Kmart is a wonderland when it comes to toys and gadgets for your child. Their affordable toys and stationery are a perfect way to keep your child entertained and learning on a budget. This blog will pick out some of our favourite Kmart items that you can use at home as OT Therapy tools to support your child’s learning and development:
Sensory Toys!
Kmart has a fantastic amount of squishies, fidget toys and putty to meet your child’s sensory needs. Their statement on their website which refers to Autism Spectrum Australia demonstrates to us just how much thought Kmart has put into ensuring that they can offer affordable sensory tools.
https://www.kmart.com.au/category/toys/features/sensory-friendly-toys/476005
Fine Motor Games
Kmart Dough: Playdough is great for increasing strength and endurance in our little one’s hands to help with their handwriting and pencil grip. This $8 pack is a great starter set: https://www.kmart.com.au/product/creative-playing-dough-18-pack-dough-set/1092802
Get your children rolling, squishing and squashing the dough to create whatever their imagination desires.
Honeybee Buzz Game: This game is quickly becoming a favourite in therapy! Focus on not only your child’s fine motor precision and accuracy with this game but also test their turn-taking skills when playing with a sibling or another player!
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/creative-playing-dough-18-pack-dough-set/1092802
Dog Doctor: A play on the traditional ‘Operation’ this game will test your child’s fine motor precision whilst also helping them to develop a good pencil grasp as they hold the tweezers!
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/dog-doctor-playset/921873
Animal threading: These cute animal threading cards are a great way to help develop your child’s fine motor skills as well as concentration!
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/wooden-animals-threading-set/2299343
Gross Motor Games:
Connect 4 Shots: It’s time to step Connect 4 up a notch! This game is an awesome way to challenge your child’s accuracy and hand-eye coordination:
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/hasbro-connect-4-shots-game/2720961
Home-made obstacle course! Kmart has made it really easy to get creative and set up fun obstacle courses in your backyard. These games will test your child’s balance and coordination whilst having lots of fun!
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/4-balance-beams/2865384
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/balance-buckets/2891804
https://ww.kmart.com.au/product/agility-ladder/2815312
Other great finds!
Pre-cut play food: This wonderful wooden toy from Kmart is great for encouraging your child to coordinate both hands by holding the toy knife in one hand and stabilising the fruit with another. It also provides a wonderful opportunity to make fruit and vegetable fun!
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/wooden-pre-cut-play-food/806819
Find out about feelings book: This cute book is another favourite therapy favourite! The interactive ‘Lift the flap’ stylebook is a great way to encourage conversation about feelings and emotions
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/lift-the-flap-find-out-about-feelings—book/2559817
We could go on forever listing the amazing things you can find at Kmart, but we hope that this has provided some insight into how you can support your child’s learning and development at home.
