Sensory Toys and Games for Children with Autism
By: FUN Monster
Playtime can be a crucial part of a child's growing and learning experience as they age. Children develop fundamental skills by playing, whether it's with their favorite toy, playing a new game with friends, or engaging in a sensory activity. Sensory play is when a child is engaged in any activity that stimulates the five senses. These five senses are sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. Sensory play can be especially important for children with autism. Sensory play can help children with autism learn and develop social skills, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and self-control. When they are engaged in a sensory activity it can help them regulate and even at times prevent an oncoming meltdown. Children of any age can start learning and having fun with the sensory games, toys, and activities below.
Sensory Play for Kids with Special Needs
This article discusses how sensory play is important for children to learn about the world surrounding them and how their bodies work.
Sensory Activities for Preschoolers with Autism
Sensory play can be fun for kids of any age, this site focuses on some activities designed for preschoolers.
National Autism Resources: Toys and Gifts
This site has a ton of fun sensory toys and games for children with autism.
Lindsey Biel explains what sensory integration is and how to raise a sensory smart child in this video presentation.
Find some sensory activities for children with this helpful list of ideas organized by age.
DIY Calm Down Sensory Bottles 101
Sensory bottles can be calming for when a child becomes overwhelmed. Learn how to make your own with this site.
Sensory Sensitivities: Children and Teenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Learn about how some children can have sensory sensitivities and how to help. This site focuses on children aged 4-18.
A whole month worth of fun sensory play ideas for your child that they will love.
Sensory Activities for Toddlers
Sensory play can be for any age, even toddlers. Help their little bodies growing and learning with these activities.
Sensory Play Ideas, Sensory Bins, and Messy Play Ideas
Find fun activities that focus on the sense of touch with sensory bins and messy play.
Sensory Activities for 0-18 Month Olds
Help promote your baby's sensory development by engaging in these sensory activities for babies aged 0-18 months old.
Helping your Child Cope with Sensory Needs
This page will help you learn how to help your child with their sensory needs whether it's an over sensitivity or under sensitivity.
Kids can create, investigate, and explore with these PBS sensory activities you can do at home.
17 Sensational Sensory Activities for Toddlers
Rasmussen College lists 17 great ideas for sensory activities you can play with your toddler.
Tinker Lab: Sensory Activities
These sensory activities will help children to develop fundamental skills and have fun while doing them.
Learn how important sensory motor activities are to a developing child with this article.
Explore this list of fun sensory bin ideas for children in pre school, pre-k, and kindergarten.
MSU: Cognitive Development and Sensory Play
Michigan State University helps to explain the relation between cognitive development and sensory play in children with this article.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children explains how play connects to learning.
Learn the meaning of sensory play and why it is important in young children.
Build your own sensory rich playspace with these helpful tips from KaBOOM.
Infants and Toddlers: The Power of Sensory Experiences
Understand how a baby explores through their senses with this scholastic article and recommended books on the senses.
Learn all about the toys that engage children by keeping their focus when they use one or all of their senses.
Examine the benefits of having a multi sensory environment for your child with this helpful article.
Activities for Autistic Children
Take a look at these fun activities and games for children with autism. They will have a blast while learning fundamental skills.
Explore the five senses of sight, taste, touch, smell, and sound with this fun educational activity.
Kids can learn all about their five senses with any of these activities.
Children will learn about their five senses by clicking on the correct sense to finish the sentence in this game.
This game will keep your taste bud's entertained by guessing what is in each container.
Stage a five event sensory olympics with help from this better homes and gardens article.
KidsHealh: All About Your Senses
Try out some of these fun experiments to test all five of your senses.
5 Senses Lessons, Activities, and Teaching Ideas
Help a child learn about their five senses with these educational lessons, activities, and teaching ideas.
The Five Senses Science Activities
Learn about the five senses with some activities to learn more about each specific one.
12 Sensory Play Ideas to Encourage Hands on Learning
Have a hands on play party by using any of these 12 sensory play ideas with your kids.
10 Fun Sensory Play Activities You Can Do at Home
Kids will love these fun sensory activities that are bouncy, squishy, noisy, and yummy.