Looking for gifts this holiday that are fun, meaningful, and great for development? Kids truly do learn from play! Beyond entertainment, games of all types help build important visual skills that underpin learning, problem-solving, and coordination. These are just a few of our favourites from our doctors and vision therapists that we chose to highlight!

Please note that we are not sponsored by any of these brands. We simply enjoy playing these at home with our children and often as part of vision therapy.

Board Games

Board games make ideal gifts because they combine social connection with problem solving and strategy. Some examples we love are:

  • Spot It, Blink, and Pengaloo: through fast-paced matching and recall, these games sharpen visual discrimination (ability to tell similarities and differences) and visual memory (ability to remember what you see).
  • Scrabble and Patchwork: encourage visualization (picturing objects or ideas in your mind) and form constancy (ability to recognize an object as the same even if its size or orientation is changed) as players plan layouts and recognize letters/shapes in different angles.

Puzzles

Puzzles are timeless classics that quietly build strong visual-spatial skills. Some examples we enjoy playing over and over are:

  • Katamino, Tangrams, IQ Fit, and Rush Hour: require players to mentally rotate and fit pieces together, strengthening visualization and form constancy.
  • Jigsaw puzzles and building blocks: enhance visual memory, visualization, and form constancy; these are perfect for cozy holiday afternoons.

Get Them Moving!

Active play gifts add movement to development since our vestibular (balance) and visual systems are so interconnected. Balance beams, stepping stones, balance boards, and bikes help children judge space, distance, and body position while moving—supporting visual-motor coordination in a playful way.

Choosing these games as gifts means giving experiences that are engaging, enriching, and long-lasting. These are gifts that can be enjoyed year after year with family and friends.

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