OT-recommended toys & tools
Play with purpose.
The toys, sensory tools and equipment I use in our Dallas neuro-OT clinic and recommend to families, chosen for how they support development, not just how they look on a shelf.
Trusted by 85K+ parents on Instagram · Used in NeuroNest intensives
Shop by age
Start with your child's stage
Shopping for a birthday or the holidays? See the OT gift guide by age
Shop by goal
What are you working on?
Body
Movement and sensory input that help the nervous system organize.
Move & ClimbVestibular input, balance & coordinationClimbers, balance beams, stepping stones and outdoor play for kids who need to move, and kids who need a little help moving with confidence.
Sensory RegulationDeep pressure, heavy work & calming toolsWeighted and compression tools, vibration, oral motor and breathing tools, and calm-down spaces that help the nervous system settle and organize.
Brain
Vision, thinking skills and the hands that carry them out.
Vision & Ocular MotorTracking, eye teaming & visual scanningBrock strings, mazes, tracking tools and search games. The ocular motor tools we use in the clinic to help the eyes aim, follow and focus.
Brain GamesExecutive function, memory & planningLogic puzzles, strategy and quick-thinking games that build planning, working memory, attention and flexible thinking, plus simple turn-taking games for little ones.
Fine MotorHand strength, grasp & pre-writingPinch, push, stack and squeeze: toys that build the hand strength behind writing, cutting, buttons and self-care.
Home
Setting up spaces and routines that support it all.
Sensory RoomSwings, crash pads, climbers & flexible seatingPlay couches, crash pads, indoor swings and wiggle seats: the pieces that turn any room into a place to move, crash and reset.
Potty TrainingRegulation, breathwork, posture & body awarenessPotty training is a nervous system skill. Breathwork and calming tools, a stable seat, body-signal reminders and a little fun: everything I recommend to families, in one place.
From the clinic
Keep the momentum going at home
Coming off an intensive, or curious what's in our treatment room? These are the swings, climbers, balance tools and sensory equipment we use with kids every day, organized so you can choose the few pieces that fit your child and your space.
See the clinic equipmentErin's picks
The ones I recommend most
Not sure where to start?
Answer four questions. Get a personalized list.
Tell me your child's age and what you're noticing, and I'll match you with the toys and tools I'd recommend, plus a free activity to try today.
Take the Toy QuizThe journal
The why behind the toys
Move & Climb · 8 min read
Supporting Your Baby's Senses: 0 to 12 Months
How babies build their brains through touch, movement, sight and sound in the first year, and simple ways (and a few well-chosen toys) to support it at home.
Brain Games · 7 min read
Make Reflex Work Fun: Spot It, Connect 4, UNO and More
Why fun matters so much in reflex integration work, and how we use everyday games like Spot It, Connect 4, UNO and cones to keep kids engaged in the clinic.
Move & Climb · 7 min read
Reflex Integration Through Play: What Parents Should Know
What primitive reflexes are, why movement matters so much for them, and the everyday play that supports reflex integration work at home.