10 Best Toys for Autistic Kids (Author's Choice)

Playing with toys is fun and helps children interact with others and the world around them. As a mom of two autistic kids, I know not all toys can get the job done. When considering toys for autistic kids, they must keep our children engaged, safe, and allow maximum fun!

Here are 10 toys for autistic kids that ensure a safe, enjoyable time for your child. 

What Makes a Toy Suitable for Autistic Children?

My kids and I have experienced a wide variety of toys and some of the potential pitfalls associated with them. 

For me, the number one challenge when looking at toys for my autistic kids is safety. Are there small pieces that could potentially be eaten? How durable is the toy to chew or be thrown? 

It’s better to inspect toys before they are ever played with to prevent accidents.

Related Article: The First Signs of Autism: What Are the Early Signs of Autism in Children

Safe toys are especially vital for nonverbal autistic children because they cannot communicate if something is wrong, so it’s up to us to consider if the toy is a suitable fit for them.

I like to consider how tempted my child would be to throw the toy rather than play with it. I want to give them toys where playing and engaging with the toy is more satisfying than the opportunity to throw it. 

I also consider the experience and how much fun my child would have. While my kids may play differently from other children, they still deserve to feel the joy and excitement of playing with their toys. 

Related Article: Parenting an Autistic Child with Confidence

Top 10 Autistic Toys for Kids

Here, I gathered 10 toys that I consider to be the best for your autistic kids.

#1 Magnetic Blocks: Good Toys for Autistic Kids

Blocks are a classic toy you see young children play with. However, when it comes to autistic children, traditional wooden blocks can be a hazard and challenging to pick up after. 

In my opinion, the best toys for autistic kids are toys that won’t cause distress for them or for you.

My children's version of playing with wooden blocks is throwing them across the room. 

So playtime would be exhausting for me and potentially lead to damaged property.  

Magnetic blocks are a wonderful alternative. Their magnetic nature prevents the block from becoming a walking hazard on the floor. 

They are also softer than traditional wooden blocks, so if thrown, they will not cause as much damage. Magnetic blocks are also easier to stack, so autistic children who are working on fine motor control may find playing with them encouraging. 

Pros

• Easier to stack and rearrange

• Encourages fine motor control 

• Softer than wooden blocks

• Potential “pixel”-like art and fun shapes

  Cons 

• Broken blocks will need to be disposed of due to small magnets

• Limited to only the cube-shape

• Limited blocks and colors per set

• May need to challenge them 

Related Article: What Is M-CHAT| Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers

#2 Explore Bathtime with Fishing Toys

Many autistic children can find bathtime distressing, and helping them learn to draw their attention away from the source of their distress is important.

Luckily, fun toys can help redirect autistic kids’ focus and highlight the joys that can be found in bathtime. 

Fishing Net Bath Toys didn’t give my little ones extra ways to make a mess, and were easy to clean up when thrown. 

Fishing nets are good toys for autistic children because they support hand eye coordination and require the child’s attention.

The great thing about this toy is how easy it is to supplement and expand on the game being played. I often will throw in a bath bomb to drive up the challenge of the activity. 

Pros

• Helps with hand- eye coordination 

• Stays in the tub

• The net can’t carry water

• Easy to pick up

• Great bathtime distraction

• Perfect to pair with bath bombs or bubbles

Cons

• May get bored of the same fish and sharks

• May get bored once they master the skill

#3 Creative Fun with these Chunky Washable Colors

Writing is an important skill to develop, but it can be a tricky skill for autistic children to master. They may have a weaker-than-average grip, meaning the color can be disappointingly faint when they try to write or draw with colored pencils or crayons. But the alternative use of markers or paints can be very messy.

With chunky washablewooden crayons, their drawings will take on a whole new life. These multi-purpose colored pencils are bright, can be used on many surfaces, and can be wiped away! 

Markers or paints that claim to be “washable” can be a nightmare to wash off clothes and walls, but I’m willing to draw on a table with these crayons. They wipe right off!

Physically, while they feel like pencils, they are triangular with more grip support, making them perfect for autistic kids.

Pros

• Easy to clean

• Can be used to do watercolor painting

• Bright like markers but shaped like a pencil

• Uses a triangular body for easy grip

Cons

• Not many colors

• Will need to sharpen them

Related Article: Is Being a Picky Eater a Sign of Autism

#4 Indoor Adventuring with Balance Stones

The joy of being a child, skipping and jumping around, is a fond experience many relate to. However, exercise can be tricky when your children are on the autism spectrum, especially exercising outdoors. 

You may have to worry about issues your typical parent doesn’t, like eloping or running away. It also can be harder to predict safety issues like small, chewable objects and trash on the floor. But regardless of the extra struggles, exercise is essential for a child’s development. 

An excellent solution to this is bringing exercise indoors with balance stepping stones. Your autistic child can safely work on their coordination and balance, while in a predictable and safe environment. 

While the stones themselves are simple, they are perfect for pairing up with other toys, which makes them excellent toys for autistic kids. Your imagination is the limit when utilizing these indoor balance stones.

Pros

• Lower risk of injury

• Gross motor control, coordination, and balance

• Fun indoor exercise

• Great to pair up with other activities

Cons

• May need furniture moved for it to be used effectively 

• Will need guidance from a parent to do activity safely

#5 Color and Number Sorting Fidget Toys for Autistic Kids

Sometimes, you want an activity to help regulate your child and bring them back to their baseline. The perfect toy in this situation is color sorting sensory fidget toys. 

Fidget toys for autistic kids are entertaining but not overly stimulating, and are perfect distractions for a fussy child.

This fidget toy is durable, small, and easy to clean. It's  great for storing in the car or in a bag, and it is the perfect toy to accompany you to appointments.

While there are other great options for sensory ball-sorting toys, I personally like the sorting options this toy has,allowing for more concentrated engagement if it’s desired.

Pros

• Sensory regulating and relaxing activity

• Easy to clean, pick up, or travel with

• 2 in 1 color sorting and number sorting

Cons

• Counting on your child’s needs, they may not be entertained or get bored

#6 ABC Wooden Train: Useful Toy for Autistic Kids

A common autistic trait is lining up toys and objects. I also expressed this behavior as a child, so I can relate to my daughter's joy. 

While this version of play can seem boring, it can be quite fun lining up and organizing toys in different patterns. This ABC Wooden Magnet Train is a perfect toy to fulfill the need to line up and organize, and it encourages love for the ABCs.

One of the challenging aspects of autism for me as a child was purposely doing things “differently” after having a set routine. With these cute ABC train cars, your child can explore rearranging letters into words by using bonus word cards included. 

Practicing breaking routines while in a familiar environment is an excellent skill to master and makes this a useful toy for autistic kids.

Pros

• A fun way to line toys up

• Encourages exploring the ABC’s

• Can make different words

• Durable

Cons

• Small enough to be thrown

• +20 pieces to clean up

#7 Teeter Popper Balance Sensory Toy 

Sensory toys for autistic kids are very important to introduce. While not every autistic child will like the same types of sensory toys, autism directly impacts sensory experiences. So toys that make those same experiences enjoyable are vital to help them safely navigate overstimulation. 

While all children may have fun spinning or rocking, for an autistic child, these actions have added benefits for their health and happiness. Toys that promote exercise like the teeter popper balance toy strengthen their core muscles and muscle tone. Watching my daughter’s core strength improve over time while also having fun has been amazing.

Pros

• Sensory toys are great for emotional regulation

• Fun and enjoyable core exercise

• Can be done while watching tv 

Cons

• Some children may need help due to low muscle tone

• May fall if too excited or are in the process of building muscle

#8 Sensory Touch Gel Neon Drawing Pad

Writing can be a huge challenge for autistic children due to the muscle strength needed for a good pencil grip. A great alternative is this Mess Free Touch Lights Pad!

This sensory toy is amazing for autistic kids to build finger strength without many extra pieces or safety concerns. They will enjoy creating shapes and exercising their creative side while also enjoying the fun, squishy texture.

While there are alternatives like water drawing pads, I found the durability and the simplicity of the neon gel touchpad to be the best toy for autistic kids compared to its competitors. 

Pros

• Durable and no messes

• Exercises fine motor skills

• Great pre-writing tool

• Fun and sensory-friendly touch 

Cons

• May need support if you want to do pre-writing exercises

#9 With or Without Water Table

Some of the biggest challenges of introducing different sensory experiences is how much supervision autistic children need and the mess to clean up. 

It is, of course, fun and important to have your autistic children play with sand, water, or playdough, but not all of these toys are safe for nonverbal autistic kids. 

So, a great alternative is a toy that can be interchangeable, like this with or without water table! You can safely change out the sensory experiences with this sensory toy for autistic kids. 

If you feel up to the task, you can fill it with  sand or water, but on days you don’t want to worry about your child accidentally consuming something, you can use the balls that are included.

The interchangeability of this table is what makes it such a great toy for autistic kids.

Pros

• Interchangeable materials for the table

• Allows different sensory experiences

• Great for indoors or outdoors

Cons

• Maybe too short for taller children, you may need to put it on top of a table

#10 Animal Puppets

Autistic children can often seem as if they are in their own little worlds and struggle to hear you when you are speaking directly to them during playtime. However, these challenges may be improved with the right strategy. 

Animal puppets are one of my most recommended toys for autistic kids because of how they help connect your autistic child to others during playtime. Eye contact, social expectations, and communication can all be barriers for autistic children. But through puppets, they can safely navigate communication without the added pressure of personal body language.

While it may not be a perfect fit for every autistic child, I would say it’s worth finding out if it's a good toy for your autistic child.

Pros

• Helps with social play

• Soft, no hard parts

• Fun and safe

Cons

• May want your participation

• May be loud 

  
  

Conclusion

It can seem overwhelming when searching for the perfect toy for your autistic kid. However, you are not alone and have other parents and community members behind you to find safe and fun toys. My children enjoyed these toys and I hope yours will too.