Top 22 best toys for children with autism

As an autistic mother to an autistic child, I have come up with, what is in my opinion, the best toys for children with autism.

The toys are what I enjoyed to play with as an autistic child and all the toys that have brought toy to my autistic child when they played with them.

I also have another article on the most unique SENSORY Toys for children with Autism. Check it out Here

Do autistic children need different toys to neurotypical children?

Yes, autistic children often need different toys than neurotypical children. Toys for children with autism are designed to help with sensory processing, communication, and social skills.

While neurotypical children might enjoy a wide range of toys, toys for children with autism are often chosen to meet their unique needs and interests.

According to the Autism Society, these toys for children with autism can support their development in ways that are engaging and beneficial, helping them explore their environment and improve their skills.

Toys for children with autism often focus on sensory stimulation, communication, and fine motor skills. The toys for children with autism that I have listed below are engaging and effective in developing play and sensory awareness for children with Autism in my opinion.

Here are the top 22 best toys for children with autism

1. Trampoline.

Trampolines can be great toys for children with autism.

They provide sensory input my child and myself find calming. Jumping on a trampoline can help an autistic child release energy and reduce stress. I know that sometimes, my autistic child needs some time and will just go into the trampoline and jump. Trampolines also encourage physical activity and taking a mental break, which is important for overall health.

Using trampolines as toys for children with autism can improve coordination and balance while having fun.

Overall, trampolines can be beneficial toys for children with autism.

2. Fridge Magnets – ABC’s or 123’s or Shapes.  

Fridge magnets can be great toys for children with autism. They encourage hands-on play, helping an autistic child develop fine motor skills.

Playing with fridge magnets can also enhance creativity as an autistic child arranges them in different ways.

These toys for children with autism can promote learning by introducing letters, numbers, and shapes. Fridge magnets are fun and interactive toys for children with autism, making them engaging and educational.

3. Textured Books.

Textured books can be excellent toys for children with autism. They provide sensory experiences that many autistic children enjoy.

Touching different textures helps an autistic child explore and learn. Textured books also encourage engagement and focus during reading time. (References – Autism Society)

These toys for children with autism can promote language development as parents read together. Overall, textured books are fun and educational toys for children with autism. (Reference – The National Autistic Society)

We have an animal one where the sheep has a textured body and the monkey’s tail is velvet and the cats’ tongue is Velcro etc. 

We also have a book on vehicles where the tires are bumpy or the gravel is soft sandpaper.  

My kid loves these. So much so they have memorized the whole book.  

It also gives them an idea of what certain things might feel like. 

4. Play Dough.

Playdough can be a fantastic toy for children with autism.

It provides a sensory experience that my autistic child really enjoys.

Playing with playdough, helps an autistic child develop fine motor skills. These toys for children with autism encourage creativity as they mold and shape the dough.

When children roll, pinch, squeeze, and shape playdough, they practice movements that are essential for tasks like writing and buttoning clothes. (American Occupational Therapy Association)

Playdough can also be calming, reducing stress for an autistic child. Overall, playdough is a fun and beneficial toy for children with autism.

Your child can learn how to use:

• Shapes,  
• Rollers,  
• Cutters,  
• Scissors,  
• Mixing colours, 

My child recently has been very curious about mixing the colours and seeing what colours they turn in to.

Try to bring something simple that your child can mimic and build that basic shape from the play dough that they have. 

The soft textures and the pliability of play dough is really good for sensory development of autistic children. 

I do wish to say that, I as an autistic child way back before, and now as an adult, I have never been able to touch playdough. I cannot stand the texture and I will feel disgusting if I do touch it. Even accidentally.

My autistic child, goes nuts for it though!

5. Sensory Mats.

My autistic child loves sensory mats. Sensory mats are mats that children can play and push using their arms or legs or feet or fingers. 

They can really engage their whole body and feel all the different textures on different parts of their body. 

These can work for children of any age.  

And it can also allow for Autistic children to self soothe using the textures and the different feels. I know this was definitely how I used different textures as a child, to self soothe.

If you do not find any that you really like, or is wanting to give it to someone as a gift. You can always make your own. 

Cut large squares of different textures of fabric. (Jeans, Silk, Cotton, polyester etc) and sew them together. Add some filling in the middle and add a bottom lining.  Sew them together and make it a DIY project. 

6. Large Foam Tiles.

Large foam tiles can be excellent toys for children with autism.

They provide a soft, safe space for play and movement.

These toys for children with autism help reduce the risk of injury during active play. Large foam tiles are also great for sensory experiences, offering different textures.

We have these with the alphabet and numbers and my child loves interlocking them into each other and can get lost doing it for hours. 

As well as being able to build them upwards or making them into cubes with an opening to sit inside. Or just make a cube.  

It’s a really hands on thing and helps develop a creative mind with building. 

7. Touch Sensitive Light. 

Touch-sensitive lights can be wonderful toys for children with autism.

They respond to touch, making play interactive and engaging.

These toys for children with autism can help improve sensory awareness and fine motor skills.

Playing with touch-sensitive lights can also provide calming effects for an autistic child. My autistic child enjoys these because they are able to control how much and when their ‘sight’ senses are stimulated. This makes my child feel in control.

Touch sensitive lights can also change colours. It is stimulating touch and sight. It also stimulates numerology and sequencing in the brain. 

You can stick them in patterns or in a line or whatever. 

8. Chew Necklaces/Toys for Children with Autism specifically!

No. These are not just for dogs.

Chew necklaces are great toys for children with autism. They have a certain texture and are made to withstand adult/stronger teeth bites. 

They provide a safe way for an autistic child to explore textures. These toys for children with autism can help reduce anxiety and stress. Chewing on a necklace can also help improve focus during activities.

Sort of like adults chewing gum. I chew gum a lot because it really helps relax me. Also if I am busy doing something, then chewing gym can help shut out the rest of the world because it keeps my mind busy!

9. Slug Fidget Toy.

Fidget toys are excellent toys for children with autism. They provide a way for an autistic child to release energy and focus. This can also be used as a stress reliever.

Fidget toys encourage calming movements, which can improve concentration. Using fidget toys can also enhance sensory awareness in a fun way.

But more so. It can teach Autistic children how the movement of something flows. 

So the slug uses the different parts to be able to move forward. 

It also visually shows how something moves when combined and how parts work together.

Overall, fidget toys are helpful and engaging toys for children with autism and we have several different types in the house.

 

10. Number Stacking Blocks.

Number stacking blocks are great toys for children with autism. They help an autistic child learn numbers while playing.

These toys for children with autism improve fine motor skills as they stack and balance the blocks. Number stacking blocks encourage creativity and problem-solving.

Playing with these toys for children with autism can also promote hand-eye coordination. Overall, number stacking blocks are fun and educational toys for children with autism.

Stacking Blocks can help teach:

• Lining up 
• Building 
• Balance 
• Counter balance 

And it can also teach them the numbers and the order of numbers.

 

11. Spiked Stress Balls.

This is also a texture thing.

 

12. Puzzles.

Puzzles are great toys for children with autism.

They help an autistic child improve problem-solving skills.

These toys for children with autism enhance fine motor skills as they fit pieces together. Puzzles also promote patience and focus during play.

Playing with puzzles can encourage imaginative thinking and creativity.

And so the mind becomes overpowered by the need to complete it. So it really does tune out the rest of the world. Making the rest of the world disappear for a while.

Overall, puzzles are fun and educational toys for children and adults with autism.

There are also puzzles with flat sides for a more complicated project.

It also teaches us to not only focus on small details but look at the bigger picture. 

 

13. Beads.

Beads are excellent toys for children with autism.

They help an autistic child improve fine motor skills as they string them together.

These toys for children with autism can enhance hand-eye coordination.

Playing with beads encourages creativity and imaginative play.

Beads also provide sensory experiences with different textures and colors.

You can also challenge your autistic child to more complicated patterns or designs such as:

• Also picture copying. 
• 2D to 3D conversion – from picture to real life. 

Overall, beads are fun and engaging toys for children with autism.

 

14. Interlocking Building Blocks.

Interlocking building blocks are great toys for children with autism.

They help an autistic child develop fine motor skills as they connect pieces.

These toys for children with autism encourage creativity and imaginative play.

Building with interlocking blocks can improve balance awareness and problem-solving skills.

Playing with these toys for children with autism promotes focus and concentration.

Overall, interlocking building blocks are fun and educational toys for children with autism.

15. Builder Set.

Builder sets are excellent toys for children with autism. They help an autistic child develop fine motor skills as they assemble pieces.

If you ever have an Autistic kid who is a little aggressive like mine. 

Buy them a set like this and have them go at the hammer and nails. 

My autistic child loves using their builder set to release their stress. As well as get their frustrations out.

It’s a really fun thing and they can spend hours just playing with it 

16. Latches and Doors Board.

• Turn keys. 
• Open small doors. 
• Or small latches. 
• And closing locks. 

These toys for children with autism encourage exploration and curiosity.

Playing with latches and doors can improve problem-solving abilities.

These toys also provide sensory feedback through different movements. For example, locking something means it closed and you cannot open it unless you unlock it!

Overall, latches and doors are fun and engaging toys for children with autism.

It also teaches the idea that a door needs to be opened to find out what is behind it. 

And that not all doors open the same way or in the same direction. 

17. LEGO.

This is the same as the building blocks. 

But. 

Smaller and more build-able parts. 

With guides and example pictures to build from.

With lego, there is a much bigger emphasis on developing small motor skills.

 

18. Colourful, Toy Xylophone.

Instruments are excellent toys for children with autism.

They help an autistic child express emotions through music.

These toys for children with autism can improve coordination and fine motor skills.

Playing instruments encourages creativity and imaginative play.

Instruments also provide sensory experiences with different sounds and textures.

Overall, instruments are fun and beneficial toys for children with autism.

 

19. LOW POWERED – Water guns/Nerf Guns.

Low-powered toys are great for children with autism.

They provide a safe way for an autistic child to explore and play.

These toys for children with autism are less overwhelming and easier to control. Low-powered toys can help improve focus and concentration and are fun multi-player games. My autistic child prefers these because there is no personal physical touching or close contact. 

BUT they still get to play with other children.

Low-powered water guns can help improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Playing with water guns encourages sensory experiences and outdoor activity.

Also, if your child isn’t really a talker this is a great way to get them to play with other children. Without having to make eye contact or too much direct conversation. 

20. Velcro Darts.

And it is a multi-person game 

And it is a single person game 

It is a great teacher of patience and waiting ones turn.  

 

21. Finger Paints. 

Finger paints are great toys for children with autism.

They allow an autistic child to express creativity through touch and color.

These toys for children with autism provide a sensory experience that many children enjoy.

Playing with finger paints can improve fine motor skills as they squeeze and spread the paint.

Finger painting also encourages exploration and imaginative play.

Very messy. Very fun. 

Getting messy is amazing for child development. Truly fun

22. Sound/Light/Buttons Pull Toys

Pull along toys are excellent toys for children with autism.

They encourage an autistic child to walk and move, promoting physical activity.

These toys for children with autism help improve coordination and balance.

Pull along toys also provide visual and auditory stimulation as they move.

Playing with these toys can enhance motor skills and encourage imaginative play.