Best Sensory Toys for Kids with Sensory Processing Issues and Autism

Does your child with autism have issues with sensory input? Take a look at some of the top sensory toys for autism recommended by many occupational therapists to include fidget spinners, hand toys, hand toys, chew toys, cubes, and sensory rings for children with autism.

Many people use hand fidgets to relieve stress and anxiety, to help focus, or just for plain fun. Stress balls, putty, and anything squishy and squeezy are helpful because they’re soothing, calming, and enjoyable to fidget with. Sensory items have helped people of all ages, from adults sitting at a desk at work to children in classrooms.

Is your child with autism passive or sensory seeking? Are there developmental delays? Floortime therapy, an evidence-based intervention for autism, may strengthen basic communication skills and relationship skills for your child.

Until he turned three, I felt like everything we were going through was just what kids went through. Then Damien stopped talking, made repetitive movements, and we noticed him doing different things with textures and sounds. We know now he has sensory problems, but I am not going to lie, I felt so lost during that time. We went to doctor after doctor and were told that he would stop on his own, and when we finally got him the referral to the head autism center, we had to wait over a year to be seen.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have issues effectively processing sensory information and may perceive sensation differently. For example, a child may perceive touch sensation as painful or immediately become startled when touched.  Some children are extremely sensitive to noises such as the sound of a toilet flushing.  A child’s sensory needs and way of processing sensory information from their surrounding environment is completely different for each child. Helping a child with sensory- related issues always needs to be done with an individualized approach because each child is unique and experiences something different. However, there are some general strategies and activities that are calming and helpful. For example, deep pressure (the feeling of a hug or being compressed/ held tightly) can be very calming and organizing. It’s the same reason why swaddling a baby can help him/her sleep or stop crying.

Like so many parents-to-be, when I was pregnant, I looked forward to wonderful moments spent bathing my little one. I recalled bubbles and giggles in our bathtub at home when I was little, and I was eager to create treasured memories with my own child.  But after my son was born and became big enough for me to bathe him in a full-size bathtub, I found that bath times were often stressful and confusing.  As is common with children who have sensory processing issues, my son Cole had extreme reactions to being bathed.  It seemed he was always crying and fighting me or was so giddy with excitement that I didn’t feel I could keep him safe. Cole would start jumping, screeching, and hand flapping, and I desperately tried to steady his slippery little body.  Afterward, when I towel-dried him, he would hug me so hard and so long that I wondered, What is up with this child? Why can’t he be this calm in the tub? I had yet to develop sensory smarts—the understanding of how my child’s different way of processing sensory input was affecting him and what I could do about it.

Every parent with a child on the spectrum can vouch for me when I state, “going out in public is a challenge.”  Transitioning from the house to the car is your first challenge.  Then the challenge shifts to dealing with the sensory problems of the new place upon arrival.

Where did 10 years go? My first-born son, Javier, is now in the double-digits. Motherhood has been the biggest blessing, although full of more challenges I thought I’d ever face! At the end of my pregnancy, I watched a talk show featuring celebrities speak about their children with autism. Not being very informed, I listened intently, not fully knowing how diverse it was. I never thought that my son would later be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

In the center of the huge frenzy the miracle gadget fidget spinner stirred, experts recently revealed that the spinner is nothing more than a regular toy. Fidget spinners have been marketed as easy to carry anxiety-busting gadgets that can aid children and adults with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and any type of anxiety disorder.

Does your child with autism become overstimulated or bored easily? With the school year coming to an end, are you looking for sensory play ideas for your child? This guide will provide a variety of ideas for fun sensory activities for children with autism.