We know that kids love toys! But for children with ADHD and or sensory issues, all those lights, sights, textures, and sounds can be overwhelming sometimes.
That’s why we put together a specially curated collection of the best sensory toys for ADHD, SPD, and autism that includes all kinds of unique and fun products to keep children entertained, while helping them learn and grow.
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), or autism can experience sensory overload from regular textures, sights and sounds we take for granted in our everyday environment.
Best Toys For Hyperactivity
Image | Product | Features | Price |
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Trampoline w/Swing |
| Check Price: Amazon | |
Dance Mat |
| Check Price: Amazon | |
Pogo Jumper |
| Check Price: Amazon | |
Punching Bag |
| Check Price: Amazon |
Related: What Is ADHD? Does My Child Have It?
That’s where toys for ADHD come in. They are specifically designed by therapists to help calm a child with ADHD, autism and sensory issues.
These toys can also be used to help desensitize children, the idea being the more they’re exposed to sensory input in a fun and safe way, the more they’ll be able to tolerate sensory input from the world around them.
Plus, there is study-based evidence that sensory fidget toys help children with attention or anxiety issues stay focused and calm, both in the classroom and at home.
By allowing more overall movement, fidget toys for ADHD helped kids perform better on cognitively demanding tasks.
Sensory toys can also improve with things like balance, auditory processing, tactile/visual stimulation, and more.
Check out our list of the best toys for ADHD to support your child’s development, learning and growth.
Best Sensory Toys For ADHD
A study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that children with ADHD have impaired balance.
Its why products like Gentle Monster Balance Boards are great toys for kids with ADHD. It stimulates the vestibular system, which is great for general development and learning and also support muscles responsible for correct posture.
Help your child improve his or her balancing skills while having fun! They can stand on it, turn it over for a slide, use it as a boat to move other toys around, rock in it during TV time.
- Great for Yoga, exercise, learning
- Comes with illustration cards for added fun and creativity.
- Highest quality natural real wood, ecologically friendly lacquers.
Age: 3-7 years old
The Gentle Monster Stepping Stones work on a child's tactile (touch) and vestibular (balance) senses as kids try to keep their balance while walking on stones of varying steepness and difficulty with their bare feet. Designed to develop physical strength and motor skills; including weight transfer, familiarity with heights, physical coordination and agility.
Your kids can jump from stone to stone without touching the floor. You can reposition the stones to change up the difficulty. Each stone has a rubber bottom to prevent them from slipping.
Their aesthetically pleasing designs feature subtle colors, distinctive enough for a child to notice but easier on the eye inside the home.
- 6 Stones, with varying sizes and height.
- Perfect for free play to specific therapy and structured training.
- Help with sensorimotor abilities, such as awareness of posture, sense of touch and balance.
Age: 3 years - Adult
Is your child always touching, moving, holding or playing with things? Well check out these cool fidget toys!
FunKidz Fidget Pack Box sensory toys offer an outlet for this behavior and can provide stress relief or help reduce anxiety. They are a less distracting way to exert restless energy by keeping the brain focused and calm.
- This Fidget Pack Box offers great value with 23 fun toys inside! Something squishy, stretchy, bouncy, poppy, squeezy and more!
- FunKidz big fidget pack is suitable for any occasion and any age: Office, school, party favors, festival, and classroom rewards.
- Made from durable, non-toxic and environmentally friendly materials.
Age: 3 years +
The Aokitec Therapy Swing exposes your child to the kinds of inputs that are necessary to train the vestibular system. It’s one of the recommended sensory toys for ADHD, as well as for kids who are on the autism spectrum or have an SPD.
The swing becomes a learning experience for your child’s senses and helps them feel more grounded. Which can eventually help them walk, run, and perform other actions.
Using a swing like this improves spatial awareness, focus, muscle strength, balance, and coordination.
- 100%nylon, Soft and Silky Feel.
- Helps children relax and get their bearings in as the cocoon swing provides a hug-like effect.
- Learn body awareness, balance, motor planning, and spatial skills.
Related: The Top Sensory Toys For Toddlers
Age: 8 months +
Block out background noise, reduce stress and anxiety and maximize concentration with Dr Meter noise reducing headphones. These are great for kids with autism, auditory processing disorder, or any kind of sound sensitivity.
Use the earmuffs for blocking noise caused by large crowds, airports, sporting events, garden tools, or any other troublesome noise that can be triggering.
These can help a child with ADHD that gets distracted by sound and can't focus to complete homework and other tasks.
- Safe design tailored for smaller ears, safety and comfort.
- 27NRR noise reduction rating, ideal for blocking noise caused by large crowds, airports, construction sites and daily life.
- 360 rotatable cups, its whole body can be folded into very compact size, lightweight and portable to take anywhere.
These therapeutic oral stimulating Chew Necklaces are super absorbent designed for children who needs to bite for calm and focus. Designed for kids struggling with stress, anxiety, biting, or self-injury issues.
Unlike plastic chew necklaces, these terry cloth bite bands soak up drool, keeping shirts dry even after extended periods of chewing.
Great for exercise for oral motor and facial muscles to prepare kids for good eating habits. This set includes 6 colorful bands, perfect for self soothing.
- Saliva absorbent, chew durability to keep kids from chewing on shirt collars or sleeves
- Terry cloth fabric, 6 vibrant colors, comes with a hook-and-loop closure that makes it easier and safer to use.
- Washable and Reusable value pack
Age: 10 months +
The Dimpl is so simple, yet oddly riveting and almost impossible for little hands to put down. You poke the colorful little dimples and pop them through to the other side.
Keep their attention! It’s a fun sensory adventure that you can take wherever you go. It easily fits in a seatback pocket, making it one of those great sensory toys for kids you can keep in the car to distract your child on road trips.
- Features 5 vibrant Silicone Bubbles built into a plastic frame.
- Great for babies and toddlers ages 10 months+.
- BPA-free, bubbles made of 100% food-grade silicone.
- Engages the senses, encourages fine motor skills, sensory exploration, cause-and-effect learning.
Related: Fun And Cool Sensory Toys All Kids Will Love
Age: 2 years +
For the hyperactive, high-energy ADHD child this cool sitting scooter board is a great way to burn off excess energy, even if they’re stuck inside.
Kids can scoot, pull each other around, or race… there’s also a connect-a-scooter feature where you can link two or more boards together for games and cooperative play.
It’s a favorite among sensory toys for ADHD.
- Made of durable hard plastic, can hold up to 135lbs.
- 360 degree rotating wheels.
Age: 2 years +
Music or a backseat movie is a mom’s best friend on a road trip. But many kids with sensory processing challenges dislike the feeling of bulky headphones or pokey earbuds. That’s why you need CozyPhones!
It’s a cute, soft and sensory-friendly headband with hidden headphones inside. CozyPhones help ADHD, SPD, or autistic children listen to music and movies in total comfort. They also protect your child’s delicate hearing.
- Super comfortable and made to last
- Foldable, washable, easy to carry
Age: 3 years - adult
These spiky sensory balls are a great fidget tactile/sensory toy. Firm but squeezable, they promote a sense of calm and help reduce stress.
This, in turn, helps kids with ADHD focus and pay attention. A great addition to the classroom or your homework space.
Plus they’re bouncy, making them even more fun.
- Pack of 10
- Made entirely of thermoplastic rubber
- They are non toxic and contain no BPAs, phthalates and latex
Age: 3 years +
Kids with ADHD are drawn to open-ended, hands-on play.
Sadly, traditional play dough can dry out and get all crumbly. Aroma Dough is not only gluten free organic - it is also made of non-crumbling, washable formula. So its stays moist way longer.
And they smell amazing! The aromatherapy of the oils can boost your child's focus and mood, while developing fine motor skills.
- Gluten and Soy Free.
- Non Toxic, Non Allergenic.
- Curated from the finest 100% organic wheat-free, moisturizing oils, and natural aromas (no perfumes or pretend "scents").
- Suitable for children with Celiac and special needs.
Do sensory toys help with ADHD?
Sensory toys can be a great way to help those with ADHD, by providing sensory stimulation and a calming effect.
For example, bouncing on an exercise ball chair can promote arousal regulation, enabling focus on a task at hand.
Compression vests and weighted blankets can provide sensory input to help reduce sensory overload and feelings of unease or fear which can often arise with ADHD.
Moreover, certain sensory toys such as squishy and tactile sensory balls are good for encouraging sensory exploration within the individual. Thus, finding the best sensory toys may just be the key to greater understanding and control of ADHD symptoms.
Do fidget toys help with ADHD?
Fidget toys have become a popular sensory tool for those dealing with ADHD, providing a sensory response that helps to calm kids and adults alike.
There is a wide variety of sensory toys available to help with ADHD, but fidget toys are at the top of the list as they provide sensory input without requiring much additional work.
Fidget toys can also help to focus attention in classrooms, boardrooms, and other settings where concentration is needed.
Whether it’s a simple metal spinner or something more complex like a shape cube, fidget toys are an effective way to alleviate excess energy and maintain focus.
Used properly, sensory toys such as fidget toys can be invaluable when it comes to managing ADHD on both an individual and collective level.
Now that we’ve rounded up our top favorite toys for ADHD to help with your child’s restless energy.
Want to get them off the screen and sofa city? Check out these toys and get them up bouncing, dancing and punching. Hours of healthy fun, indoor or outdoor.
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(More to come, popular sensory toys for 5 year olds, sensory equipment autism…)