Toy shopping for an autistic child can be overwhelming, especially when most toys are designed to stimulate auditory and visual senses that are often overstimulated in children with autism. But there are several options available, including toys from Pods Play, specifically designed to stimulate the other senses your child might not otherwise engage with typical toys. Discover sensory play ideas that will help you better connect with your autistic child today by reading this on toys for autism.
The benefits of sensory play
Sensory toys are a great way to help children with autism explore their surroundings. Allowing them to feel, see, touch, taste, or hear something can be very calming in an environment where they may otherwise be overwhelmed. It can also help with sensory processing issues that some children may have. For example, a child who is sensitive to certain textures might not enjoy the feeling of sandpaper on his skin.
Providing him with a toy that has the desired texture can address this issue. One type of sensory play that is often overlooked is music. The sound of music can calm someone down from stress, anxiety, fear, anger, and even depression.
In order to perform Sensory play ideas though it needs to be at the right volume; loud enough so it sounds good but not too loud so you cannot hear any other noises around you. If you cannot provide a musical instrument for your child, there are many apps out there that will generate sounds for free as well as many websites which offer background noise (such as rain)
The best sensory play toys for autism
Pods Play is a company that specializes in sensory integration toys. They offer custom-made, high-quality products that help children with ASD or ADHD learn how to process sensory information better. Their products are interactive, engaging, and fun so they work on all levels of a child's development.
Sensory integration therapy is the process of integrating senses such as hearing, sight, smell, touch, or taste with one another. Each sense has its own pathway in the brain which means that when you give a stimulus from one sense to another it can create new neural pathways in the brain which helps the brain function more effectively. When people have sensory issues they don't always respond to stimuli because their brains cannot properly process the input. For example, if someone has auditory issues they may not be able to hear what people say clearly or distinctly, but will still hear background noises louder than others would.
The best way to treat these sorts of sensory difficulties is through occupational therapy (OT). The person will be exposed to different stimuli in order for their brain to rewire itself and start processing things correctly again. In addition, it will train them how to cope with their difficulties so that they can be less anxious about situations involving their particular struggles. Toys for autism can also make other therapies like speech and language therapy easier because the person understands what is happening around them better.
How to use sensory play to engage and stimulate your child
What is sensory play? As an Occupational Therapist, I can tell you that sensory processing is a person's ability to respond appropriately to messages coming in through the senses. It helps us learn about our world and what we can do in it. When someone has difficulty processing information from their senses, they may seem withdrawn or uninterested because they are uncomfortable with their surroundings. Some examples of sensory difficulties include hypersensitivity (overreaction) to touch, hearing, smell, or sight; and lack of awareness of body position.
Conclusion
There are a few things to consider if you're thinking about getting or using a toys for autism. Based on our personal experience, we've listed the essential considerations below. Visit PODS Products for further details and product suggestions. Thanks for reading!
