Having a variety of sensory toys is essential for the education and development of kids with special needs and all kids who are learning and exploring the world. Sensory toys serve several purposes.
First of all, they are fun! We always want our children to enjoy learning. They also provide the stimulation for senses that kids with special needs like autism crave. When kids are seeking out certain sensations, it can distract them from being able to listen, focus, and attend to the task at hand. Sensory toys provide children with a safe and natural way to calm themselves and focus.
An occupational therapist or special education teacher can help you choose a specific category of sensory toys to best help your child, but by providing kids with a selection of different kinds of toys, you will be able to see what your little one naturally gravitates to. More: The Best Fidget Toys for Kids with ADHD
Our Top Picks:
The Best Tactile Stimulation: Rainbow Water Beads for KidsThe Best Comfort and Swaddle Stimulation: Indoor Therapy Swing for KidsThe Best Stress Relief: 4E’s Novelty Expandable BallThe Best Visual Stimulation: Liquid Motion Bubbler for Sensory PlayThe Best Weighted Comfort: Weighted Lap Pad for KidsThe Best Fine Motor Skills Development: Spike The Fine Motor HedgehogThe Best Tactile Toy: BunMo Pop Tubes Sensory ToysThe Best Mood Identification Help: The Original Mood Flipbook for KidsThe Best Toy for Hand Eye Coordination Needs: Sensory Buckle PillowThe Best Toy for Getting the Doodles Out: Aqua Magic Doodle MatThe Best Toy for Dynamic Sensory Movement: Dynamic Movement Sensory SoxThe Best Toy for Sensory Art: ArtCreativity Classic Pin Art Game SetThe Best Sensory Teething and Chewing Toy: Chew Necklace Sensory Teething ToysThe Best Sensory Toy for Kids Who Need Space: USA Toyz Rocket Ship Play Tent for KidsThe Best Sensory Toy for STEM: Magna-Tiles Stardust SetThe Best Sensory Toy for Speech Development: Wily Fox Sensory Toys for Autistic ChildrenThe Best Sensory Toy for Hand Strengthening: Secure Stress Balls on a StringThe Best Fidget Toys: 4 Pack Bean Bags Fidget Toys for Sensory KidsThe Best Anti-Anxiety Fidgeting Toys: iBaseToy 30 Pack Fidget Toy SetThe Best Sensory Toy for Imaginative Play: Kinetic SandThe Best Sensory Toy for Jumping and Swinging: JUMP POWER Indoor/Outdoor TrampolineThe Best Fidget Spinner: Rainbow Fidget Finger Hand SpinnersThe Best Sensory Therapy Putty: Therapy Putty for Hand Exercise RehabThe Best Toy to Keep Their Attention: Fat Brain Toys Dimpl ToysThe Best Proprioceptive Toy: Foam Stepping Stones for Kids
What to Consider When Purchasing Sensory Toys for Kids with Special Needs
Consider the recommendations of your family’s occupational therapist or a trusted special education teacher. The experts in your life can point you in the right direction. Think about the kinds of movements and sensations that your child already gravitates to. Does she like weight and swaddle sensations? Does he like to spin or squeeze? Is your child calmed by visual stimulation? Which sensory system does your child need help with? Consider the seven main sensory systems: Proprioception (knowing where the body is in space), vestibular (the sense of movement and balance), tactile (the sense of touch), vision, hearing, smell, oral/taste.
How We Chose Our Favorites
Water beads are wonderful for children who love tactile toys. They are non-toxic, and all you have to do to get your child started is to add water. Water beads are especially calming for kids who have autism or sensory processing disorder. This swing provides a therapeutic experience for kids who enjoy the sensation of being snuggled. It is calming and comfortable, and kids can use it in various positions. This vestibular swing also helps children improve their motor skills. These breathing balls provide a great visual for helping kids understand how to take deep, calming breaths. They can be great aids for children’s yoga or mindfulness classes. They also satisfy tactile sensation needs. This is a great choice for kids who need something visually soothing. It helps kids to destress and can also help them improve their visual tracking skills. This weighted blanket pad is the perfect size for kids to use as they do schoolwork. It provides the compression sensation without feeling like too much. This is both calming and relaxing for many kids with anxiety and special needs. This is a fun toy for kids who need to build fine motor skills and strengthen their hand muscles. It also provides an easy way to do occupational therapy exercises at home. Although it was created for younger kids, children of various ages can use it in different ways. These tubes pop, stretch, and connect. Kids love the sounds and tactile play. They provide tactile stimulation, help with fine motor skills, and auditory feedback. This is an especially helpful and user-friendly tool for children with autism and ADHD. It can help kids identify and make sense of their moods. It’s also a fun way to promote interaction with others. This is a toy that you will find at many sensory gyms and even at homes for senior citizens as a dementia-friendly activity. This pillow is helpful for building fine motor skills, and it also teaches practical skills while giving kids an educational way to fidget. This is an awesome toy for kids who need to get their doodles out. If you find your kids drawing on your walls and needing to express themselves visually, this mat gives them a mess-free way to do that. The large size is very appealing and provides that same satisfaction as inking up the floor or walls. This sensory sock is a lifesaver for many families. It helps kids move creatively while increasing spatial awareness and helping children learn to calm their own bodies. This is an excellent dynamic movement toy for kids with special needs. Manipulating these 3D pins is mesmerizing and excellent for inspiring creativity. It also calms kids when they feel sensory overload. This is a perfect toy to keep in a learning area for children with special needs. These chewable necklaces are extremely safe for autistic kids who need sensory teething toys. Keeping them on a necklace keeps them off the floor and helps kids not to lose them. This is perfect for any kid who needs oral sensory input. They are non-toxic and BPA-free. This tent is a perfect sensory room for kids who need a quiet and calm place to retreat. The space theming makes it mesmerizing and calming, and children will appreciate having space of their own when the outside world feels like a bit too much. These Magna-Tiles inspire creativity and are wonderful manipulatives for little hands. There sparky yet smooth surfaces are calming to handle and watch. This is an excellent STEM toy for children of all ages. This is an excellent game for kids with both autism and speech delays. It was created by a speech therapist and a child disability specialist. It’s also a really fun way to work on problem solving skills and social skills. This is an awesome sensory stimulation toy. It provides stress relief, and it also helps kids get those wiggles out. This is also an excellent toy to practice exercises provided by a physical therapist or occupational therapist. These fidget and sensory toys are soothing for kids with sensory needs. They are also safe and fun for the whole family to play with. We love that they are non-toxic and BPA-free. This is a collection of sensory fidget toys that is perfect for repeated movement to relieve stress like stretching, squeezing, and flipping. They are great choices for children with ADHD and autism to help them focus and stay calm. With so many choices included, parents are bound to find at least one that works for their child. This moldable sand is mesmerizing for children of all ages to play with. It’s wonderful creative and tactile stimulation. It comes with manipulative tools so that kids can shape and move the sand into creations or just to relieve their stress. If your little one needs to get her wiggles out, this is a perfect choice. Kids can jump and swing in a safe and contained way. This is an awesome choice for kids who need to move to calm down. This spinner set is beautiful to watch for kids who like to calm themselves with visual stimulation. It relieves stress and anxiety for kids in a very unobtrusive way. This non-toxic putty is perfect for building hand strength and for kids who fidget. It provides stress relief through tactile hand movement. The 4 pack provides different colors to keep things feeling new and interesting for kids. This is another excellent fidget toy to provide stress relief and relaxation for kids. Kids can spin it or push and pop the multicolor areas. It can really help kids to stay focused and to pay attention. Kids will love playing “The Floor is Lava” with these foam stepping stones. They also offer excellent proprioceptive movement opportunities for kids with sensory needs. Kids will balance and jump and build their skills while having fun.
