Games & Activities for Autistic Kids

Finding sensory games for autistic children is a key aspect in helping them to learn a number of skills through having fun. In this blog, we talk about the benefits of sensory games and look at some specially designed toys and activities. 

Children’s Games and Special Education Activities for Autism

Developmental Games & Activities for Autistic Kids

Sensory activities involve toys, games, and activities that stimulate the senses. Sensory play is important for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who often struggle to process sensory information. Autistic children are often over or under sensitive to certain sounds, lights, or textures. Sensory activities are important to help regulate the sensory system. Engaging autistic children in sensory activities is beneficial for the development of several skills, including: 

• Language skills: Using speech-language activities and engaging in pretend play helps develop a child’s language skills by increasing their vocabulary as they discuss their experiences. 
• Fine motor skills: Manipulating small objects aids in hand-eye coordination and helps strengthen the muscles in a child’s hands and wrists, which, in turn, helps develop their fine motor skills. 
• Gross motor skills: Encouraging kids to practice their running, jumping, and throwing skills through pretend sensory play is an excellent way to develop their gross motor skills by strengthening their large muscles through fun body movements. 
• Social skills: Engaging in pretend play with peers doesn’t just build little imaginations. It also teaches important skills like sharing and taking turns. 
• Self-control: Sensory play helps develop a child’s ability to respond appropriately to sensory stimulation, which helps enhance their self-control and self-regulation. 

Experiment with activities that stimulate all five senses: touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing. You can do at-home activities such as finger painting, making your own slime and playdough, creating a sensory station, and more. However, there are toys and other activities designed with autistic children in mind. 

Sensory-Friendly Activities and Games for Autistic Preschoolers 

The list below offers several sensory-friendly toys and specific online games and activities specifically developed for autistic children. 

Discovery Toys: A Link to Learning for Children with Autism 

Discovery Toys collaborated with the famous Princeton Child Development Institute to develop an Autism Support Project. This project has created toys to develop independent play with limited instruction, toys that promote sustained engagement, toys that build skills for cooperative play, toys that create opportunities for children to talk about their play experience, toys with obvious completion criteria, and more. 

Fun and Function

Fun and Function was founded by a mom who is also an occupational therapist. Its goal is to address the lack of high-quality toys, games, and therapy products for special needs children. Funandfunction.com provides outstanding products to enable children with special needs to reach their fullest potential. 

Infantino 

Infantino has smartly designed products for happy parenting. Packed with smarts, full of fun, and ready for the daily adventures of parenting, they’ve created a line of products to help you, and your little ones grow together. They’ve all been thoughtfully designed and smartly styled, from top to toe, to make this whole parenting thing less of a job and more of a joy. 

Make Beliefs Comix 

MakeBeliefsComix.com is an online site where parents and children can create their own comic strips and practice writing, reading, and storytelling. Parents and teachers of autistic children use the site to communicate more effectively with their children by creating comic strips to teach and convey information to them. 

Me and My World™ Social Skills Board Games and Curriculum

This set of six unique themed puzzle cut game boards (Dragon, Pirate, Space Alien, Castle, Zoo Adventure, and Sea Life) from Joshua Center are interchangeable with any of the Me and My World Game Card Decks. The Me and My World Curriculum includes over 50 lessons aligned with the American School Standards for Students. Each lesson addresses a specific objective, includes several activities, and recommends children’s stories to use. 

Pick and Draw

Pick and Draw is a fun, unique drawing game that teaches you how to make creative cartoon faces. It is simple and easy to use, providing endless hours of fun and learning. In five minutes or less, you will know how to play. 

PlayAbility Toys

A world of special toys for special kids, PlayAbility Toys is a great source of fun, unique toys that are developmentally appropriate for all young children, particularly children with special needs. The company specifically designs and markets toys with sensory features incorporating auditory, tactile, visual, and motor stimulation. 

Special Needs Toys

Special Needs Toys are providers of carefully selected fun products designed to help you or those in your care enjoy life and achieve more. The site and catalog stimulate your child’s imagination and reinforce encouraged behaviors. There is a lot that can be achieved — while having fun. 

Stages Learning

A UCLA-trained ABA therapist founded Stages Learning Materials in 1997 when autism diagnosis first began to rise. The top-selling autism education product, the Language Builder Picture Cards, was created to meet the specific learning needs of autistic children. The Language Builder Series has become a staple worldwide in home and school programs. Today, Stages offers a full range of real photo products for autism education. Stages products are found in preschools, daycare centers, early childhood classrooms, autism programs, speech-language programs, and homes around the world. They are excellent autism speech therapy activities. 

Step2

The Step2 Company, headquartered in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world’s largest rotational plastics molder. Their mission is to be the leading innovator of children’s products that build imaginations and enrich the family’s celebration of childhood. 

Topobo for Children With Autism and ASD

Topobo is the world’s first construction toy with kinetic memory (the ability to record and play back physical motion). Research studies with autistic children show that, compared to passive blocks, Topobo leads to far more cooperative and parallel play, increased observational behavior, and reduced solitary play patterns. 

ZAC Browser: Zone for Autistic Children

ZAC was the first web browser developed for autistic children. They provide one of the best environments on the Internet for your autistic child.