Sensory toys have the ability to either make or break your child’s day, dinner, or bedtime! While this might sound too good to be true, there’s actually quite a bit of science behind why these toys are amazing for any kid, and even moreso for children with special needs or Autism specifically. The reason is that many children experience a variety of sensory processing disorders, such as autism, sensory integration disorder, and/or a variety of other developmental disabilities. These problems often lead to the need for specialized toys. For this reason, Sensory Tiles is now used in many classrooms all over the world, as well as in homes with children with developmental disabilities.
The fact of the matter is that kids from birth through around age five are receiving sensory input every day. Many people think that this is actually a waste of time because kids generally learn to take in all of this sensory input without ever having an “outbreak”. However, this is simply not the case. With continued sensory input, babies and small children begin to develop new and deeper connections to the world around them, allowing them to learn and grow at amazing rates.
Sensory toys, then, are amazing for developing sensory integration skills. This is especially critical because this is where most kids get stuck — between their ears, on the floor, etc. By building and playing with different Sensory Toys (such as: mobiles, balls, scissors, spinning tops, etc), your child is exposed to a variety of different sensory inputs, which allows them to hone and strengthen this skill throughout their development. As such, using Sensory Toy therapists to help kids with various sensory integration issues can provide a tremendous amount of help for both development and education.
There are many ways to incorporate a Sensory toy into the development of your child’s sensory processing skills. One of the best options is to purchase a sensory toy (such as: Infantino Sensory Playtime Ring) and place it in areas of your home that are known for their stimulating environments. For example, in your living room, place an Infantino Sensory Playtime Ring in a corner that is full of stimulation, like couches, TV stands, fireplaces, etc. By playing with the Ring, babies and young children will learn a variety of things, including:
Another way to incorporate sensory toys into the development of a child’s sensory integration skills is to play certain types of musical instruments or activities. This can be very helpful if you have a child who likes music, has a piano in the house or likes to tinker around with musical instruments (such as an electric guitar, drums, etc). For some children, musical activities can be a great outlet for creativity and imagination! If you purchase baby CDs and play the CDs during the day while they are napping, it can be a fun way to stimulate them without overwhelming them. Of course, once the child has developed their musical skills to a high level, you can introduce them to occupational therapy and other areas of special needs care.
In addition to sensory toys, it’s also important to provide your child with a warm, engaging environment that promotes mental stimulation and creativity. Many parents have successfully used stuffed animals and blocks to help their toddlers with sensory integration needs. When you put on a pair of ear muffs for a deep pressure treatment (which can help with inflammation, congestion and ear pain), place the item in an area where your kids can spend a good amount of time. You can pick up one of these items at a local supply store. Some toddlers really enjoy spending time exploring what they feel in their hands!
Many kids with autism benefit from Sensory Tapes, which are tapes played back to the child. These tapes offer an excellent sensory integration tool that can be fun to listen to and work with. The Autism Tapes package includes two audios, a book about sensory integration and an activity book. The audios are rich in music and sound, while the activity book gives kids an opportunity to explore different sensory activities. This is a great sensory toy for kids because it teaches them to pay attention, work with their hands and develop a sense of what they like to do.
Parents can help their kids understand how to work with their hands by introducing them to sensory toys such as kinetic sand play dough or by playing with them using sensory activities such as spinning circles or rubbing balls on each other. Using sensory toys to teach kids with autism is a great way for them to learn social skills, improve their self-awareness and stimulate their imagination. This is especially important during the development years, when kids are at risk for developing autism, Asperger’s syndrome and other developmental disorders.