5 Best Toys for Toddler With Autism

We all want to give our kids the best advantage in life, which means getting them the best toys suitable for their developmental needs.

Some of us think that kids with autism need “special” toys compared to other kids without autism.

Honestly, while it can be ideal at times to get toys specifically designed for your child’s developmental disability, in the end, it is what it is: a toy.

We believe that the best toys for toddler with autism come in various shapes, sizes, and designs.

We found five amazing toys that you can consider for your toddler with autism.

Best Toys for Toddler With Autism: A Review

1. Sensory Mat Set by OrthoDon

OrthoDon sells three different sets of sensory mats in online marketplaces.

One is the Iceberg, a six-piece set that comes with six different textures and three colors: teal, blue, and white.

Another is the Massage Sensory Mat, an eight-piece set available in different colors and textures: stones, thorns, grass, and waves.

Finally, the Sensory Mat Set that we are going to feature today.

All these products are priced mid-range and marketed for parents who have kids aged two years and above.

Review

Sensory mats are easily one of the best toys for kids with autism.

In particular, this set comes with eight pieces of differently colored tiles that you can combine and rearrange like a jigsaw puzzle. 

It is similar to the typical playing or training mats with a difference in texture.

The OrthoDon Sensory Mat Set contains four different textures that come in pairs.

These are soft grass, thorns, pebbles, and cones.

They are meant for children to touch and step on to stimulate their senses and reinforce the related nerve connections in the brain.

The OrthoDon Sensory Mat Set also aims to encourage motor skill development.

We love how colorful each piece is. It makes the tiles more engaging to interact with.

The only thing that we really want to improve on is the size of each tile, which 25x25cm.

Making it bigger would have made them more fun to play with, especially for kids with smaller hands.

Those who want a wider play area with these tiles can purchase multiples of this set instead, as you can connect them with no issue.

Pros:

• Colorful
• Stimulates the senses
• Encourages motor skill development

Con:

• Size of each tile is a bit small

2. Halilit Baby Rainmaker by EduShape Store

Founded way back in 1983, EduShape is definitely one of the pioneers of educational tools and toys.

Didacto was the company’s first name, which was eventually changed to Edushape in 1987.

They have a wide collection of products either of their design or by other companies’ and brands’ that they carry.

In fact, the Halilit Baby Rainmaker is one such toy. It is by the brand Halilit, but you can purchase it through EduShape and its outlets, either online or offline.

It is affordable and recommended for children aged six months and above.

Review

As a shaker, the Halilit Baby Rainmaker comes small in size. It is only 21 centimeters long and just enough for a six-month-old to hold.

We really appreciate the product’s design. It comes in a clear tube with colorful and secured caps on each end.

It has three sections that your kid can easily rotate to allow rainbow-colored beads to move and cascade.

This feature leads to a triple sensory experience: tactile, visual, and auditory.

The shaking motions and the rotations also encourage motor skill development, logic, and reasoning.

Finally, we appreciate that the Halilit Baby Rainmaker is free from BPA and phthalate.

This is a very important feature for us, especially since it’s designed for infants.

We don’t recommend it for kids who get affected by sound negatively.

Musical toys are usually deemed among the best toys for kids with autism, though.

Pros:

• Colorful
• Stimulates the senses
• Encourages motor skill development
• Boosts logic and reasoning
• Safe materials used

Con:

• Noisy

3. Mega Science Series: Sensory Science Kit by National Geographic

National Geographic requires no further introduction, especially when it comes to developing educational materials, especially those geared towards science.

Their Mega Science Series is no different. It is a collection of four sets, each covering a specific subject.

These subjects are:

• Earth Science that includes a volcano model, crystal growing kit, and other earth-related activities,
• Glow-in-the-Dark Science that includes a light-up putty, a glowing slime-making kit, and other related activities,
• Stunning Science, an all-around chemistry set that teaches kids how to build an underwater volcano, launch a rocket, and more,
• and Sensory Science, the kit we’ll thoroughly discuss below.

This science kit is priced mid-range compared to other kits of the same quality.

It is designed for children aged eight and above and for parents looking into educational homeschool or afterschool activities.

While we understand that science kits are not the go-to items when searching for the best toys for autism toddlers, this doesn’t mean they won’t enjoy the activities NatGeo has in store for them, especially with your assistance!

Review

The Mega Science Series: Sensory Science Kit contains enough materials for more than a dozen different experiments.

It also contains six tactile elements for a fun sensory adventure, such as sands, slimes, and putty.

According to National Geographic, you can dip, drip, squeeze, stretch, and more with the help of the complete science guide included with each set.

They have also provided links to the NatGeo website with further ideas, lessons, and demonstrations related to this product.

Finally, we also like that the Mega Science Series: Sensory Science Kit was created using safe and premium materials.

You can be sure that National Geographic has your satisfaction guaranteed.

We have heard reports, though, that the instruction manual included isn’t that easy to comprehend for the target age, and more so if your child has a developmental disability.

Hence, this is not a toy that they can enjoy without close adult supervision.

Pros:

• Well-known brand
• Different activities included
• Various STEM lessons covered
• All experiment materials included

Cons:

• Guide can be improved
• Close adult supervision required

4. 3-D Pin Art Board by Super Z Outlet

Unlike the previous companies we featured above, Super Z Outlet doesn’t really specialize in making sensory toys nor educational products. 

According to their website, they are mostly a retail company specializing in everyday products, such as kitchenware, home goods, and related items.

Among their items, though, is an interesting sensory toy: an affordably priced three-dimensional art board.

Now, you might be wondering why we have included a pin board in our best toys for toddler with autism lineup since it’s not as “new” or “revolutionary” as the other products in this list.

It’s a classic game that we have enjoyed for decades and has been enjoyed by countless generations for a reason.

It can stimulate the senses, promote motor skills development, and even inspire creativity.

Review

Unlike the other items, the Super Z Outlet 3-D Pin Art Board doesn’t really have a recommended age. It can delight both kids and adults.

That makes it among the best toys for autism toddlers.

The metal beads framed within a secure black plastic board that measures 5 x 7 inches can sit atop a work desk or fit in just as well with any sensory playroom.

Here’s a quick tip on how to make the most out of the Super Z Outlet 3-D Pin Art Board: You can encourage your child to use the board as a mold to imprint other toys.

This pin board can retain the shape of an imprinted object even after you remove it, as long as you don’t turn the whole thing upside down.

The only thing that we would really want to improve is the size of Super Z Outlet 3-D Pin Art Board.

The dimensions are just enough to barely fit an adult’s hand.

This size can severely limit the creativity inspired by this educational toy.

Pros:

• Stimulates the senses
• Boosts logic and reasoning 
• Enhances creativity
• Affordable

Con:

• Quite small

5. Remote Control Robotic Dog by Fisca

Like OrthoDon, there is close to nothing known about Fisca as a company other than most of their products are remote-controlled toys.

They have RC cars, construction vehicles, military vehicles, and of course, robotic pets.

Today, we’ll feature their Remote Control Robotic Dog, a high-range priced robotic pet recommended for kids aged six and above.

Review

The Fisca Remote Control Robotic Dog is worth the price tag, given the number of features your kids can enjoy.

It has different interactive movements. For instance, you can touch its head, and it will make cute sounds.

It even winks, giving it a realistic vibe!

You or your child can also program specific commands into the toy to customize the playing experience and even learn the basics of programming.

We also love the musical features of the Fisca Remote Control Robotic Dog.

It has four songs and dances in store for added fun.

We certainly recommend it for parents who want to build their child’s confidence in interacting with others, especially pets.

It’s also a good alternative for those who simply can’t own or care for a pet, such as those who are intensely allergic to dander.

Keep in mind, though, that since this robotic pet has various actions and functions, you can expect its remote to be quite complicated to use given the sheer number of different buttons. 

Even so, it remains to be among the best toys for autistic toddlers in the market today.

Pros:

• Highly interactive
• Wide variety of actions and functions
• Can potentially improve socializing skills

Cons:

• Expensive
• Can be complicated to operate

Which Toy Should You Pick for Your Toddler?

For our final recommendations for the best toys for toddlers with autism, we’ve chosen three to cover the usual age range of toddlers.

For those who just turned toddlers or just at the beginning stage, we recommend the Halilit Baby Rainmaker by EduShape Store.

It offers multisensory stimulation while also colorful and musical. The sound can also create a calming effect later on for older members of the family.

For toddlers who are a little older, we recommend the Sensory Mat Set by OrthoDon. Again, it provides multisensory stimulation and creates an interesting environment for your young one to explore, especially if you buy multiples of this item.

As mentioned, sensory mats are among the best toys for autistic toddlers.

Finally, older toddlers, more than two or exactly three years old, would surely enjoy the Remote Control Robotic Dog by Fisca.

It does require quite an investment, but it has many features and can provide hours of gameplay for both young and older kids.

Related: Speech Therapy Games