The Best Toys for Autistic Kids, Approved by Experts

Best Overall

Harkla Sensory Swing for Kids

$130 $100 at Amazon $119 at Walmart View on Harkla.co

Why We Like It

Hopping on an indoor swing is guaranteed to be fun for any child, but this sensory swing can be especially helpful for autistic kids. In addition to providing an acrobatic experience of sorts, it can help them learn to balance, build their strength, and stimulate the structures in their inner ear that control balance, which can be regulating for some children.

This swing can also help calm a child who is feeling overstimulated. The swaying motion may feel like a form of stimming, i.e. repetitive actions like flapping hands or rocking back and forth that provide sensory stimulation, which can help reduce your child’s anxiety. The swing’s sides can be wrapped around a child to create a soothing cocoon-like structure. As a bonus, the company donates 1% of its sales to Game Changers Idaho, a nonprofit that seeks to bring children of all abilities together through sports to create relationships, focusing on their abilities rather than their disabilities.

But Take Note

To install the swing, you’ll need a high-quality stud finder and some basic tools. Make sure to leave plenty of room around the swing so your little one doesn’t accidentally hit something. Also, be aware that the fabric can snag.

The Details:

• Dimensions: 48 x 100 inches (assembled)
• Recommended Age: 3 years and older
• Helps With: Vestibular (balance) processing, calming through compression, sensory seeking

Best for Toddlers

Little Kids Fubbles No-Spill Big Bubble Bucket

$23 at Amazon $22 at Walmart $20 at Tractor Supply Co.

Why We Like It

Bubbles are both a fun and calming activity for autistic kids. While blowing bubbles strengthens oral motor skills, touching and popping them promotes sensory processing skills. We love this bubble tumbler in particular because it’s designed to be leak-free—even if kids run and jump while holding it or carry it upside down. It comes with 4 ounces of non-toxic, dye-free solution and three wands to allow kiddos to share with a friend, sibling, or parent. 

But Take Note

The included bubble wands are on the smaller side, which is ideal for little hands but not for making the biggest bubbles. 

The Details:

• Dimensions: 5.25 x 3.25 x 9 inches
• Recommended Age: 18 months and older
• Helps With: Gross, fine, and oral motor skills; social skills; sensory processing
  

Best for Preschoolers

Play-Doh Fun Factory Deluxe Set

$20 at Amazon $25 at Walmart

Why We Like It

Play-Doh is a childhood staple that is ideal for autistic kids during their preschool years. This Play-Doh Fun Factory Deluxe Set has everything a child needs for playtime, including six cans of Play-Doh and loads of accessories, all of which help strengthen fine motor skills. Play-Doh’s tried-and-true formula allows children to bend, mold, squish, and cut it into whatever they’d like, encouraging them to explore and create freely with their hands. Plus, its soft texture, bold colors, and distinct scent make for a pleasant sensory experience, according to Kim.

But Take Note

Although it's made of non-toxic ingredients, Play-Doh does contain wheat, which may make it unsafe for autistic kids who follow a gluten-free diet.

The Details:

• Dimensions: 3.19 x 12.99 x 10.24 inches
• Recommended Age: 3 years and older
• Helps With: Sensory exploration, fine motor skills
  

Best for School-Aged Kids

Melissa & Doug See & Spell Learning Toy

$28 $21 at Amazon $28 $21 at Walmart View on Melissaanddoug.com

Why We Like It

This spelling puzzle provides a fun and engaging way to work on verbal and communication skills, which are important as kids enter grade school. It comes with eight two-sided boards that display three-to-four-letter words and an accompanying picture, which help children to spell and identify letters and objects. 

But Take Note

This entire puzzle is made from wood and comes enclosed in a sturdy wooden case. However, the puzzle pieces are small, so keep them away from younger children. 

The Details:

• Dimensions: 3 x 6.5 x 14 inches
• Recommended Age: 4-6 years 
• Helps With: Fine motor skills, language skills, verbal sequencing
  

Best for Teens

JBL Wireless On-Ear Headphones

$50 at Amazon $50 $40 at Walmart

Why We Like It

Autistic kids can be sensitive to sounds, so giving them a cool way to shield their ears (or listen to music, if desired) can go a long way. We like these JBL Wireless On-Ear Headphones because they cover the ears entirely and have a comfortable, padded interior, which can be soothing to a neurodivergent teen who feels overstimulated by their surroundings. 

While using the headphones, teens can stream music directly from their smartphone and fold them up flat to slip them in their backpack when finished. These headphones have up to 57 hours of battery life on a single charge and even have a speed-charge feature that provides an additional three hours of usage on a five-minute recharge.

But Take Note

While these headphones cover the ears, they aren’t noise-canceling. For a higher price, you can purchase JBL on-ear headphones that are also noise canceling. 

The Details:

• Dimensions: 5.25 x 3.25 x 9 inches
• Recommended Age: Teens and older
• Helps With: Sensory processing
  

Best for Balance

Fat Brain Toys Teeter Popper

$52 at Amazon $52 at Walmart View on Fatbraintoys.com

Why We Like It

When kids stand up on a Teeter Popper, it engages the vestibular system to strengthen balance and coordination—two traits with which many autistic kids struggle. Kids can also sit down and rock back and forth or ride it like a teeter-totter, depending on their comfort level. It can hold up to 110 pounds and is lined with suction cups, so it makes a popping sound when rocked around. This noise, combined with the gentle rocking movement, makes the Teeter Popper a satisfying sensory toy. 

But Take Note

This toy works best on flat surfaces like hardwood or tile flooring since the suction cups need a solid surface to make the fun popping noise.

The Details:

• Dimensions: 28.3 x 11.5 x 7.3 inches
• Recommended Age: 3-10 years
• Helps With: Gross motor skills, core strength and balance, coordination, sensory processing
  

Best Fidget Toy

Fat Brain Toys Dimpl Baby Toy

$13 $10 at Amazon $10 at Target $13 $10 at Walmart

Why We Like It

We love this five-bubble popper because it’s small enough to be held in one hand and lightweight enough to bring everywhere. It can be used by babies, toddlers, and older kids alike, and is even safe for kids to put in their mouth since it’s made of BPA-free plastic and food-grade silicone. This is especially helpful for autistic kids who may chew as a form of stimming. Pushing the bubbles is also a great way to keep a child’s hands busy and engage in sensory exploration.

But Take Note

While kids may try to place this toy on the ground to try to pop the bubbles, they actually need to hold it in their hands so the bubbles have space to pop on both sides.

The Details:

• Dimensions: 5.5 x 5 x 1 inches
• Recommended Age: 6 months and older
• Helps With: Fine motor skills, stimming, cause and effect, sensory exploration
  

Best for Non-Verbal Kids

LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book

$20 $13 at Amazon $13 at Target $20 $13 at Walmart

Why We Like It

This 12-page digital book is a great way to build an autistic child’s vocabulary. Each page focuses on objects, people, animals, food, and places kids see in their daily lives and even has bilingual settings that can switch between English and Spanish or English and Chinese. Whenever a picture is touched, its name will be repeated in three modes: words, colors and counting, and fun sounds. For example, if a child touches the picture of a cow, the fun sounds mode would say, “Moo!” 

But Take Note

Some of the photos in this book may not look realistic, so parents and caregivers may need to offer clarification.

The Details:

• Dimensions: 9.4 x 9.2 x 1.9 inches
• Recommended Age: 18 months and older
• Helps With: Fine motor skills, language development, cause and effect, sensory exploration
  

Best Sorting Game

Bmag Rainbow Counting/Sorting Bears

$20 at Amazon

Why We Like It

This game appeals to autistic kids’ natural interest in lining up their toys or sorting them by color and shape. It also promotes categorizing, which is not only educational but can also be soothing for some kids.

We also like that this game comes with two large tweezers, so it can be played independently or alongside a parent, sibling, or friend. Plus, all the pieces fit in a carrying case with handles, making this activity easy to put away.

But Take Note

Our only concern is that the little bears can be a choking hazard, so parents and caregivers will need to monitor their children and younger siblings when it’s in use.

The Details:

• Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.98 x 4.45 inches
• Recommended Age: 3 years and older
• Helps With: Stimming, sensory regulation, focus, anxiety
  

Best Weighted Stuffed Animal

Pillowfort Dinosaur Weighted Plush Throw Pillow Pink

$20 at Target

Why We Like It

This weighted stuffed animal is one autistic kids can hold, cuddle, or squeeze, all while enjoying a sense of calm. It weighs slightly less than 3 pounds and is made with sensory-friendly fabric that won’t itch or irritate skin, which is especially important for neurodivergent kids. We also like that its fabric is Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certified, which means it’s been tested against more than 350 harmful chemicals.

But Take Note

The blend of polyester and spandex fabric tends to show stains easily. If your plush gets dirty, you can either spot-treat it with a gentle detergent or a stain removal pen.

The Details:

• Dimensions: 24 x 11 inches
• Recommended Age: 3 years and older
• Helps With: Sensory regulation, anxiety, stress
  

Best Lining Up Toy

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Railway Train Set

$160 at Amazon $160 at Nordstrom $181 $160 at Walmart

Why We Like It

It’s common for autistic kids to line up their toys as it helps provide a sense of order, predictability, and structure. This wooden set is made for lining up as each train and its accessories connect together by magnets. In doing so, children use their imagination while learning about cause and effect and working on their fine motor skills.

This set comes with 100 wooden tracks, supports, train pieces, and accessories, including trees, traffic signs, and people. It even includes a magnetic crane that can be used to lift various cargo pieces.

But Take Note

To keep the tracks intact, you may want to consider purchasing a Melissa & Doug Multi-Activity Table, which is sold separately.

The Details:

• Dimensions: 29.5 x 18.5 x 6 inches
• Recommended Age: 3 years and older
• Helps With: Fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, cause and effect, social skills
  

Best for Social Skills

KidKraft Farm to Table Play Kitchen

$200 $134 at Amazon

Why We Like It

This KidKraft Wooden Farm-to-Table Kitchen offers a variety of opportunities for sensory and imaginative play. In addition to a pretend herb garden stocked with colorful vegetables, we love that it has a chalkboard on which kids can write their menu for the day, a faucet that makes running water sounds, and an ice maker that dispenses pretend ice cubes. Best of all, kids can engage in pretend play, which is directly linked to higher social-cognitive and social-emotional skills.

But Take Note

Keep in mind that before your little chef gets to work, you’ll need to assemble more than 30 pieces to get this kitchen in working order.

The Details:

• Dimensions: 44.2 x 13.6 x 43 inches
• Recommended Age: 3-10 years
• Helps With: Social skills, fine motor skills 
  

Best Tactile Stimulation Toy

Battat Bristle Blocks

$19 at Amazon $37 at Walmart

Why We Like It

This 85-piece set offers a fresh take on traditional building blocks. Instead of stacking, these colorful blocks interlock with bristles at every angle and have textured, round edges that are soft and fun to touch, making it a great sensory activity. They also come in a variety of sizes, colors, and shapes, can be sanitized with soap and warm water, and are stored in the included carrying case, which makes cleanup a breeze. 

But Take Note

This block set includes several small figurines, which can be a choking hazard if you have little ones in the house. 

The Details:

• Dimensions: 9.5 x 4 x 8.25 inches
• Recommended Age: 2 years and older 
• Helps With: Sensory engagement, fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, dexterity
  

Best Chew Necklace

Tilcare Chew Chew Sensory Necklace

$8 at Amazon $9 at Walmart

Why We Like It

If your autistic child chews on objects as a form of oral stimming, these necklaces are an easy and convenient way to redirect their behavior. Made from 100% food-grade silicone and free of BPA, latex, phthalates, lead, and metals, these necklaces are safe for kids to put in their mouths. They come in a set of three, each in its own pastel shade.

But Take Note

These necklaces are designed for children ages 5 and up, and they should always be supervised by an adult when putting objects in their mouth. To prevent accidental choking, each necklace has a safety clasp that can easily be pulled in an emergency.

The Details:

• Dimensions: 1.8 x 0.4 x 0.4 inches
• Recommended Age: 5 years and older 
• Helps With: Stimming, anxiety, or stress reduction
  

Best for Sensory Seeking

RLingx 3-D Pin Art Toy

$9 at Amazon

Why We Like It

We’re drawn to this 3D pin art toy for a variety of reasons, the top being that the pins are made from plastic instead of metal. This means the sensation will be much gentler on your child’s skin, which can be especially important for autistic kids. We love that this toy has a vibrant, colorful design and that kids can press their hands or any small object into the pins to create their own 3D sculpture. Not only is this toy mesmerizing, but it’s also great for sensory seekers who like to keep their hands busy with various textures. 

But Take Note

There’s also a metal version of this toy, which your child may not like if they are particularly sensitive to textures. Be sure to choose the rainbow plastic version for a gentle experience. 

The Details:

• Dimensions: 4.96 x 3.74 x 1.57 inches
• Recommended Age: 6 months and older 
• Helps With: Stimming, sensory engagement, fine motor skills, stress reduction

Most Creative

Crayola Ultimate Light Board

$25 $20 at Amazon $20 at Walmart $33 at Office Depot

Why We Like It

If your autistic child likes to draw and color, they’ll love sketching on this light-up drawing board. Its frame contains LED lights that illuminate your child’s artwork (but the lights can also be dimmed or turned off if desired) and comes with six washable gel markers that glow when lit up. The board has built-in storage to keep the markers organized, and you can remove the back to allow your child to trace their artwork. 

But Take Note

This drawing board contains small parts, which can be a choking hazard for young children, especially those who are 3 years old or younger. It also requires three AA batteries (which aren’t included) to use the light function. 

The Details:

• Dimensions: 18.25 x 18.25 x 12 inches
• Recommended Age: 6 years and older 
• Helps With: Sensory engagement, eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills
  

Best Active Toy

AOTOB Trampoline with Safety Enclosure Net

$160 $130 at Amazon $160 at Walmart

Why We Like It

The repetitive, rhythmic activity of jumping on a trampoline can have a positive impact on sensory integration in autistic children. Specifically, trampoline jumping can improve a neurodivergent child’s ability to process sensory information and can also strengthen gross motor skills like balance, coordination, and muscle strength.

We like this particular trampoline because it has enough room for a kid (or a few) to move, run, and jump and is equipped with a built-in ladder to make it easy for kids to get in and out. Most importantly, this trampoline has a thick foam sleeve that covers its coils and comes with a sturdy safety net to ensure kids don’t fall out when bouncing around. 

But Take Note

It’s important that parents and caregivers establish rules for safety before allowing their child to jump on a trampoline. For example, the safety net should always be fully installed and zipped up before anyone begins jumping. And, of course, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends kids always be supervised when using the trampoline.

The Details:

• Dimensions: 144 x 144 x 102.3 inches
• Recommended Age: 6 years and older 
• Helps With: Gross motor skills, sensory processing, stress reduction 
  

Best Game

Disney Classic Characters Matching Game

$11 $10 at Amazon

Why We Like It

This matching game is a fun way to help autistic kids with memorization, object identification, and vocabulary development. Its easy-to-follow instructions can be learned in minutes. The kit comes with 72 matching cards that are decorated with lovable characters like Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, and popular Disney princesses and heroes. We especially like how versatile this game is, as it can be played independently or with others as a way to work on social skills.

But Take Note

When playing with younger children, adults may need to reduce the number of cards to make the game accessible to them. 

The Details:

• Dimensions: 2 x 2 inches (per card)
• Recommended Age: 3 years and older 
• Helps With: Memorization, language development, fine motor skills, social skills
  

Best Bath Toy

Glo Pals x Sesame Street Julia Light-Up Water Toy & Cubes Set

$24 at Amazon View on Glopals.com

Why We Like It

We’re big fans of Sesame Street, especially its beloved autistic character, Julia. This light-up Julia figurine and cubes were created specifically to help children overcome the sensory overload that can happen during bathtime. When submerged in water, the figurine and cubes instantly light up, providing a hands-on sensory lesson on cause and effect.

But Take Note

The average battery life per cube is around 4-6 weeks, and they can’t be replaced when they run out. However, they can be recycled, and Glo Pals will send you a coupon for another purchase if you do so. While these additional steps may seem cumbersome for a bath toy, it can be worth the effort if it helps your child look forward to and enjoy bath time. 

The Details:

• Dimensions: 1 x 1.25 x 0.8 inches (cubes), 3.69 x 3.75 x 0.88 inches (figurine)
• Recommended Age: 3 years and older 
• Helps With: Sensory processing, fine motor skills, bathtime aversions
  

Best Spinning Toy

ArtCreativity Light Up Magic Ball

$20 $13 at Amazon

Why We Like It

Young autistic children are often drawn to objects and toys that spin, making the ArtCreativity Light Up Magic Ball a safe and fun toy that caters to this interest. Its kaleidoscope-like display can have a calming effect on a neurodivergent child, while its spinning motion draws children in with a mesmerizing effect. Plus, it’s small enough to be taken anywhere, making it a great companion for car rides or doctor’s appointments. 

But Take Note

The Light Up Magic Ball comes with three AAA batteries and is ready to be used right out of the box. However, we found that if a child drops it on hard flooring, the clear cover may crack and the lights can stop working. 

The Details:

• Dimensions: 7.8 x 2.6 x 2.6 inches
• Recommended Age: 3 years and older 
• Helps With: Fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, stress reduction, sensory engagement
  

Best for Stimming

Cocomelon Fidget Popper Keychain

$8 at Amazon $9 at Walmart

Why We Like It

If you’ve noticed that your autistic child engages in stimming behaviors, this fidget popper can help them manage their emotions and cope with overwhelming situations. It’s detailed with pictures of Cocomelon characters and is small enough to fit in a pocket or the palm of your child’s hand, making it portable and discreet. Plus, its soft silicone bubbles can be popped over and over, which can provide a positive sensory experience that helps block out overwhelming sensory input. 

But Take Note

The poppers are smaller than we expected, but this may work in your child’s favor if they like the idea of hanging it on their backpack or belt loop. 

The Details:

• Dimensions: 2 x 0.2 x 2 inches
• Recommended Age: 2 years and older 
• Helps With: Stimming, stress relief, sensory engagement
  

Best for Fine Motor Skills

Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog

$16 $10 at Amazon $10 at Target $15 at Walmart

Why We Like It

This adorable hedgehog can be used by autistic children as young as 18 months old. As they learn to place the pegs into the hedgehog’s back, it strengthens their fine motor skills. Toddlers and preschoolers can also learn to identify the numbers listed on each hole while practicing counting and color recognition. When it’s time to clean up, the pegs stack neatly inside Spike’s removable shell, which is a fine motor activity as well.

But Take Note

Unfortunately, the pegs aren’t available for purchase if your kiddo happens to misplace one, so be sure to keep an eye on them while playing this game. 

The Details:

• Dimensions: 9.1 x 9.1 x 3.9 inches
• Recommended Age: 18 months and older 
• Helps With: Fine motor skills, color recognition, counting, sorting 
  

Best Water Toy

Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table Playset

$90 $80 at Amazon $85 at Target $90 $80 at Walmart

Why We Like It

This water table is a great backyard addition for children who are 18 months and older. It doesn't take up much room and provides a soothing sensory experience that allows autistic kids to be creative and play with others. It comes with 13 fun accessories, including a toy frog that kids can launch into the water pond.

But Take Note

This water table needs to be assembled, which can be a bit challenging as all of its screws arrive in one bag. Thankfully, assembly is a one-time process, and once you get past that step, kids can splash and play to their hearts' content.

The Details:

• Dimensions: 39.02 x 24.02 x 32.01 inches
• Recommended Age: 18 months and older 
• Helps With: Fine motor skills, sensory engagement, social skills