My favorite Sensory Toys
Our house is full of sensory toys and tools to help our kids regulate and function more happily. Depending on a child’s age the toy/tool for being the best can change.
Here are 5 sensory tools we keep on hand … always.
Swings!
They are the best. Here are the 2 we use the most. We use all of them indoors, though you could use them outside too.
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Pod Swings are among some of our favorite resources to help our kids feel more themselves when they are frustrated, overly excited or feeling ALL the emotions. This is the one we have, but we also purchased another from IKEA, and here are similar options too.
Sensory Swings are so much fun and they are great for older kids. The material of the swing wraps around you, so you can lay and nestle into the swing.
2. Kinetic Sand - we love it and feel like it’s less mess comparatively to other gooey and messy options. You can vacuum or sweep it up quickly. We do swap it out after it’s been played with for many many hours, because it will start to leave a residue on your hands (you can easily use soap and water to clean it)
3. Play-doh is a close 2nd, but does come into 3rd place right now. It was a better tool for our kids when they were younger, but is always our go-to when we are out and about at a restaurant or place that requires sitting and more structure.
4. Bikes
First a balance bike and then a pedal bike. The friction and work put in with these bikes support extra sensory input. We have the Kazam balance bike and love it. It’s endured three kids, I love the foot step that they can put their feet on and cruise. I feel like it builds confidence with hills and speed because of it. The Strider is perhaps the most popular balance bike and we’ve had friends with the Strider and haven’t heard of any complaints.
5. Pool pass - pools often help children who are in need of sensory-seeking activities, so we live for the water. Another option if pools aren’t available to you is bath time fun and adding things to the experience to extend the activity. Bath bombs, bubbles, then toys that promote play with the water. Water tables offer a similar effect, though not as immersive, but all of my children played at water tables during the warmer months, especially as toddlers.
Bonus: If you have space, the Picasso Tiles bounce house was a family favorite and lifesaver. We mainly used it in our basement, and it clocked a lot of jumping hours. We had it for more than 2 years before there was a whole too big to mend, and we blame it on the new space we put it in, had, we kept it indoors in our house, I believe it would still be going. Countless kids big and small have jumped, wrestled and played in that bounce house, and we plan to get another one.
Sensory tools ebb and flow with your children. Yet, these five resources have remained staples in our rotations, and at times nonnegotiables. I’d love to hear what other tools and toys have helped you and your kids with their sensory needs.
