Holiday season is in full swing. As you shop for your children, take a look at our toy list for great gift ideas that can promote your child’s development.

Two and three years olds like to gather and collect items and are learning to sort by color, shape, and size. They are driven to explore their environment and need lots of opportunity to expand their play.

Sand
Sand & Water Activity Center- Step 2 (www.toysrus.com)
Step 2 Frog Sandbox (www.toysrus.com)

Water
Clay, Play Doh
Rocking horse
Rock N Bounce Pony (www.toysrus.com)
Rock 2 Roll Pony (www.toysrus.com)
Simple musical instruments
Parents Bee Bop Band Instruments By Battat (www.buybuybaby.com)
First Act Percussion Pack (www.toysrus.com)
Sound Beginnings Pound N Sound Xylophone (www.target.com)

EYE-HAND COORDINATION
Peg boards with large pieces
Learning Resources Stacking Shapes Pegboard (www.target.com)
Wooden animals
Large crayons and paper (avoid coloring books)
Dot Art: Do a Dot Art Washable Markers 6 Pack (www.amazon.com)
Chalkboard: Scribble Center (www.amazon.com)
Simple jigsaw puzzles with large pieces
Parents Puzzle Rack with Puzzles (www.target.com)
Vehicle and Farm Sound Puzzles (www.target.com)
Melissa & Doug puzzles with knobs, doors and thick stand-up pieces (DaffyDan)
Blocks with numbers and letters
Melissa & Doug Deluxe 50-piece Wooden ABC/123 Blocks Set (www.amazon.com)
Shape sorters
Shape Sorting Cube (www.target.com)
Chicco Shape Sorter Drum (www.target.com)

CONSTRUCTION TOYS
Mega Blocks
Mega Blocks 200 Piece Duffle Bag (www.amazon.com)
Magnet blocks and trains
Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Circus Train (www.target.com)
Duplo:  My First Lego Duplo Set (www.amazon.com)

By: Aviva Goldwasser, OTR/L