At-Home Activities & Toys For Children With Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how a person interacts with others, communicates, and processes different stimuli.. Parents, caregivers, and teachers play a vital role in creating a space where children with autism can grow, develop, and thrive. While there is no single way to support children with autism, play can be a powerful tool in their learning and development.

For active or sensory seeking children with autism, activities and toys that provide stimulation—like textured balls, playing chase, or interactive toys that make sounds—can be fun and help them channel their energy in constructive ways. In contrast, sensory avoiders may benefit from quieter, more calming toys and activities, such as playing with soft plush toys, reading a book, or brushing a doll’s hair. Understanding a child's interest can guide caregivers in selecting the right toys.

At Action Behavior Centers, our applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapists offer helpful tips, creative ideas, and resources to help you create fun and supportive experiences for your child on the spectrum. Whether you're looking for activities they can do alone or interactive ones that build connections with friends and family, we’ve got plenty of options for you!

• Toy dolls: It is important to teach children with autism how to identify their body parts, express their pain, and imaginative play. Toys like Mr. Potato Head, baby dolls, figurines turns learning into an engaging game by helping children expand their vocabulary and play skills..
• Cause and effect toys: Children with autism often enjoy toys that show cause and effect, like a hammer and ball toy, interactive pop-up toys, and press and spin toys. These toys can help develop hand-eye coordination and are great for teaching imitation and joint attention.

Joint attention refers to the ability to focus on an object or event with another person, such as following a pointed finger or looking at a toy together. It's important for children with autism to practice joint attention because it helps them communicate better, make friends, and share experiences with others.

• Assembly toys: Toys that can be put together and taken apart, like building blocks, train tracks, or robots, can be exciting for children with autism. These toys encourage creativity and problem-solving while helping them to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. They also provide opportunities for sensory exploration through different shapes and textures. 

For children who are sensory seekers, the act of stacking and knocking down blocks can be particularly satisfying. When choosing an assembly toy, make sure to consider your child’s coordination and fine motor skills as well as any potential choking hazards.

• Play tents and tunnels: Play tents and tunnels give children with autism a fun space to explore while also promoting sensory play and imagination. Tents offer a cozy and secure environment for creative play, and tunnels can help build motor skills as children crawl and move through them. They can provide a comforting retreat for sensory avoiders while encouraging active play for sensory seekers.
• Letter-learning puzzles are great for helping all children, especially those with autism, develop their language skills. These fun puzzles make it easy for children to learn letters and words while also improving their problem-solving abilities. To make the activity even more exciting, you can add sounds or songs that go with the letters, like clapping or singing. This way, children can enjoy a fun, hands-on learning experience that helps them remember what they’ve learned.
• Sensory toys: Toys such as textured mats, weighted stuffed animals, or squishy balls can help children explore differences in play materials to create more opportunities for imaginative play.

Fidget toys like fidget cubes, spinners, or zipping bracelets are excellent for parents of  children with autism since they are small and portable.. These toys can be provided proactively as a way for children to occupy their hands when in an environment with a lot of things they like to touch. Alternatively, these items can be provided as a reinforcer.. 

• Soft comfort items: Soft blankets, weighted stuffed animals, and memory foam toys can provide comfort for children with autism. These soft items are easy to carry and can offer a familiar item for children to carry with them to places like daycare, doctor’s offices, or restaurants.

Playing with your child not only strengthens your connection but also opens up new ways to communicate and gives your child a sense of safety and support. Remember, every child is unique, so feel free to adapt these activities to suit your child’s interests and abilities. At Action Behavior, our ABA therapists and BCBAs can also provide you with helpful ideas and strategies to ensure that the activities are effective and enjoyable for your child.

Children displayed in this blog post are not associated with our ABA services. At Action Behavior Centers, we strive to provide compassionate care for children on the autism spectrum. We believe that early Intervention can be a great foundation in building a brighter future with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. ABC is committed to getting your child started as soon as possible because every moment counts.