The Best Holiday Toys & Stocking Stuffers for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder and ADHD

Nov 20

Introducing the 2023 Holiday Gift Guide; a curated selection of the best toys and stocking stuffers crafted by our team of pediatric occupational and physical therapists, specifically for children with sensory needs. We’ve hand-picked games and fidgets that encourage focus, engagement, and bring moments of calm to support children with sensory needs, including those with Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, and ADHD.

Children with these challenges need support interpreting, organizing and responding to sensory information in a way that allows them to effectively communicate and participate in daily activities. Some children are sensory seeking and others may be sensory avoidant. Because of the difficulty interpreting sensory information, many children’s body awareness and spatial orientation are affected. Because of these challenges they face, the right toys can be a good tool for redirection or allow them to not feel overwhelmed by what is going on around them. Sensory-based play toys should help balance their sensory system in a way that it is child directed. Ask yourself “does this toy support my child's current sensory needs?” If not, shift to a toy that matches the needs of your child.

While these games, toys, and sensory supports were hand-picked to target a child's sensory system, each child is unique. Occupational Therapists are trained in determining what type of support a child might benefit from in any given moment and can play a valuable role in supporting the family of children with ADHD, Autism, and sensory processing challenges.