14 Toys for Kids with Autism for Sensory Play, Skill-Building and a Whole Lot of Fun

• Why They’ll Love It: bright colors, works with a variety of surfaces, multiple sizes
• Recommended Age: 3+

“These suction cup toys are one of my go-to toys,” shares Usher. “They promote hand dexterity and strength, and they produce a simple cause-and-effect as they make a nice ‘pop’ sound when pulled off the surface.” These silicone suckers stick to smooth, flat surfaces, as well as to each other (hello, wobbly caterpillar!). Bright colors can help draw visual attention, and the toys also come in a variety of colors, as well as a spinning variety.

“We are working with an OT who brought them, and we loved them,” notes buyer Allie J. S. “They are great for hand strengthening, fine motor and just for fun. They are easy to stick together and aren’t too difficult to pull apart. They allow my child to be creative with utilizing hand eye coordination skills and gaining hand strength.”

• Why They’ll Love It: soothing sand, doesn’t dry out, can mold into any shape
• Recommended Age: 3+

Another toy Usher recommends is Kinetic Sand. As a sensory exploration toy, the squeezable sand gives a child the opportunity to interact with different textured materials, she explains. "The items allow for open-ended play in which the child can direct and build their own play schema. If your child is aversive to different textured items, their interaction with sensory items can be more positive when immersed in play.” This award-winning kit comes in a three-pound bag, with the option to upgrade and add a variety of tools. Kids will be able to experience the feeling of beach sand—without the mess (the sand is soft but sticks together), making it a favorite with parents, too.

“Kinetic sand provides a fun sensory experience for kids,” writes one happy customer. “The best part? It’s easy to clean! I’ve vacuumed this stuff up, no problem.”

• Why They’ll Love It: soft, flexible, durable, teaches balance and coordination
• Recommended Age: 5+

Toys don’t have to be complicated—something Lauder likes to do is pull out a ball to engage her patients. “Working with a ball builds gross motor and visual motor coordination, but it can also help promote early learning skills such as joint attention through imitating what they are doing (drumming on the ball or rolling it) and expanding that play,” she explains. While many balls can work (she likes yoga balls, basketballs or tennis balls, for instance), we’re loving this Pilates ball that comes in myriad colors. The exterior is a smooth, soft and durable PVC, and withstands up to 700 pounds—meaning, no need to be extra gentle with this toy.

• Why They’ll Love It: plenty of room for parent and child, low to the ground, fun colors
• Recommended Age: 3+ with supervision

While a hammock might not fall into the traditional toy category, according to Knight, it can be incredibly fun and calming for children with autism. “A hammock swing can encourage sensory integration and the gentle swinging motion can provide a calming input,” she explains. “This can be a great toy for a child, teen or adult with autism.” Vivere’s double hammock accommodates up to 450 pounds and comes with a steel stand and carrying bag. Hooks are easily adjustable, so you can hang the hammock at your desired height.

• Why They’ll Love It: fun colors, adaptable, helps develop fine motor skills, smooth and polished wood finish
• Recommended Age: 3+

Knight recommends the Playable Art Ball as a great sensory toy pick. Kids can experiment by twisting it into different shapes by rolling, scrunching and pushing. “This toy is great for developing fine motor skills, as well as providing a calming sensory experience,” she says. The ball features joints that glide seamlessly, making maneuverability easy. It can be arranged into a variety of shapes or taken apart and rearranged, encouraging creativity and problem solving.

“Such great sensory toy they can manipulate, also great for color recognition,” writes Amazon reviewer Natalie. “Soothing for children and adults with sensory issues, ADHD, ASD, [etc.].”

• Why They’ll Love It: bright colors, easy magnetic couplings, variety of cars to mix-and-match
• Recommended Age: 3+

Train sets are a childhood toy staple, and this wooden set boasts over 6,000 five-star reviews. “Train sets provide structure, familiarity and are easily organized in a way that is appealing for a child with autism,” notes Knight. This Play22 pick includes 12 pieces, from engines and coaches to cargos and tankers. Each can be connected to other cars via two end magnets.

• Why They’ll Love It: weighted pressure, developed to help manage stress and anxiety
• Recommended Age: 2+

HUGIMALS creates a line of weighted stuffed animals. Charlie the Puppy weighs 4.5 pounds and has a removable weight and washable exterior. Russo shares that weighted sleep aides can help relieve stress and offer comfort and are an ideal item to incorporate into the bedtime routine.  

“I got him because I have extremely bad anxiety, depression, ASD and many other issues,” writes Amazon reviewer Lisa. “I have a hard time coping some days, I don't sleep well. I have texture issues, so I need softer things to touch, and Charlie is so soft. He is just amazing straight out of the package.”

• Why They’ll Love It: multiple colorways, non-toxic bubble solution
• Recommended Age: 3+

This two-pack bubble machine kit comes with two guns and bottles of bubbles for hours of playtime fun. Russo recommends toys like this because of the cause-and-effect aspect. It teaches children that they can control their environment, in addition to promoting social and emotional learning (not to mention, bubbles are just a whole lot of fun). “This category includes any type of interactive toy that responds to a child’s voice or touch with light sound and/or vibrations,” he elaborates, “As well as toys that have features to push, pull or spin.”

• Why They’ll Love It: bright colors, variety of textures and sounds
• Recommended Age: 1 to 2 years old

Another cause-and-effect toy Russo recommends is Klickity. The toy exposes children to a variety of sounds, movements and textures. By pushing, pulling, spinning and shaking, they’ll unlock different effects while practicing fine motor skills and coordination.

• Why They’ll Love It: easy to grip, variety of shapes, teaches problem solving and shape recognition
• Recommended Age: 2 to 4 years old

“I love shape sorters because they work on countless skills through a simple design,” Lauder says. “Children can learn shapes, colors and counting (just to name a few) while working on their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.” Melissa & Doug’s Shape Sorting Cube features 12 shapes and bright-colored cut-outs. When playtime is over, the shapes pack away neatly into the cube, which can sit tidily on a playroom shelf.

• Why They’ll Love It: familiarizes kids with doctor’s office visits, comprehensive accessories to play with and explore
• Recommended Age: 3 to 6 years old

Another thing Lauder likes to do with her patients is encourage pretend play. “I love using doctor’s kits or playing restaurant with my kids because it helps promote imagination and creativity. It can also be used as a playful way to prepare a child who is going to the doctor through use of similar tools,” she notes. This kit by Melissa & Doug includes 25 pieces, from a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff to a thermometer and reflex hammer. Everything can be conveniently stored away in the included tote bag. Reviewers noted that it helped their kids feel more comfortable at the pediatrician’s office, with Amazon buyer Kiersten writing, “My child hates going to the doctor. I got her this for Christmas and she’s been playing doctor with me. Once we had to go back to the doctor and I said, ‘let them check your ears like you do to momma at home,’ and she did!”

• Why They’ll Love It: bubbles in a variety of colors and sizes, tactile stimulation, calming
• Recommended Age: 3 to 10 years old

“Sensory toys can be a great way to provide relief for kids sensitive to touch, sound, sight and even certain textures. These types of toys benefit children on the spectrum by helping them engage with their senses, provide feedback to their sensory systems and regulate their sensory needs,” notes Russo. One sensory toy he recommends is the Dimpl Pops board, which features 25 bubbles in a range of sizes and colors. “I got this for my autistic goddaughter, and she just loves it,” writes Amazon reviewer Michele. The silicone surfaces provide tactile stimulation and can aid in calmness and concentration.

• Why They’ll Love It: complete kitchen accessories, realistic food
• Recommended Age: 3+

Another excellent pick for pretend play is this restaurant set that features 41 kitchen and cooking accessories, including a diner menu, a dry-erase marker and play money. With so many accessories, they’ll be running the diner in no time. Plus, it gives them an opportunity to role play in different scenarios. “My 4-year-old and I were big fans of this kit,” writes Amazon reviewer Rachu. “Very fun to roleplay being customers/staff at a restaurant. Great for building understanding on how to order foods (lots of menu options) and calculating prices/tips then paying for your order. He enjoyed both sides of the play, from customer to waiter/chef.”

• Why They’ll Love It:
• Recommended Age: 3+

The other sensory toy Russo recommends is this bright and cheerful sensory bin. Suitable for kids over age 3, it gives them the opportunity to experience a variety of textures. In the box are expanding water beads, pebbles and play sand, plus shovels, molds and rollers to create different shapes. To shake things up, add water to the bin for some ocean-inspired fun.