Autism is closely associated with sensory issues, and autistic kids need the stimulation of all five senses to stay calm and happy. Also, there are some best toys for autistic kids that can help them with this issue.
Sensory issues that usually affect kids with autism can be hyper-sensitive issues or hypo-sensitive issues. However, in both of these sensitivities, a child reacts very differently to different sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches.
Although it is not only limited to these senses, therefore, we can say that it generally affects how a child reacts to a particular stimulus. Kids with autism are usually very sensitive, and good child handling is necessary for them to stay normal and active.
Toys can play a great role in this. There are many types of toys available in the market that are specifically designed for autistic kids. However, in the article below, we have enlisted five of them that surely are the best toys for autistic kids.
Factors to keep in mind before buying toys for autistic kids
Following are the factors that one must keep in mind before buying the best toys for autistic kids:
- As kids with autism are very sensitive to multiple situations so, it is better to get toys that bring them joy. However, every kid is different and so their source of happiness is also different. Therefore, if you want to give a gift to such kids, it is better to consult with their parents first to get the maximum knowledge about the kid’s behaviour and source of happiness.
- Another factor to keep in mind while buying toys for such kids is safety risks. While buying toys for autistic kids, you must know what can cause anger issues in the child so that you can’t buy any toy that can trigger his/her emotions and the child can harm himself.
- Another great idea is to keep your focus on the toys that make the child interact with others in a good way.
Today, our focus is to enlist the best toys for autistic kids, and for this purpose, we have enlisted a number of the best toys.
Best Toys for Autistic Kids
Here are the recommendations:
Fat Brain Toys Teeter Popper
Features
- The material is silicone and plastic
- Good for ages 3 years old and above
- Holds up to 110 pounds
Autistic kids usually find lying on the floor very comfortable and soothing. The reason is the sensory touch of the floor. However, many parents are super concerned about how to control this habit of their kids.
Also, kids with autism can get very angry if anything happens without their will. Therefore, it is better to get a toy that not only lets them enjoy their playtime on the floor but is also considered safe.
For this purpose, the Fat brain toys teeter popper is so far the best choice. Many parents have actually found it very good when it comes to playing on the floor.
This amazing toy comes in multicolour and the material is amazing to play with. Also, you don’t have to worry about the weight of your kid as it provides a good hold on the weight.
The fat brain toys teeter popper has a suction cup underneath and provides amazing rocking motion.
It means, your child can enjoy their lay down on the floor along with the advantage of working their muscles, rocking motion, and sensory noises of the suction cup.
It will not only let your child play but also will help them in getting relax by providing the stimulation they crave for.
However, this toy requires a good amount of stability and balance. Therefore, we recommend that you must keep an eye if you have a toddler with this toy.
Pros
- Sturdy for preschoolers
- Good sensory toy
Cons
- Decorative handles come off
Do You Know Emotional Activities for Kids Can Also Help Overcome Autism?
Neliblu Wacky Tracks Snap and Click Fidget Toys
Features
- Plastic material
- Good for ages three years and above
- Pack of four and multicolours
You might have heard that fidget toys are actually amazing for autistic kids because of their ability to provide the sensory touch and relax the mind and muscles in no time.
However, when it comes to choosing the right fidget toy, you might end up getting confused because of the ton of options available in the market. Therefore, we have come across the best fidget toy for your precious autistic kid.
The idea behind this fidget toy is similar to the old-school fidget spinner but this toy has fidget chains that are tactile so that your child may get instant stress and anxiety relief. In addition to this, it provides great focus and attention to your kid.
Our chosen Neliblu wacky tracks snap and click fidget toy has a link of 24 pieces in a chain that moves and locks on five different places so that your child will get the satisfying and calming clicking sound.
The best part is, you will get four of these chains in one pack. Your special and amazing kid will love to break, connect, and rearrange them due to the soothing ticking sounds. However, keep an eye on small kids to avoid choking hazards due to small pieces.
Pros
- Break nervous habits
- Soothing clicking sound
Cons
- A bit flimsy
Kidoozie Hop & Squeak Pogo Jumper
Features
- Multicolor
- Material is foam
- Supports up to 250 pounds
When it comes to autism, you never know that your child is also suffering from sensory issues until you get to know that they find difficulty in maintaining balance and coordinating movements.
However, not every kid wants movements like bouncing or rocking so it is best to keep an eye on your child’s needs.
Anyhow, as most of the kids with stability issues love rocking and moving so we keep our focus on that and pick a sensory toy for them that will help them in getting relaxed.
The Kidoozie hop & squeak pogo jumper is the ultimate choice for your kid with autism. The Kidoozie jumper is specifically designed for kids that have issues with coordination and balancing.
This jumper is very pleasant to the eyes so that your kid instantly wants to use it when he sees it for the first time. Also, it doesn’t produce any harsh sounds and helps your kid in landing safely.
It is the reason behind many kids loving this toy. The best part is, it can be used by adults also that have weighed less than 250 pounds because it can for sure holds weight up to 250 pounds.
Pros
- Muted squeak sound
- Fun to play
Cons
- Not very good in quality
Educational Insights Teachable Touchables
Features
- Fabric material
- Multicolor
- 20 bean bags
There are some amazingly unique kids out there that are facing the issue of autism and completely dislike hard plastic toys. Plastic toys can sometimes give them that hard and rough feeling, which autistic kids found unbearable.
As a result, the child gets frustrated. We completely acknowledge your concern when it comes to plastic toys so, we come across a great product that your child will surely love.
The amazing educational insights teachable touchable is a bag of textures, which is packed with sensory stimuli. Isn’t it something really interesting?
You will get 20 different pillows in one bag that are small enough to hold small hands. These 20 bags come in a pair of 10 bags. The best part is the different touches that these pillows provide.
Your kid will feel the scratchy surface, silky surface, soft surface, slippery surface, and more with these amazing pillows.
The bags are filled with beans so that it is completely safe for your kids to play with. If your autistic kid lacks fine motor skills then it is best to consider this pack of bags.
Pros
- Small bags perfect for small hands
- Develop fine motor skills
Cons
- Not very good in quality
Pacific Play Tents Hide-me Tent and Tunnel
Features
- Polyester material
- Large-size play tent
- Crawl tunnel with interior padding
When it comes to playing with tents, no child can deny it. You must have remembered your good childhood days while reading about tents because almost all of us enjoyed the time when we used to play with the tents.
Keeping this dire need in mind, we have opted out of amazing pacific play tents Hide-me tents, and tunnels for your amazing child.
Some autistic kids usually get overstimulated by their environment and prefer a place that is quiet and comfortable so that they can play in peace. This tent is specifically built for such kids, and it provides a great feeling with its soft material.
Pros
- Very lightweight and easy to assemble
- Fun to play
Cons
- Not very durable
Conclusion
We have enlisted the best toys for autistic kids in the article above. However, it is best to choose according to the needs of your kid. You can start by offering your kids simple toys along with some activity toys that can help in boosting their physical and mental growth.