Children with autism and sensory processing issues often have difficulty receiving and responding to the sensory information processed by the brain. While a child’s needs may vary, sensory toys can help by providing either a therapeutic distraction or a replacement for distressing sensory experiences.

Sensory toys are made for children in a non-threatening way to introduce tactile sensations and other forms of stimuli. Special needs children can also benefit from toys that encourage social interaction and cooperation, as well as boost motor skills. Fidget balls and cubes can help relieve stress, weighted toys can provide a calming sense of pressure. These and other tools are useful for children with special needs and help them to better cope with everyday stresses at home and in school. Here are some benefits of sensory toys for special needs kids:

1. Promotes Sense of Touch

Squishy sensory toys allow your child to gain a concept of the sense of touch. There are many sensory toys that provide your child with the ability to experience sense of touch in new, fun ways.

2. Promotes Focus

Sensory toys are a great way to help your child have concentration skills. It is important for a young child with learning disability or difficulties with concentration to learn to focus. Learning and engaging in the real world requires focus, and sensory toys can help build that skill.

3. Reduces Anxiety

Children that are encouraged to play with sensory toys will feel more confident as they work to build natural development in a fun way. Children begin to feel confident as they enjoy play time with sensory toys. It also helps reduce anxious habits such as nail biting or thumb sucking.

4. Develops Fine Motor Skills

Many children with special needs or on the autism spectrum tend to struggle with fine motor skills. Sensory toys allow your children to experience play time while working to strengthen and develop their fine motor skills.

5. Encourages Language Skills

When your child experiences the new textures, tastes and sounds of sensory toys, they are better able to communicate about their world with others. This ability to encourage language skills helps your child to work on developmental delays without stressing.

When setting up a sensory toys play area, parents should make sure that the area is flexible enough for child to move towards different sensory toys when ready. You can try using soft barriers such as couch cushions to divide up each sensory toy play area. Most sensory toys are simple by design and often can be something you create using common household supplies. You can also look at multi-sensory toys from Help Them Shine to help with your child’s development.