Holiday Gift Guide for Early Learners

It is the most wonderful time of the year! I often get asked for gift suggestions that are educational, or gifts that may have educational benefits, so I have put together a list for different groups in the hopes you will find them helpful! 

This list will be for early learners. Getting ready for school or building early skills in school does not always involve formal practice with pencil and paper. Many areas, such as core strength and fine motor practice, need to be developed to get to the heavy lifting skills involved in school. So let’s support these at home in a fun and meaningful way!  Check out the entire list for early learners in my Amazon Storefront here.

Pretend Play Sets

This is a great way to expand imagination and build language. As you play with the food sets like this one, you can practice skills like guiding the child to place the fork by the plate or to the left. Ask the student to put the apple on the napkin. See if the student can cut the fruit in half. Using play to practice and model words like by, half, in front of, to the left/right, etc., is a fun way to work on language and spend time together.

Puzzles:

Never underestimate the power of puzzles. Whether it is a beginner's puzzle with large wooden handles or one with more pieces, the fine motor practice of pinching and picking up pieces with the skill of matching them to the correct place is very beneficial.

I like puzzles with basic shapes and colors. I also like puzzles with letters so that preschoolers can begin to develop alphabet knowledge. Yes, learners need to know letter names.

Pattern Block Set

Along the same lines as a puzzle are pattern block sets.  You can start with more accessible versions like this one or use more complex sets like this one.  My preschooler and elementary students both like these sets.

Stepping Stone Set

This is an investment, but it is an item that gets students up and moving while building skills. My kids have a set of these stepping stones and enjoy using them to build obstacle courses, as a warm-up for lessons, or as a brain break during lessons. In addition, the stones can help strengthen coordination and balance - important for learning! 

Scissor Skill Sets

You can accomplish the same goal by using paper and age-appropriate scissors you already have (I prefer beginning scissors for my younger learners) at home.  However, I like to use these with my preschooler because the set provides guidelines for where to cut.  Once he is finished, we glue the picture back down in order.  This is a bonus and practice activity for the original cutting task.  We can then discuss the picture, which provides an opportunity to support oral language.  I have listed a few in my Holiday Gifts for Early Learners list, but here is an example of a set.

Prewriting Tools

I like purchasing items that will support prewriting skills. You can read more about the importance of correct grip and skills to develop grip with previous blog posts I have written.  Some of my favorite tools are stamps, playdough, eyedroppers, and lacing tools.

I once received an email expressing disappointment that I was advocating for plastic toys. We have to be mindful of our environment, and we need to be responsible for our consumption. The gift of nature offers many valuable and free tools for young learners! If you know my family, we are outside daily and spend our weekends in the woods or at the river. My kids are avid fishermen and love being outdoors. Taking a hike, playing by the creek, or simply playing in the dirt with sticks and stones, all have incredible value. The suggestions here are meant to supplement what you have in your classroom and home, in addition to what the great outdoors has to offer. 

Many of the links will take you to my Amazon storefront.  Please note that I do make a small commission from these purchases.  Follow all manufacturer warnings about age-appropriate toys and potentially hazardous parts.  

Happy Holidays to all! 

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