Autism Soccer: Special Toys for Special Children

Some toys aren't very helpful or attractive to children that live with autism.

Who says playing isn’t an effective method of teaching? Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) learn better when you teach them through play or with activities that engage their strongest sense.

Playing with toys helps them to develop their sensory-motor skills, language skills, social interaction and problem-solving abilities. As children with ASD, he/she may find some forms of play difficult. Through the article, we will mention toys that are simple yet enable interaction.

The best toys for ASD children? Sensory toys. Some toys provide a sensory experience that children with ASD crave and enjoy. The toys allow the children to engage their sense of touch, hearing, and vision. Also, integrating sensory therapy via play can help to improve an autistic child’s daily functioning.

A Sensory Toy for Each Need

1.- Liquid bubble drop motion wheel. A liquid bubble drop is a beautiful desk toy that doubles up as a visual stimulant for children within the spectrum. Children with ASD tend to look at lights or moving figures or objects to stay focused. This desk toy helps the child soothe and focus on one thing.

This toy is a small soothing bubbler that fits in your child’s hand. The colored liquid moves from top to bottom, varying on their speed. Once all the liquid comes to the bottom, turn it upside down and get started again. The toy is safe for kids and can be carried in a bag or pocket with ease.

2.- A 12-sided fidget cube. When a child is stressed and doesn’t have a parent or teacher to calm him/her down, a fidget toy might do the trick. A 12-sided fidget cube can help to relieve stress, reduce anxiety and relax children with ASD and ADHD.

The fidget has 12 gadgets including smiley faces, sliding blocks, soft buttons, a silicone ball, an on-off switch, a joystick that moves 360°, a silicone tag, gears, worry stone, soft silicone, rotating disk, and gaming buttons. The toy is made of high quality, non-toxic polycarbonate and is safe for the kids to use.

3.- Chew toy pendants. Some children with autism have trouble with oral sensory processing and may indulge in inappropriate chewing, licking and biting. Using oral sensory toys such as chew toy pendants provide the necessary oral stimulation that children with oral sensory issues need. These pendants are fashionable and made of a high-quality material that’s free from lead, latex, plastic compounds and other non-toxic materials.

The pendants blend in with your child’s style when worn as fashion accessories and also double up as chew toys for children with ASD. The pendants come attached to a breakaway clasp necklace that keeps them close to the child.

4.- Sound blocks. Sound blocks are a simple puzzle that engages the child’s auditory senses. The Idea is to match the illustrations on the blocks to make them produce distinctive and soothing sounds.

The blocks are easy to play with and have a self-correcting feature that lets the child learn about picture association and identifying sounds all on their own. They might have for example sides featuring a boat, plane, motorcycle, train, fire engine and an ambulance. When the child solves the puzzle correctly, they get a visual (image of the vehicle) and the auditory feedback (sound of the vehicle) that are rewarding in themselves.

As you have read, here at Autism Soccer we care about your child’s leisure time, education, and most important, their happiness. Follow us on our social networks and don’t hesitate to leave your comments in the section below.