The 10 Top Toys for Children with Autism in 2021

December is aptly National Safe Toy & Gift Month. With the Holiday Season upon us, parents are desperately on the search for the safest and most beneficial toys for their children.

As a parent of a child on the spectrum, you more than familiar with the crucial role of toys and games in a child’s development and how they can help build important life skills through ordinary play, which makes this the perfect time to explore the best toys for your ASD child.

When choosing a toy that is ideal for your ASD child, it is important to look for toys that help develop social communication and interaction and allows your child to deal with many of the sensory issues that is associated with Autism.

And while, life is not all fun and games for a child on the autism spectrum, with the perfect toys, playtime can help an autistic child relax and feel secure, while also building crucial skills.

Here are our recommendations for the top toys of 2021.

#1: Sensory Pop Puzzle

Sensory toys have grown incredibly popular in recent years for children on the autism spectrum and beyond. These two-in-one fidget toys blend the trendy pop-it bubble toys with a challenging puzzle for the sensory child who loves a good challenge. Sensory pop puzzles can be especially beneficial for a child with autism by enhancing the child’s focus, calming the child in stressful situations and improving the child’s fine motor skills.

#2 Shape Sorters

Shape sorters are classic development toys which are ideal for autistic toddlers, or children aged 1-4.  They’re fun to play with while facilitating the growth of fine motor skills and problem solving. 

#3: Body Sox

This innovative toy allows a child to get inside a colorful, body-sized and breathable sock!
Children with autism find that the full-body pressure helps relieve anxiety and stimulate
relaxation.

#4: Kinetic Sand

Today’s play sand is not the grainy stuff you used to build castles as a child. Kinetic sand is
moldable, super-fun to play with, and comes in a variety of vibrant colors. Children on the
autism spectrum enjoy the sensory stimulation of sand play while developing their fine motor
skills.

#5 Fisher Price Stack & Discover Sensory Blocks

The variety of colors, textures and items on these cubes make them the perfect toy for your
child to explore with their hands.

#6 Expanda Ball

With its bright colors and flexibility this toy is captivating for any child, but it’s soft to touch
material helps it stimulate several senses. Children with ASD can also use it as a breathing ball
to calm down in sticky situations.

#7 Eezy Peey3-in-1 Action Board

Created to provide an easier way for children scooter, this toy is an ideal way to burn off energy
and helps with balance and gross motor skills.

#8 Weighted Stuff Animals

ASD children will love the added sensory pressure that these adorable stuff animals provide
when cuddling with them. Weighted blankets and toys like these help ground and calm children
without them even realizing it.

#9 Feel-a-Pair Touch Game

This game works great for the development of a variety of skills, including sensory, memory,
perception, color recognition and is a great game for your child to play solo or together with you.

#10 Social Skill Board Games

This is one of the many games created specifically to develop social skills (google for the many
other options available). But regardless of which option you choose, these game s help your
ASD child work on morals, manners, empathy, friendship, showing and managing emotions all
while playing a really fun game.

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Why did you choose to pursue a career in ABA therapy?
I am passionate about helping families thrive with their autistic child.
Do you have any special areas of interest?
I enjoy the science behind the development and growth in people.
What varied experience do you have in your field?
running programs.
What licenses, certifications and/or special training do you hold?
I have a bachelors and RBT certification.
What are you passionate about?
enjoying life and being optimistic
What do you enjoy most about working at Advanced Behavioral Therapy?

Their honesty and integrity.

Reese Lytle

What varied experience do you have in your field?

I have been an RBT for over 3 years. I have worked in a clinic, in home, and in a school.

Why did you choose to pursue a career in ABA therapy?

I want to make a life long difference in people’s lives. I want to help give people a voice.

Do you have any special areas of interest?

I am an RBT and love working with kids.

What licenses, certifications and/or special training do you hold?

I’m and RBT and have my CPR certification.

What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about helping children gain their voice and learn how to cope.

What do you enjoy most about working at Advanced Behavioral Therapy?

Watching children grow and learn skills (big and small!)

Anything else you’d like to share?

I love working with a team and watching my coworkers grow in experience and be able to see their kiddos grow their skills too.

sierra

Why did you choose to pursue a career in ABA therapy?

I chose this career path because ABA truly is changing the lives of many which that inspires me on a daily basis. Getting to see the growth in clients firsthand is such an incredible feeling of success and happiness. Not only does ABA change the lives of clients, but their families & friends as well :)

Do you have any special areas of interest?

I find working on language with clients to be very interesting and fun! I can still remember the excitement I felt when my first nonverbal client became echoic and then began talking independently. I have also become very interested in the admin side of ABA as it is intriguing to see behind the scenes to it all!

What varied experience do you have in your field?

I have worked with clients in home settings, school settings and clinic/center settings. I’ve worked with kids anywhere from 2 years old to 13 years old, some being verbal and some being nonverbal. I have even worked with children outside of the autism spectrum, that have ODD.

What licenses, certifications and/or special training do you hold?

I am RBT certified as well as QBS certified.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about all aspects of my career in ABA! I have found passion in every direction it has taken me.

What do you enjoy most about working at Advanced Behavioral Therapy?

I enjoy the positive environment that has been cultivated (:

Why did you choose to pursue a career in ABA therapy?

I saw how life-changing ABA therapy can be for individuals and their families after starting an internship where I received my RBT certification. I then changed by career path from pursuing social work to becoming a BCBA!

Do you have any special areas of interest?

Practical Functional Analysis and Skill-based treatment, toilet training, food toleration, AAC communication

What varied experience do you have in your field?

I have experience working in a variety of settings such as in-home, center, and school-based which has taught me how important generalization and adequate parent/caregiver training is. I have used progressive ABA procedures such as toilet training using a moisture-sensing alarm, gradual food toleration, and skill-based treatment I believe my background in social work/therapy allows for a different perspective when conducting parent trainings in meeting them where they are at.

What licenses, certifications and/or special training do you hold?

– Practical Functional Analysis & Skill-based Treatment – Level 2 certification – Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) – Advanced Toilet Training Strategies for Children with Developmental Disabilities

What are you passionate about?

At work: Helping clients and parents achieve new goals, especially ones that increase a client’s independence and reduce stress on their parents/caregivers. Personal life: I love coaching volleyball and helping provide young girls with skills to be not only a good player but also be a good teammate and friend!

What do you enjoy most about working at Advanced Behavioral Therapy?

The support and team mindset everyone shares! I know that I can go to anyone at the company and ask for help and they will make time to ensure I feel supported and prepared to help my clients/families and RBTs. I am also grateful and excited about the new opportunities that I have been given in supervising staff that are pursuing their BCBA license and aftercare program!

Why did you choose to pursue a career in ABA therapy?

After completing my Master’s in Counseling Psychology, I always looked for something more. When I encountered the science of applied behavior analysis, while working in a school setting, I found a field of study that made sense and left me wanting to follow that path. It had given me the opportunity to watch my clients learn skills and progress in so many ways. I knew ABA was the right choice for me.

Do you have any special areas of interest?

Functional Communication and Activities of Daily Living

What varied experience do you have in your field?

I have worked in field of ABA since 1997 beginning in a school setting with children ages 3-21. I have also worked with adults in their homes and day programs for many years.

What licenses, certifications and/or special training do you hold?

CPR/First Aid, Certified Trainer for Crisis Management: Verbal Intervention, Personal Control, and Defensive Techniques in Crisis Situations

What are you passionate about?

Teaching our learners to advocate for themselves and live as independently as possible.

What do you enjoy most about working at Advanced Behavioral Therapy?

We are given opportunities to practice in an ethical and supportive environment with ongoing professional development. I love that across the company, my colleagues share similar values. It is a privilege to work side by side with our families in their homes to improve the lives of our learners.

Why did you choose to pursue a career in ABA therapy?

I worked in the field of special education for many years and appreciate the targeted support that kids get with ABA to learn the skills they need to be able to navigate the world and enhance their lives.

Do you have any special areas of interest?

Social skills, mental health

What varied experience do you have in your field?

I worked as a education as a special education administrator for over 15 years.

What licenses, certifications and/or special training do you hold?

I also hold a Pupil Services Administration license with the Ohio Department of Education

What are you passionate about?

personal growth and meditation

What do you enjoy most about working at Advanced Behavioral Therapy?

I love working with a great team that is always looking to support each other.

Why did you choose to pursue a career in ABA therapy?
I am passionate about helping families thrive with their autistic child.
Do you have any special areas of interest?
I enjoy the science behind the development and growth in people.
What varied experience do you have in your field?
running programs.
What licenses, certifications and/or special training do you hold?
I have a bachelors and RBT certification.
What are you passionate about?
enjoying life and being optimistic
What do you enjoy most about working at Advanced Behavioral Therapy?

Their honesty and integrity.

Why did you choose to pursue a career in ABA therapy?
I wanted to work with children with special needs to help improve their quality of life.

Do you have any special areas of interest?
In ABA, I’m very interested in developing language and applying ABA outside of autism (health, fitness, animals, etc.)

What varied experience do you have in your field?

I have worked in residential treatment, as a behavior specialist in a school environment, as a case manager for home based cases in ABA, and now in a center operations capacity.

What licenses, certifications and/or special training do you hold?

I am a BCBA and COBA. I have been certified in CPI, TCI, and am currently certified in QBS. I’ve also been a TCI trainer. I have taken a variety of CEU courses to learn about SBT, ACT, and ABA in fitness.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about supporting client to meet their needs. I enjoy problem solving and troubleshooting skills that clients are having difficulty with. I always enjoy seeing a troubleshoot have success :)

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