balance bicycle must allow the rider to sit comfortably on the seat, feet flat on the ground. The rider first “walks” the bike and eventually learns to cruise with both feet up while balancing on the two wheels.

Building toys like Lego sets, wooden blocks, and model cars and airplanes help with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Crafts like sand art and beading, and art and school supplies like coloring books, finger paints, a chalkboard or easel, modeling clay, and Spirograph (spiral art) also help develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Diggin’ Rigs by Play-Doh lets kids make a construction zone and construction materials (bricks, etc.) so they can build things.

Kids can sharpen their space perception with classic games like Operation and Jenga, and with sports and recreation equipment (balls, Nerf toys, Velcro darts, ping pong).

Old-school games and activities like Battleship, Perfection, Memory, checkers, card games and jigsaw puzzles help with visual memory and pattern recognition.

Jump ropes, Twister, Slip’N Slide, trampolines, inline skates, skateboards and all sorts of other things that kids like to play and ride on help them gain confidence and develop balance and coordination. And as I’ve said before, it’s important to get kids moving.

A healthy start in life is a gift that keeps on giving.

Dr. Jeff Pinkerton
iCare for you.