If you’re a parent of a child with special needs, you’ve probably been told that sensory toys are an important part of their development.
But what exactly are these “sensory toys”? How can they be helpful for children with special needs?
In this post, we’ll explore the different types of sensory toys and how they can benefit kids who need extra stimulation.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Sensory toys can help promote a range of skills and abilities, including motor skills, cognitive development, language development, social skills, and emotional regulation. |
| Sensory toys can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve overall well-being. |
| When choosing sensory toys, consider your child’s age, developmental stage, interests, and individual needs. Look for toys that stimulate multiple senses and are appropriate for your child’s abilities and preferences. |
| DIY sensory toys can be just as effective as store-bought ones, as long as they are safe, age-appropriate, and designed to promote sensory development. |
Stress Relievers
While sensory toys don’t have to be used for stress relief, they can be a great way to calm children down.
Sensory play has been shown to reduce stress levels in both adults and children, so it’s no surprise that kids who may struggle with anxiety or stress-related behaviors would benefit from sensory play as well.
In fact, some researchers are even using sensory toys in their studies on how children learn best! For example, one study found that preschoolers were more focused when they used materials like toy cars and sandboxes than other types of classroom materials.
Other studies have found similar results when it comes to preschoolers’ attention spans while they were learning math skills through certain kinds of sensory play.
So what makes these activities so helpful? Well, experts think it could be due at least partly because they encourage active participation by young learners and active participation is crucial for development throughout childhood (and beyond).
In addition, these activities often engage multiple senses at once (sighting touch), which may further help children build connections between what they see with what happens next during a lesson; this is an important skill for learning new concepts later on down the road!
Choosing the right sensory toys for your child can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Our guide on how to choose the right ones can help you make informed decisions and ensure your child gets the most out of their playtime.
Motor Control Improvement
Fine motor skills: Learning to control small muscles is essential for handwriting, buttoning clothing, and performing other daily tasks.
Muscle strength: Children with special needs often have weak muscle tone due to lack of exercise or poor nutrition. This can negatively impact their ability to play independently and participate in physical activities like running or jumping.
Balance & coordination: When children are able to build up their balance and coordination through sensory play, they’re more likely than ever before to be able to perform everyday tasks with ease! It’s also important for them to be able to walk or run without bumping into things because this skill helps prevent injuries when they’re older too!
Gross motor skills: These include movement such as jumping rope or playing tag outside on weekends – but it also refers specifically
to larger movements like walking up stairs without falling down them!
In addition to promoting development and engagement, sensory play can also have positive effects on a child’s mental health. Our article on the benefits of sensory play for children’s mental health explores the ways in which sensory play can improve mood, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being.
Self-Regulation Strategies
Self-regulation strategies are a big part of sensory toys. They help children learn how to control their emotions, behaviors and reactions.
These skills can help children with special needs learn how to calm themselves down when they get upset.
Children who have autism often struggle with self-regulation because it’s hard for them to understand what is going on in their own minds or bodies.
They may not realize that they are feeling angry, sad or afraid until after they lash out at someone else which makes it difficult for kids who don’t have autism as well as those who do!
A great way for your child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or another special need to practice their self-regulation skills is by using lots of different types of sensory toys at home!
Looking for new sensory toys to add to your child’s toy box? Our list of 15 must-have toys includes a variety of options to promote sensory development and keep your child engaged and entertained.”
Visual Stimulation
Visual stimulation is important for children with special needs. Visual tools can include books, flashcards, dolls and toys. The following are examples of visual toys that can be used to help children with special needs:
- An array of toys in the shape and color of letters from A to Z. Children can match the object with the corresponding letter on their alphabet board. This helps them learn about letters and objects at a young age
Recommended Sensory Toys for Infants
| Toy Name | Description | Age Range |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Books | Fabric books with different textures and features such as crinkly pages or squeakers | 0-6 months |
| Rattles | Toys that make noise when shaken or moved, can be held by infants and provide visual and auditory stimulation | 0-6 months |
| Teethers | Textured toys designed for babies to chew on, can help soothe sore gums during teething | 3-12 months |
| Activity Mats | Soft mats with toys and accessories hanging overhead to encourage reaching and grasping | 3-12 months |
| Shape Sorters | Toys that challenge infants to match shapes and colors, promote cognitive development and problem-solving skills | 6-12 months |
Tactile Stimulation
Tactile stimulation tools are an excellent way to encourage your child’s development. Some examples of tactile stimulation tools include:
Pillow with a tangle of thread inside it. This can help teach motor skills, like finger strength and coordination.
Stuffed animals and dolls that have different textures for example, soft fur versus hard plastic eyes to teach the feeling of different materials.
A variety of different-sized beads that you can string together on a piece of yarn or twine for your child to explore by touch alone (don’t forget gloves!). This is especially fun if there are laces in the room as well!
Once you’ve picked out some toys, it’s time to play! Your goal here is simple: let your child explore whatever they find interesting at first before guiding them toward anything else (but not too much).
Don’t worry about “teaching” them how things work; just allow them access until they start asking questions about what they’re seeing or touching themselves!
You might ask yourself why this matters so much when there are other ways for kids like yours who don’t always want their hands tied up with something boring like learning math facts all day long…
Sensory toys can play a crucial role in a child’s development, and it’s never too early to start incorporating them into playtime. Our beginner’s guide to sensory toys for toddlers provides an overview of the benefits of sensory play and how to get started.
Oral Stimulation Tools
Oral stimulation toys can be incredibly helpful for children who are experiencing oral-motor delay, autism, or other developmental delays.
These toys typically consist of small items that the child can hold in their mouth and chew on to relieve stress and calm themselves down.
Examples of oral stimulation tools include teething rings, chewing toys (like pacifiers and rubber teething toys), sucking toys (like sippy cups), and biteable/chewable items like infant rattles or plastic keys.
You may also see these referred to as “self-regulating” tools because they encourage your child to calm him or herself by using their mouth as an outlet for expressing emotions like frustration or boredom.
Auditory Tools And Toys
Auditory tools and toys are a great way to help your child with special needs learn how to organize their thoughts and emotions in a healthy way.
Here are some examples of auditory tools:
A metronome can help your child become more aware of the beats per minute of music, which can be helpful when learning an instrument or vocal practice. It’s also useful for helping them understand time signatures and rhythm in general, which is crucial for musicians of any age.
An mp3 player loaded with classical music can make for a relaxing listening experience for people of all ages who need some time away from distractions or noise.
The classical genre is particularly useful because it’s often composed at slower tempos than other genres like R&B or hip hop so that parents can easily find pieces that aren’t too fast-paced for their kids’ tastes but still contain enough variation to keep them engaged throughout each track’s duration (which usually clocks in around five minutes).
An example would be Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” (kurz KV525), which has been hailed as one of his finest compositions despite being written when he was just 24 years old! (You can listen below if you’d like.)
Sensory play can have a significant impact on children with special needs, improving their development and quality of life. Check out our guide on how sensory play can improve development to learn more about the benefits and how to incorporate it into your child’s routine.”
Conclusion
If you have a child with special needs, sensory toys might be the perfect gift for them. These toys are designed to stimulate all of your child’s senses and help them learn new things in a fun way!
There are many different types of sensory toys out there, so take some time to look through our list before making a decision on which one would work best for your little one.
Recommended Sensory Toys for Toddlers
| Toy Name | Description | Age Range |
|---|---|---|
| Play Dough | Soft, pliable dough that can be manipulated and molded, promotes fine motor skills and creativity | 1-3 years |
| Sensory Bins | Containers filled with different materials such as sand, water, or rice, provide opportunities for exploration and experimentation | 1-3 years |
| Musical Instruments | Toys that make noise and encourage movement and dancing, promote gross motor skills and musical development | 1-3 years |
| Building Blocks | Toys that can be stacked and arranged in different ways, promote spatial awareness and problem-solving skills | 2-5 years |
| Art Supplies | Materials such as crayons, paints, and markers that encourage creativity and self-expression | 2-5 years |
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources on sensory toys and their benefits:
Mom Loves Best: A comprehensive guide to sensory toys, including different types of toys and their benefits for children of different ages.
The Bump: A list of sensory toys for babies and toddlers, with information on the benefits of each toy.
Childhood 101: A collection of DIY sensory toys for babies, with instructions and photos.
FAQs
What are sensory toys?
Sensory toys are toys that stimulate one or more of the five senses – touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell – to promote development, engagement, and learning in children.
What age are sensory toys appropriate for?
Sensory toys can be appropriate for children of all ages, from infants to school-aged children. However, the specific types of sensory toys that are most beneficial will vary depending on the child’s age and developmental stage.
What are the benefits of sensory toys?
Sensory toys can help promote a wide range of skills and abilities, including motor skills, cognitive development, language development, social skills, and emotional regulation. Additionally, sensory play can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve overall well-being.
How do I choose the right sensory toys for my child?
When choosing sensory toys for your child, consider their age, developmental stage, interests, and individual needs. Look for toys that stimulate multiple senses and are appropriate for your child’s abilities and preferences.
Are DIY sensory toys as effective as store-bought ones?
DIY sensory toys can be just as effective as store-bought ones, as long as they are safe, age-appropriate, and designed to promote sensory development. In fact, making your own sensory toys can be a fun and cost-effective way to provide your child with engaging and stimulating play experiences.
Meet Hellen James, the multi-talented writer and nurturing mother who takes young readers on a thrilling journey through her sensory-infused blog. Drawing inspiration from her own experiences as a parent.
