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♾️ Must-Haves to Support my Autistic Child
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items 5 years ago I was a first-time mom looking up toys and items that were trending, but once my child was diagnosed with autism, I realized I didn't need any of the trendy items I purchased. I needed items that would support my child in his development ...
Sections
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🤸♂️ Sensory Must Haves!
💡 Developmental Toys
🏠 Play/ Sensory Room Organization
👏 Encouraging Independence
🛝 Outdoor Toys
🤸♂️ Sensory Must Haves!
Sensory items I have bought and highly recommend putting together the perfect sensory room and helping with sensory-related dysregulations.
Been eying the nugget? I was too until I ran into this great alternative! Very good quality, keeps its shape and same functionality as the nugget, but it wont break the bank!
Member's Mark Kids' Explorer Sofa
Great indoor sensory swing with a stand! Can be used outdoors as well! If you decide to use it indoors, make sure you have enough room because it is big. Great place to read a book or decompress! I have used the rope for outdoors to attach it to the ...
Member's Mark Hangout Pod With Base
Another must-have if your child has noise sensitivities! These reduce the noise level and now with pop-it styles. A 2 for 1!
Sensory Noise Reduction Headphones
A foam roller is not something you necessarily think of using on your autistic child, but if they are craving deep pressure input similar to a Steamroller, this is a great alternative and A LOT cheaper! How to use: have them lay on their tummy and ro...
Foam Roller for Sensory Input
It's too hot or it's too cold outside? No problem! Add this great compact trampoline to your sensory room. For a sensory-seeking child, having access to a trampoline helps regulate them in addition to being a great exercise activity. Highly recommend...
Little Tikes 3' Kids Trampoline
For kids with a lot of wiggles and a short attention span, a yoga ball is a MUST! We utilize the yoga ball a few ways; to sit while doing table work, to bounce up and down, to roll on body, and to work on his core by having him lay on his tummy and r...
Yoga ball? YES!
Do you have a sensory seeker jumping off furniture? YES? You need this crash pad! It's soft enough to land on or just lay on.
Sensory Crash Pad
If you have a child that chews on things or mouths items, giving them a designated chewy tube early on will protect their teeth and allow them to regulate their bodies from anxiety or needing sensory input.
Chewy Tubes for Oral Sensory Needs
Does your child suffer from anxiety? A weighted vest has helped ease anxiety away by helping our child relax and have the ability to focus. Give one a try if your child can't seem to focus due to anxiety.
Sensory Weighted Vest
We went to a kid's play space gym while we were out of town one day and they had one of these in there sensory room. It is so soothing (especially to wind-down for bed) with calming music that we immediately got one for our son. He continues to use i...
Galaxy Projector Light
This one we don’t have, yet! Every time we go to the museum or therapy, my son gravitates to it and can sit and watch it forever, if we let him.
Fish Bubble Lamp
Soft play isn't only for babies! We use this with our toddler to increase balance and coordination. Jumping on and off, standing on the incline to get a good calves stretch, using it to do front flip, the possibilities are endless!
Soft Play Equipment
💡 Developmental Toys
Toys with a developmental purpose | We have used these toys to promote speech, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, meet sensory needs, and pretend play
Great for water play while learning a life skill! We had the pink and blue for almost 4 years before it died on us. We immediately ordered the blue and tan new version that has the battery cover on the top (prevents water from going in) and it is abs...
Play Sink For Kids- New version
No need for batteries here! Great toy to promote fine motor skills, speech and learn cause and effect. So many learning opportunities from one toy!
Fisher-price Hide & Peek Pop-up
MUST HAVES for pretend play! We have all three: Barn, House & Garage. These are great for younger and older toddlers which means you'll keep these in rotation for a few years!
Fisher Price Little People Barn, House & Garage
The spinning motion will keep your little's attention while they learn especially those kids that have a an interest spinning wheels but with a purpose! With this toy you can work on color identification, numbers, speech and gross motor skills...that...
SpinAgain Toy
Multifunction easel; magnetic, dry erase, chalk, and paper roll down. Great to work on a child's writing and painting while standing. We love ours and has held up so great! The roll of paper is huge and lasts a long time.
Hape Magnetic Chalk Dry Erase Easel
Do you have a child that has a hard time at the doctor's office? We did too! This set encourages pretend play and familiarizes the child with common equipment used at the doctor's office. It's a win-win with this toy!
Vtech First Responder Smart Rescue Set
🏠 Play/ Sensory Room Organization
A clutter-free environment is a MUST for when you have an autistic child. Labeling and ensuring that everything has a place will reduce anxiety and stress.
A great storage organizer to place one toy in each cubby. We have system in which we rotate toys in and out. We do this for a few reasons; easier to clean up if everything has its place, can be easily seen and picked up by child, less clutter means t...
8 Cube Organizer Shelf For Toys
For toys with multiple pieces, we utilize clear bins or containers. With an autistic child that has limited communication, we learned that if they have a clear view of what you're inviting them to play with along with a label, the are more inclined t...
Clear Storage Bins
I love this rack to store puzzles, but with that said, be advised that not all of the M&D puzzles actually fit. The larger puzzles with the knobs/ latches do not fit. We use it to store the peg puzzles that make noise.
Melissa & Doug Puzzle Rack
Hear me out! 2 of these stands side by side make the best puzzle holder out there! The slant/incline allows for all the puzzle pieces to stay put. If you want specifics on how I use it, just comment below.
Puzzle Holder: Ikea Rinnig Stainless Steel Double Sided Plate Holder
Great storage place for those bigger car toys or electronic books. The wired design allows for easy visibility and pulling out of the drawer.
3 Tier Drawer Organizer - Brightroom
👏 Encouraging Independence
Encouraging independence with basic life skills
Bathroom skills are made easy with this step-up potty seat. When our toddler was younger we opted to use a smaller potty, but as he grew, it became uncomfortable and he refused to use the big potty in public places. We then found this adapter. Its co...
Toilet Potty Training Seat with Step Stool Ladder
A step stool has helped him reach the sink to wash his hands without having to tip-toe or be carried in order to reach.
Step Stool to Wash Hands
🛝 Outdoor Toys
We spent a great deal outdoors and have our favorite toys!
Even at 5 years old, this is still a favorite. We are lucky enough to have a large garage that we keep it in and it still looks brand new! With sensory-seeking kids, having a trampoline is a must!
Bounce Pro 7-Foot My First Trampoline Hexagon (Ages 3- ...
This is the exact swing set we bought over 2 years ago and it is holding up so nicely. We have since added a few other types of swings which I will also highly recommend.
Swing Set
We've used this bucket swing instead of the ones it came with since he had weak core strength. Now, we have moved back to the original seats and our younger toddler uses this one, and another one I also recommend.
Bucket Swing
Great slide to start your young toddlers on. Easy to climb on and you can store it away easily since it folds in half.
Little Tikes First Slide (Blue/Green) : Toys & Games
Both my boys love this play house. Lots of opportunities to promote speech: "you got mail! ding dong who's at the door? hello who's there? Open and shut the door, knock knock who's there, etc. Great little house!
Kidkraft Playhouse
We use this for our 1-year-old, but ever since we have gone to playgrounds with adaptive swings, our 5-year-old loves to swing in this one. He's tall for his age but he doesn't exceed the weight limits. Another highly recommended swing.
Little Tikes Swing
We got this water table during COVID, probably overpaid for it, but worth every penny! Both boys love water play and on a hot day there's no better activity! There's also a water pump on Amazon that you can add to this table to keep the water recircu...
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table ...
Both of my boys absolutely love this ride on! Definitely the one toy they always look forward to taking a turn even though they both fit in it, they like to ride on separately. The shock system and wheels on this ride on are amazing! Horn, lights, an...
24V Mercedes Benz UNIMOG Kids Ride On UTV