What Toys Are Best for Autistic Children?

If you are wondering the best way to entertain and enhance the development within your autistic child, toys can make a serious impact. Parents and relatives of autistic children have found that using the right toys can draw their child out of his or her shell and help bring forth their personality traits.

To begin, here are some of the best toys to use with a child with autism:

• Stimulating Toys: Many children who have autism experience sensory issues, so toys that stimulate the senses can provide a nonthreatening approach. Any toys that have fur, bumps, music, or raised portions will give them something stimulating to play with that will also provide interaction.

• Social Toys: One of the best ways to enhance social development in a child with autism is using a toy to stimulate social interaction. This may be a game that one autistic child can play with a sibling, including board games that can be played with the entire family. If the autistic child has the opportunity to focus on taking turns and relaxing during a game, that bodes much better for future social interactions at school or in daycare.

• Motor Skill Development Toys: Any toys that work to develop your child's motor skills will be perfect for a child with autism. Some of the best toy options are artistic, like drawing or painting, which gives the autistic child the opportunity to use brushes, crayons, or other drawing tools. Even better, your autistic child may enjoy learning to ride a tricycle under your supervision so that they feel safe yet accomplished.

• Simple Toys: Many of the simpler toys, like a puzzle, maze, or Chinese finger trap provide the autistic child with the opportunity to focus on a single task and achieve. This can help the autistic child feel secure, and they will also be able to focus on a single interest.

Overall, toys are a wonderful opportunity to interact with an autistic child to bring them further out of their shell for increased social interaction!


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