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Top 10 Toys for Autistic Children

last updated Jan 10, 2022

Raising a child requires a good deal of research and knowledge. Raising a child on the autism spectrum requires all that, and a little more. Children on the spectrum often have needs that require additional resources to fulfill. If you’re looking for toys and games that will appeal to your child, we’ve gathered ten of the most popular and developmentally sound products on the market. The following products are meant to be useful to kids with sensory sensitivity, and some of them are even utilized as therapeutic exercises. They’re safe, will help refine developmental skills, and are bound to bring lots of joy to your family.

In a Hurry? The test winner after 19 hrs of research

icon
Skoolzy Peg Board Set
94.7/100 our score
Design
98
Educational Value
91
Effectiveness
95
Skoolzy Peg Board Set
Why is it better?

30 total pegs

Six rainbow colors

8.5” foam pegboard

Chemical free

Easy to clean up and travel with thanks to the drawstring travel pouch

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
Skoolzy Peg Board Set
Test Winner: Skoolzy Peg Board Set
Amazon Link
Researched Sources
37
Researched Sources
Reviews Considered
314
Reviews Considered
Hours Researching
19
Hours Researching
Products Evaluated
21
Products Evaluated
Last Updated:
By Angeline Mirenda:

With all our top picks still ranking at the top of the market and all of their providers keeping them well-stocked, we’ve used this update to elaborate on some of our short summaries and clarify information about the criteria we use in evaluating each product. Knowledge is power, especially when buying, so we want you to feel well-informed about your options!

Sorting Options
Design Educational Value Effectiveness By Default
Rank
PictureProduct
Name
Rating
Shops
#1
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
94.7
Design
98 %
Educational Value
91 %
Effectiveness
95 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (02.03.24)
Amazon Link
$18.95
#2
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
94.7
Design
98 %
Educational Value
95 %
Effectiveness
91 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (02.03.24)
#3
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
92.3
Design
95 %
Educational Value
92 %
Effectiveness
90 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (02.03.24)
Amazon Link
$9.99
#4
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
86.3
Design
89 %
Educational Value
82 %
Effectiveness
88 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (02.03.24)
Amazon Link
$21.95
#5
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
84.7
Design
88 %
Educational Value
81 %
Effectiveness
85 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (02.03.24)
Amazon Link
$13.46
#6
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
84.3
Design
82 %
Educational Value
86 %
Effectiveness
85 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (02.03.24)
Amazon Link
$19.69
#7
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
84
Design
82 %
Educational Value
89 %
Effectiveness
81 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (02.03.24)
Amazon Link
$17.95
#8
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
81.7
Design
82 %
Educational Value
78 %
Effectiveness
85 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (02.03.24)
#9
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
80.7
Design
81 %
Educational Value
82 %
Effectiveness
79 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (02.03.24)
Amazon Link
$7.99
#10
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
79.7
Design
81 %
Educational Value
75 %
Effectiveness
83 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (02.03.24)
Amazon Link
$14.98

10 Best Toys for Autistic Children Reviewed

1. Skoolzy Peg Board Set

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
94.7
Skoolzy Peg Board Set - Montessori Toys for Toddlers
Skoolzy Peg Board Set
Skoolzy Peg Board Set
Amazon Link
Design
98
Educational Value
91
Effectiveness
95
best offer for today
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Amazon Link
$18.95

30 total pegs

Six rainbow colors

8.5” foam pegboard

Chemical free

Easy to clean up and travel with thanks to the drawstring travel pouch

Some Pegs may have little plastic hangnails that need filing for safety

Pegs should be kept in the holes overnight to make it easy for children to fit them in; foam holes sometimes shrink a little without use

With thirty pegs in six different colors, this toy offers lots of sensory stimulation and gives children an activity that can help to focus and calm them while also increasing their motor skills. This toy is great for color-matching and color recognition. The pegs are oversized, making them easier to grab and also appropriate to use with children as young as two years old, as they’re not small enough to be a choking hazard. The Skoolzy Peg Board Set comes highly recommended by other families around the world and even includes its own storage and carrying bag to make clean up and transportation easy! Keep these in the playroom or take them on the go so your child has them when they need them.

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Design

Children can build all sorts of structures, and a downloadable guide can be read from your tablet or smart device, or printed to help assist the fun. Safe for children ages two and over, these pegs are a great occupational therapy activity, for children or adults. It assists with pattern recognition, basic math skills, fine motor skills, and more. A drawstring toy bag makes the pieces easy to store and travel with. Certified Non-Toxic, Lead- and Phthalate-Free, and BPA-Free, these pegs are safe and simple, easily washable with soap and water, and no hassle to clean up. Give your children the colorful afternoon that they deserve with this rainbow set!

Educational Value

Construction sets are a great way for kids to work fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, math skills, pattern recognition, visual perception skills, and more. These pegs are colorful and just the right size for tiny hands to be able to use without frustration.

Effectiveness

It’s a fun, unique alternative to LEGOs or DuploBlox. These little pegs are fun and easy to build with. They’re colorful, and the emailed PDF guide helps children and parents truly get the most out of the toy with suggested learning activities.

2. Transforming Original Mini Sphere

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
94.7
Mozlly Value Pack - Hoberman Original Rainbow Transforming Sphere
Transforming Original Mini Sphere
Amazon Link
Design
98
Educational Value
95
Effectiveness
91
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Stimulates imagination

Provides repetitive manipulation

Holds child’s attention with expanding/retracting motions

Colors are bright and eye-catching

Bouncing it can shorten the toy’s life

Can get stuck in open position and pinch small fingers easily

Officially called the trapezoidal icositetrahedron, the Hoberman Mini Sphere is one of the most functional gifts for an autistic child simply because of its complex simplicity, whatever that is.

Looking at the Hoberman in its collapsed form and you’d think that it’s just like any other ordinary ball about 5.5 inches in diameter. However, picking the Hoberman from any of its few dozen points and this seemingly ordinary ball expands to a lattice-like, star-like globe that spans a full 12 inches across.

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Design

Thrown or rolled in a certain way and the Hoberman’s star-like features hold up really well providing any kid, or adult for that matter, with enough sensory input to stimulate his or her imagination. Pick it up in the wrong point and the Hoberman collapses into a ball more like a highly defensive hedgehog. So, if you are actively looking for sensory processing disorder toys, then the Hoberman Mini Sphere can help.

Educational Value

This wonderful sphere expands when thrown making it a great toss-game throw toy.
It stimulates excitement and small children can carry it with them easily because it is so lightweight. The simplicity of the expanding/contracting motions of the Sphere provides the autistic child with the repetitive motions needed for busy brain activity. The Sphere is a wonderful sensory toy that will fascinate for hours on end.

Effectiveness

The Hoberman Mini Sphere provides the best exercise to keep an autistic child’s mind and hands busy. This helps him or her take full control of his or her repetitive behavior. Additionally, we found that the Hoberman can be used as a very novel desktop ornament.

3. Mesh-and-Marble Anxiety Relief

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
92.3
Monkey Fidgetz Mesh-and-Marble Fidget Toy
Mesh-and-Marble Anxiety Relief
Mesh-and-Marble Anxiety Relief
Amazon Link
Design
95
Educational Value
92
Effectiveness
90
best offer for today
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Amazon Link
$9.99

Safety tested and BPA-free

8 toys included-2 of each color

Machine washable

Reduces anxiety and increases focus

Stitching may come loose with repeated use

Marble can pop out, WARNING: Choking Hazard

There are many reasons why a person may be living with an overabundance of energy. ADD, ADHD, OCD, and autism are just a few explanations. Perhaps you have an anxiety disorder or maybe you’re just a nervous test taker. Regardless of your personal reasonings for using a fidget toy, teachers, parents, and therapists all agree that by providing a simple stimulation that keeps your hands’ busy will, in turn, focus your mind and help relieve stress.

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Design

Impresa Product’s Mesh-and-Marble Fidget Toy is the ideal choice for a fidget toy that can be used in situations where noisier toys would cause a distraction. This could be waiting at a doctor’s office, listening to a lecture in class, or even at your desk in the office. Whatever and wherever your need, these mesh toys are waiting to set your mind at ease and get you back on task. Since several are included in each package, there is no worry if one or two are lost.

Educational Value

These little bags may appear simplistic and in truth, they are, but simple toys often work best when it comes to calming the anxiety or stress concerns that accompany many forms of autism. They have been safety tested for use by both children and adults and can help promote a sense of calm in those with an overabundance of energy. Sliding the premium metal marble against the rough mesh of the bag is a gentle sensory experience and can help focus your child’s mind. This particular style of ‘fidget’ toy is perfect for school as it provided a silent distraction and it is small enough to easily slip into a pocket on the way out the door.

Effectiveness

The Monkey Fidgetz Set includes a rainbow assortment of eight little bags in four bright, primary colors. They’re small enough that children can easily carry them in their pockets. Each bag contains a small, smooth marble that can be pushed around within its mesh confines. This set is what many might call a “fidget toy.” It can help children with excess energy to focus or be used to calm them down. They do stretch out over time, so make sure to have extras handy when you see them starting to wear down.

4. Mad Dragon: An Anger Control Card Game

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
86.3
Mad Dragon: An Anger Control Card Game
Mad Dragon: An Anger Control Card Game
Mad Dragon: An Anger Control Card Game
Mad Dragon: An Anger Control Card Game
Amazon Link
Design
89
Educational Value
82
Effectiveness
88
best offer for today
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Amazon Link
$21.95

Designed for ages 6-12

Teaches 12 different anger management techniques

Includes 100 cards

Gameplay supports 2-8 players

Some questions may be vague or confusing

Simplistic Uno-like gameplay may be boring for older children

Played in a similar fashion to the popular card game, ‘UNO’, Mad Dragon: An Anger Control Card Game is a fun and thought-provoking way to introduce your child to several different anger management techniques. Play a red 4 and tell about a time you felt only a little angry. Wild’s change the color, and also present an opportunity to name something that makes you angry and tell how you can avoid it. The aim of the game is to see who can empty their hand of cards first.

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Design

Most, but not all, of the cards contain discussion cues or questions that can be answered when you play a card, when you discard a card, or even when you draw a card. You can have the person who plays the card answer the question alone or everyone at the table can answer. There is a multitude of different ways to play! You will be pleasantly surprised by how the familiar game style and playful card format can relax your child and make them more open to talking about their anger. It can also provide jumping-off points for you to share your own experiences with your child and help empower them to control their emotions.

Educational Value

This fast-paced card game presents an ideal way to showcase different ways to not only recognize situations that may cause anger but also how to deal with that anger in a healthy and productive manner. The simplistic language on each card is easy to understand even for younger children and can help present talking points that foster discussion about why your child is feeling angry. This is an ideal tool for therapists and teachers as well.

Effectiveness

This game is really two things in one, an enjoyable card game that can help promote familial bonding and a therapeutic tool that can help open discussion points with children who have trouble managing their anger.

5. My First Flybar Pogo Jumper for Kids

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
84.7
Flybar My First Foam Pogo Jumper
My First Flybar Pogo Jumper for Kids
My First Flybar Pogo Jumper for Kids
Amazon Link
Design
88
Educational Value
81
Effectiveness
85
best offer for today
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Amazon Link
$13.46

Provides physical exercise

Made of durable foam material

Relieves stress triggers of the mind

Colorful and good quality product

Can be used indoor or outdoor

Squeaker can come out of toy unexpectedly

Requires strength, coordination, and balance (could be difficult for very young children)

If you are looking for more fun toys for children with special needs, we’d highly recommend the My First Flybar Pogo Jumper. This can really help your autistic child have fun and take his or her mind off whatever is causing anxiety. Plus, it can get your child into fitness so he or she will be a lot more prepared to manage his or her stress. The Flybar consists of a very durable yet soft foam base attached to an ultra-strong and hyper-elastic bungee spring. The handgrips are wrapped in soft foam to provide absolute comfort while your kid is hopping around.

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Design

The whole idea about using the pogo jumper in the management of autism is anchored in its ability to provide a distraction for the mind. Because the brain will have to coordinate the muscles that are required for hopping and landing while maintaining optimum balance, the brain will no longer have the time to think and process stressful information that can worsen the symptoms of autism.

Educational Value

The Pogo Jumper provides an autistic child with more than just a fidget toy for the hands. It is a full-body stress reliever that stimulates the brain and muscle coordination. This mostly foam-covered toy is easy to manipulate by four-year-olds and up and getting on and off is quickly learned. The Pogo Jumper is a safe, healthy toy that will keep kids busy for hours. It also builds coordination skills that regular fidget toys cannot provide.

Effectiveness

At first glance, you won’t think of the My First Flybar as one of the most ideal gifts for an autistic child. However, experts agree that as long as the mind is able to free itself from stress triggers, then you’d be able to manage the symptoms related to autism.

6. Educational Insights Shapes Beanbags

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
84.3
Educational Insights Shapes Beanbags
Educational Insights Shapes Beanbags
Educational Insights Shapes Beanbags
Amazon Link
Design
82
Educational Value
86
Effectiveness
85
best offer for today
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$19.69

Eight different shapes

Seven different game suggestions

Shape name embroidered on each piece

Each shape is a different color

Soft and lightweight

Washable, and come with a drawstring carrying bag

Some customers found them to be too lightweight and would have preferred heavier beans over plastic balls for stuffing

Each unit in the Educational Insights Shapes Bean Bag Set is colorful, great for tactile children, and includes the name of the shape in writing where it can easily be read. These are great to toss around, to cuddle up with, or to use for working on categories. Children can work towards being able to name each color and each shape. Tossing them around also helps to improve motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity as well. They come in a drawstring bag that’s big and bright, making it easy to find and a cinch to travel with this toy.

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Design

If you’re feeling especially creative and want to play together, create a basic scavenger hunt for your child by hiding these around the house and giving them clues to help them find it. These bean bags are simple, well made, and highly versatile. The set includes eight bean bags and a carrying case. Each bean bag has the shape name embroidered onto it, so lettering won’t wash off or fade. They’re washable so you don’t have to worry about bacteria collecting, and constructed of a soft, lightweight felt so kids can handle and chuck them around easily without worrying about any real damage. The set includes seven suggestions for fun, hands-on games that children can play.

Educational Value

This provides a wonderfully tactile way for children with greater sensory needs to learn basic shapes and colors. Playing catch improves dexterity and hand-eye coordination. And the bags are soft and light, so kids can handle them easily, making them a great way to keep little fingers busy and safe.

Effectiveness

You can play in a variety of ways. The fact that they’re not heavy makes them a little trickier to catch, but it also means that your child is less likely to incur any kind of injury as a result of playing. They have their own drawstring bag, so clean up and travel with these is simple and quick.

7. Thoughts and Feelings: A Sentence Completion Card Game

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
84
Thoughts and Feelings: A Sentence Completion Card Game
Thoughts and Feelings: A Sentence Completion Card Game
Thoughts and Feelings: A Sentence Completion Card Game
Amazon Link
Design
82
Educational Value
89
Effectiveness
81
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Amazon Link
$17.95

35 cards

Fun, cheerful illustrations

Winner of Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Products and 10 Best Socially Responsible Products

Can be combined with version 2 for even more play and discussion

Lots of ways to play and can be used in groups

Younger children may use the drawings to guide their thoughts, which doesn’t always help with honesty and understanding

One of the most frustrating experiences for kids and adults alike is feeling emotions that are difficult to put into words. Many young learners and children on the spectrum benefit from clear and concise levels of communication. This card game offers plenty of opportunities for children, friends, and family members to express some of what they’ve been feeling lately. The prompts begin with straightforward directives, such as: “I feel scared when…” or “The best gift I received was…” Each card also contains a cute, colorful picture to help visual learners associate feelings and body language with words.

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Design

Cards feature fun, silly illustrations along with prompts such as “I feel scared when…”, “I’m different because…”, etc. Players then finish the sentence with their own personal thoughts and feelings. Targeted at children ages five to twelve, it can be a useful therapeutic exercise, and there are ways to play games with the cards that challenge memorization skills and different forms of communication. There are thirty-five cards in total, and versions one and two can be combined for a more complete experience. This pack is version one and appears as a winner on Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Products, and 10 Best Socially Responsible Products lists.

Educational Value

This game helps children build important communication skills, as well as teaching them to identify their thoughts and feelings as they happen. Kids and adults can bond over similar thoughts and feelings, and discuss together the best way to cope with and navigate these experiences.

Effectiveness

This game is a good way to get a dialogue rolling between children and adults concerning feelings and how to handle them. It helps build understanding between family members and can be used as a starting point when guiding children through healthy behavioral responses to tricky feelings.

8. MarvelBeads Water Beads Rainbow Mix

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
81.7
MarvelBeads Water Beads Rainbow Mix
MarvelBeads Water Beads Rainbow Mix
MarvelBeads Water Beads Rainbow Mix
Amazon Link
Design
82
Educational Value
78
Effectiveness
85
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Smooth and squishy sensory experience

Encourages color recognition and counting skills

Can also be used as decorations once outgrown

Non-toxic, eco-friendly, and reusable

Can leave a slimy residue or deteriorate if soaked for too long

Smaller than other brands, WARNING: Choking Hazard

Sensory processing disorders can often cause children to have an aversion to many types of textures and surfaces that wouldn’t typically be bothersome. This occurs because their senses are over-exaggerated compared to the average. Imagine waking up every half an hour because there is a wrinkle in your sheets and it feels like a rock jabbing into your side. Or let's say you are having a conversation with someone but your brain is hearing every single sound in the room at the same volume as your conversation.

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Design

That fly over there on the window? The dripping tap from the bathroom next door? They all sound as loud as if they were right next to you. It's completely understandable that this type of overloading sensory input would cause a lot of extra stress and anxiety in performing normal everyday tasks. Sensory toys, such as the MarvelBeads Water Beads Rainbow Mix, provide a soothing and gentle sensation that can help reduce anxiety by providing a calming focus. These beads expand into durable little water balls that will retain their shape and color through multiple uses and can be dried out and then reused over and over again. This 8-ounce bag is enough to fill an entire kiddie pool and are completely biodegradable so there is no concern if you lose a bunch along the way.

Educational Value

These teeny beads are a perfect example of the old adage: “Great things come in small packages.” Make a game counting out how many green balls are in a handful and your little one will be learning everything from language to counting skills. Practice filling a small cup one bead at a time and you’ve got a great game to limber up little fingers and help those fine motor skills develop. Roll them in paint across a piece of paper and you’ve got a unique way to promote artistic creativity. The smooth texture provides a pleasant tactile experience for children afflicted with sensory disorders and can help calm anxiety and ease stress.

Effectiveness

Sometimes tiny things bring the biggest joys! These beads start out small but when combined with water grow and grow into beautiful standard-sized jelly marbles. They’re squishy, making them extra fun for those kids who do best with tactile sensations. They’re also colorful and visually appealing, especially to young eyes. They’re a fun and easy sort of science experiment for families to do together. Produced in calming tones and with a soft, enjoyable texture, these are optimal for children with sensory processing differences.

9. Neliblu Wacky Tracks Snap and Click

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
80.7
Neliblu Wacky Tracks Snap and Click Fidget Toys for Sensory Kids
Neliblu Wacky Tracks Snap and Click
Neliblu Wacky Tracks Snap and Click
Amazon Link
Design
81
Educational Value
82
Effectiveness
79
best offer for today
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Amazon Link
$7.99

Four pack

Brightly colored

Each link pivots five ways

Lots of shapes to build and mold

Can link multiple ones together for greater creative canvas

Chains break into smaller pieces; watch around little ones

Makes a “clicking” noise in use; not for silent spaces

This colorful pack of four contains vibrant chains meant to focus attention, reduce anxiety, decrease stress, and promote fine motor skills. Each loop features twenty-four pieces, each of which snaps into five different positions, meaning there are hundreds of options when it comes to making shapes. A pivoting system allows the links to be molded into fun 3D forms. Snapping the links together emits a “click” sound which many children find to be satisfying.

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Design

The toy is recommended for ages two months and older. Snap a few together to get longer chains and more room to build and create, or play with them as they are. They are small enough to carry in your purse or pocket, so they’ll be handy whenever your family needs them. Just know that the clicking sound is always present, so these might not be the best option for situations that require silence. Supervise young children who might still be interested in chewing on new things, as the pieces do come apart into smaller links.

Educational Value

Link ‘em up! The Neliblu Wacky Tracks Snap and Click Fidget Toys are bright and full of creative opportunities! Kids can take links out to shorten them, add links to lengthen them, mix up colors into beautiful patterns, and create all kinds of awesome designs. These toys bend at each link, so forming imaginative shapes has never been so easy. Creative expression helps children build autonomy, confidence, social skills, and emotional tools. And since it’s so hands-on, they’ll also see the added benefits of improved motor skills, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination!

Effectiveness

There’s really no wrong way to play with these. They allow your child to play as creatively as they please while focusing them and helping to quiet over-stimulated minds and bodies. They also help to improve fine motor skills and dexterity in a way that isn’t stressful and puts no pressure on them to do it “right.”

10. Hippity Hop by Bintiva

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
79.7
Hippity Hop 45 cm / 18 Inch Diameter Including Free Foot Pump
Hippity Hop by Bintiva
Hippity Hop by Bintiva
Hippity Hop by Bintiva
Amazon Link
Design
81
Educational Value
75
Effectiveness
83
best offer for today
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$14.98

Provides balance coordination skills

Has a handle for safety and added fun

Made of durable material

Good for physical exercise

Pump is included for inflating

Handle can be flimsy

If not used on a smooth surface, it can puncture and deflate

If you’ve been using a stability ball in the gym, you can look at the Hippity Hop as something very close to that but with a handle for your kids to hold onto. In fact, we’d prefer to call it a gigantic kettlebell because of the handle.

These toys for children with special needs provide the focus needed by these kids. By keeping their balance while sitting or lying on the Hippity Hop, they are essentially telling their brains to keep busy with the maintenance of balance so kids will not fall.

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Design

Who doesn’t love a bouncy ball--and especially one big enough to sit on? The Hippity Hop is 18 inches in diameter and appears in five different styles. The handle is textured to help children find and keep it and is molded with enough room to be easy to hold onto. It’s best for ages 3-6 but truly, fun for all ages (maybe just a little too small for the older crowd). It’s an excellent way to encourage kids to work out. Time with the Hippity Hop can lead to increased core strength, stronger leg muscles, a better sense of balance, and improved cardiovascular endurance!

Educational Value

The Hippity Hop ball is one of the all-around physical stress relievers for the autistic child that can be used indoors or outdoors. It is also mentally stimulating because coordination and balancing skills are required to get on and off and stay on while bouncing. The exertion from bouncing will wear out and creatively use up the energy from even the most energetic child. The added benefit from such a physical toy like the Hippity Hop is that while it relieves stress, it will also build the muscles in the legs.

Effectiveness

Aside from the obvious benefits of total concentration and focus which can help autistic children, the Hippity Hop can also be beneficial in enhancing vestibular orientation and the proprioceptive senses. Besides, it’s highly recommended by occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and even educators.

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Design

Because of the needed repetitive motions and the use of toys for autistic children, the toys they play with must be able to handle rough treatment. Durability is one of the most important factors when searching for toys for autistic children. Stress and anxiety cause them to finger, rub, and hold their toys more often than other children, so the materials used in the construction of the toys must be the number one concern along with the safety of the toy.

Educational Value

It is important to match the proper age level of the child with the toy he/she will be using. Smaller children may misuse toys or be harmed by removable or moving parts. Also younger children may not derive pleasure from toys that they cannot yet use or understand. Most of the toys for autistic kids reviewed here can be used from the age of 3 years old and up. Even adults have used and enjoyed these toys to relieve stress at work and while relaxing at home.

Effectiveness

Toy size is important because it may indicate how often the child will play with the toy. Toys that can be easily carried or tucked away in pockets will, of course, be used more often and in more places than larger items. Lightweight toys are more popular, especially with younger children because they can easily carry them and travel with them.

Most Important Criteria (According to our experts opinion)
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Parents, Did you Know?

When working with a child with ASD remember to always be consistent. The toy time should always be presented in the same fashion with some of the same toys. When adding a new toy remember to talk to them about the experience and always include interaction based around the new toy.

Parents, Did you Know?

Children with ASD need time for fun just like everyone else. Therapy and schedules are important, but having fun is right there on the top of the list, as well. Make sure they laugh, smile, and allow them to come out of their shell.

Other Factors to Consider

Entertainment Value

Probably the most important aspect of these toys for autistic children is whether they actually entertain the child, like it is supposed to and how effective is it in developing the skills they need. All of these reviewed toys entertain and build skills at different levels. It really depends on the age of the child as to which toys are appropriate for them.

The younger children in the 3-4-year-old range would welcome the toys that are easily handled and simple to operate or fidget. Older children have the coordination to manipulate the more physical toys to relieve their stress and anxiety. Toys properly matched with the age of the child should entertain for hours and help build the skills desired.

Support

We are not child psychologists nor are we autism experts. We nevertheless, know exactly how parents feel when they first learn that their child is autistic. We have encountered many of them and we share in their angst and frustrations and have made these as our learning points in coming up with this list of amazing sensory processing disorder toys.

First, we had to look at the toy’s developmental appropriateness. We know that different autistic children at different stages of development will require slightly different sensory stimulation. For example, an autistic infant will often have problems responding to social stimuli. On the other hand, an autistic toddler will have problems with taking turns. Knowing these subtle differences in autistic children helped us determine whether a particular toy fits a developmental purpose. Otherwise, we might as well scrap the item and move on to the next in our long list of gifts for an autistic child. So, the very first thing we had to look for is the toy’s appropriateness to the age and development of the child.

Secondly, we needed to make sure that these products are made of only the safest and highest quality material and underwent a manufacturing process that adheres to strict quality control standards. Products that were subjected to voluntary testing, evaluation, and certification were deemed to be more credible than products that required mandatory testing. We believe that a company that voluntarily puts its products to be tested and evaluated is very confident about the quality workmanship of its products. This is also an excellent sign of a company’s overall reputation.

Third, we knew we had to listen to what parents of autistic children have to say about these sensory toys for autism. We must be able to back up our decision to include one particular toy but not another by combining our near-objective product evaluation with the experiences of moms and dads everywhere regarding their children’s use of these products.
Autism is quite a very touchy subject. But we also know the predicament of parents who love their autistic children so much. That is why we have chosen to embark on this seemingly impossible mission to provide you with a selection of the most amazing toys for special needs.

Logic

Three of the most recognizable manifestations of autism are impaired social interaction skills, difficulty in communication, and repetitive behavior. Unfortunately, because of the rather inorganic nature of the condition, scientists are baffled as to what actually causes it or what the underlying mechanisms are. There are those who say it’s genetic while others point to environmental factors. What we do know is that autism affects more than 20 million people worldwide and all of them have been diagnosed as autistic during their early childhood years.

There are many who are concerned about what the future brings for children with autism. It should be understood that while autistic children will have problems in their social interaction, communication, and motor behavior, many have fantastic cognitive abilities. This is because there are many different kinds of autism. One of the most celebrated and most often cited forms of autism is high functioning autism or HFA. In many instances, this is often mistaken for Asperger’s Syndrome, another form of autism.

The fact of the matter is that, since children will only have developmental delays or problems in certain aspects of their neurodevelopmental growth, many tend to compensate for these deficits by doing well in other areas. For example, Dan Aykroyd of the Ghostbuster's fame is known to have Asperger’s. Perhaps the most iconic example of autistic individuals doing exceptionally well in their chosen fields of endeavor is Prof. Temple Grandin, TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2010. There are other very successful individuals who are experts in their field despite having autism or Asperger’s. This is just proof that autism is not really a disorder but rather a state of being different, of being unique.

It is, therefore, important for us as parents of kids with autism to provide them with all the opportunities to develop their other skills and not just their communication and social interaction skills. We can provide them with toys that are specifically designed to help control the repetitive behaviors of autistic children as well as provide the correct tools to help improve their social interaction skills and language and communication. More importantly, we have to recognize that help is available to those of us who really need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

q: What age group are these toys for?

a:

Most of these toys are for the age group of 3 years old and above. Children younger than 3 would not be suited for these because they would not know how to use the toys properly. Children older than 5 or 6 would still love these toys because there are adults that love them too.

q: Does the toy stand the repetitive motions of continued use?

a:

All of the toys reviewed are built for the repetitive manipulation movements that an autistic child would require of a toy. The idea of needed fidgeting and constant handling of the toy seems to be why these items were created in the first place. Adults and children alike have the need to handle items constantly to relieve stress and anxiety, so these toys are perfect to do that.

q: Are there any removable parts or does the toy come apart?

a:

A few of these toys do come apart, but that aspect is part of what makes the toy multi-purpose having a puzzle-like element as well. Autistic children can repeatedly take apart and put together the pieces as well as use the toy as a stress reliever as it was intended. All of the toys reviewed were made with safety in mind and should not harm the child because of removable parts or sections that come apart.

q: Can the toy be used in an apartment (the physical toys)?

a:

All of the autism toys reviewed here can be used indoors or outdoors safely. None should cause any harm to furniture or floors if used indoors.

q: Is it made of durable materials that will be safe?

a:

All of the toys reviewed are made of quality, durable materials to provide the utmost safety. The recommended ages for most of them are from 3 years and older, so safety had to be one of the most important elements required in the development of the toys.

q: Why are these toys helpful for the autistic child?

a:

Because these toys allow the child to move parts repeatedly over and over and can stand the abuse of handling constantly, they relieve the anxiety and stress that often consumes an autistic child’s ability to concentrate. The two toys with the floating bubbles provide mesmerizing, slow movements that will captivate and delight even the most distracted child.

q: Are these toys more expensive than regular toys because they suit children with special needs?

a:

No. These toys are for children that do not have autism too. They just have the qualities that suit the needs of the autistic child. They are in the same price range as similar toys and are widely sold on the internet and in neighborhood stores.

q: Do these toys have any special cleaning instructions?

a:

No. Most of them are made of durable plastic or rubber, so they can be washed or wiped clean if they get dirty.

Sources

  1. Geek Club Books, Bluebee TeeVee, Autism Information Station, Informative Guide
  2. Raising Children Network, Challenging behaviour: children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder, Informative Article
  3. nap.edu, Problem Behaviors, Informative Study
  4. Temple Grandin, Ph.D, Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism , Scientific Study
  5. Helpguide.org, Helping Your Child with Autism Thrive, Informative Study