Sensory toys can play a useful part in children’s therapy. They help in engaging children, keeping them focused and allowing them to express their emotions and feelings.
The most popular therapy tools are products that help to promote developmental skills, fine and gross motor skills in addition to supporting a range behaviours including anxiety, anger, stress and frustration. These kinds of products can be used by occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists and psychologists, and can be beneficial when working with autistic children.
Sensory toys are designed to stimulate different senses and help children with sensory integration issues. These toys can help children with autism to regulate their sensory inputs and improve their focus and attention. Sensory toys can be used by occupational therapists to help children develop their fine and gross motor skills, as well as their hand-eye coordination. Our Sensory Kits and Gift Packs are a great tool kit to help develop fine motor skills, increase concentration and relieve anxiety.
Fidget spinners are a popular toy that can be used as an occupational therapy toy. These are small, hand-held devices that can be spun around to relieve stress and anxiety. The spinning motion helps to calm children, improving their focus and concentration, and providing them with a sense of comfort and security. Occupational therapists may use fidget spinners to help children with sensory integration issues, by providing them with proprioceptive feedback. One of our popular fidget spinners is the 3D Sensory Spinner.
Physiotherapists use therapy tools to help children with autism develop their motor skills and coordination. Concentrating on the physical, they may use toys that require children to balance, stretch, and move in different ways, to improve their motor function and coordination. We have several products in the Balance and Movement category to help, including the very popular Therapy Peanut Ball.
Speech therapists use therapy tools to help children with autism regulate their senses so that they are calm, able to concentrate, and ready to learn. Products such as the Blend Flip can be used to support speech and learning development with the teaching of sounds and blends of letters to make words. The Feelings Flip can also be a useful visual aid tool to help express emotions and improve behaviour.
Psychologists use therapy tools to help children with autism express their emotions and feelings. For example, they may use toys that allow children to act out scenarios and express and regulate their emotions. The 50 Emotions Activity Cards provide techniques to help deal with emotions and teach children how to identify and express different emotions using interactive tasks such as art, music, dance, acting and group work.
Weighted toys can also provide a whole host of benefits for children due to their ability to trigger deep touch pressure stimulation. This form of therapy has been shown to ease restlessness, keep children calm, improve focus and build up body strength, enhancing the development of both fine and gross motor skills. They are also cute, cuddly and can prove to be a lifelong confidence companion.
By incorporating sensory tools into therapy sessions, therapists can create a fun, engaging environment for children with autism. Check out our complete range of sensory toys and therapeutic support tools here. Orders are dispatched promptly via Australia Post or come and visit us at 28 Gidley Street, St Marys NSW (inside the NADO building).
