Toys can be a powerful tool for children with autism. They provide opportunities for play and learning that can address specific needs, such as improving communication, fine motor skills, social interaction, and more.
Choosing the best toys depends on your child’s interests and needs. However, consider these three categories as smart starting points.
Sensory Toys
Sensory toys are toys specifically designed to engage the senses. They can come in many forms and provide a calming and focus-enhancing experience for children with autism and other special needs. According to https://abacentersfl.com/, playing with toys that move, squeak, or vibrate is often used in ABA Therapy to help children with ASD develop social play skills.
Water Tables
A water table is a type of toy that consists of a shallow basin filled with water, often with additional features such as fountains, funnels, and plastic toys to play with.
You can purchase pre-made water tables or create your own with a bucket or tote, water, and a few toys.
Water tables are great for children with autism as they provide sensory stimulation while developing fine motor skills and problem-solving skills (i.e., learning how to make a boat float, seeing what floats and what sinks, etc.)
Sand and Clay
Sand and modeling clay are two fantastic sensory toys for children with autism. The texture and free-play opportunities are often appealing. These touch-based toys are also great for exploring creativity and imagination. They can also be soothing, helping over-stimulated kids calm down and decompress.
Busy Boards and Fidget Toys
Busy boards and fidget toys are other great sensory options for children with autism. Busy boards often contain things like buttons, spinners, and gadgets to develop fine motor skills and keep children engaged. You can even create your own with locks, zippers, etc.
Fidget toys, like clickers, poppers, and spinners, also help children with autism self-soothe and relax.
Building Toys
Building toys are great for free play and developing imagination, creativity, fine motor skills, and planning skills. Here are two of the most popular options for children with autism.
Train Sets
Train sets are fantastic toys for developing problem-solving and creativity. They’re sensory-friendly toys that help children with autism develop focus and attention for the task at hand. Fitting together small pieces also helps promote fine motor skill development.
Building Blocks
Building blocks like Lego are another fan favorite for children with autism. Like train sets, children benefit from imagination, creativity, and fine motor skill development. Colorful blocks also promote visual stimulation and pattern recognition.
Older children may benefit from building sets and models, which will teach them how to follow sequential instructions.
Interest Toys
If your child develops a passion for a specific subject, don’t hesitate to go all in on free-play toys surrounding that interest — cars and dinosaurs are common examples.
There’s a common misconception that autism parents should help redirect children who are fixating on a specific subject. While having a wide range of interests is essential, letting them celebrate their love of a particular topic or interest is good.
Final Thoughts
Every child with autism will have unique needs. The toys listed here can be beneficial for children with autism because they provide opportunities for play and learning that can address specific needs, such as improving communication, fine motor skills, and socialization.