Encourage Your Kid to Explore Sights, Sounds, and Textures With These Sensory Toys (2024)

Your young one can learn shapes and letters in a creative way with these colorful pop tubes. They're easy to connect, and the uneven texture provides a simple way to keep your child occupied and stimulated.

Since they are collapsable, they're easy to transport or keep in the car for those long drives where entertainment is crucial.

They're made with lead, BPA-free plastic but are still quite durable. Your kiddo can bend, pop, and stretch these tubes to their heart's content.

They received 5 stars from over 12,000 reviewers, with many expressing how much their kids enjoy the different sounds the tubes make.

More: The 10 Best Robot Toys for Kids

Key Specs

Auditory activations are an important part of every child’s sensory development, but caregivers who aren’t fans of a ton of noise will gravitate toward this Rainstick.

Rotating, rolling, and shaking this stick activates beads that create gentle tones that mimic the sound of falling rain. It can stimulate cognitive development by promoting curiosity, hand-eye coordination, and developing auditory skills. Plus, it’s a great way to introduce your kids to the world of music. If you have a child on the younger side, consider incorporating the rainstick into tummy time to encourage crawling!

Many reviewers found that it’s a good way to keep their babies attention, one citing that it “works at keeping him distracted and stops his crying at times.”

This toy is perfect for overstimulated kids who need to calm down. These hands-on toys help children deal with big emotions, including anxiety.

It’s also a good resource for parents who want to calm their kids down on the go: The tubes are highly transportable, allowing kids to slow their heart rates and respirations by focusing on the glittering, colorful liquid.

One reviewer says they love these tubes for their son who has autism, saying it’s a “reward toy when he’s working.”

Key Specs

This interactive massaging teether teaches babies cause and effect and helps soothe sore gums with gentle vibrations. (This teether is also made from BPA-free plastic.)

It’s also useful for babies who love oral stimulation; when they bite down on the corn cob, they are rewarded with vibrations.

One reviewer notes, “it is a fairly rigid plastic, not gummy at all. I didn’t think my baby could handle it, but she took it right away and loves it!”

Another writes that they love the teether for their 5-year-old son with “sensory challenges that come with a fair bit of chewing on things to try and calm himself.”

Key Specs

This play table set is suitable for outdoor and indoor use. It can be adjusted to three different heights (20, 22.5, and 26 inches), making it the right height for toddlers 3 and up.

The station features four different removable blue and red basins that can be easily cleaned and drained; each basin can feature different water, sand, and toy activities.

Play stations like this give children soothing tactile stimulation while boosting fine motor skills and allowing them to order their play.

One reviewer says her 5-year-old daughter “LOVES it,” while others praise its durability. Another notes that it’s great for children “with low tone who need a little help standing to play.”

Key Specs

This swing seat was created especially for kids. (The maximum weight recommendation is 100 pounds.)

The colorful hammock provides a sense of comfort and security and can help kids regulate their sensory input when overwhelmed. The material is cotton-canvas, which makes it warm but also breathable; it features nylon edgings and double stitching for extra safety.

This swing also helps kids develop muscles as they swing and relax, especially those struggling to build core strength.

One reviewer says it’s “the best money ever spent! I recommend this to everyone, especially autism parents!”

Key Specs

This sound-based toy offers babies and toddlers control through buttons that can help them understand how sensations can work together, boosting their ability to self-regulate. The bright colors, textural variety, and different sounds will enhance brain activity. Babies will also want to mouth this toy, which can help with teething.

Reviewers say their kids “love” it, but warn that the lack of an on-off button for the sound setting can be challenging. Others praise its durability, saying they “never leave the house without it!”

Key Specs

This busy board has an array of tasks your toddler can practice, from using a zipper, button, snaps, and different types of buckles, plus more. The soft felt wool board measures 11x12.5 inches, making it a go-to sensory toy for travel.

This toy enhances your child’s fine motor skills while also teaching them essential life skills; the different levels of difficulty among the nine tasks will keep kids busy.

Reviewers praise the toy’s usefulness and practicality, but say it also encourages “problem-solving skills.” Others say it is “durable and just great quality overall.”

Key Specs

This set of 84 Wikki Stix comes in 16 colors with a multi-use playboard, storage bag, eight-page booklet of ideas and illustrations, and more.

This toy can help hone imagination and creative visualization skills, while also providing an interesting texture and outlet for restless fingers. The set encourages independent, focused play, and helps kids hone their concentration and problem-solving skills.

Reviewers say it keeps their kids busy on the road and love the “no mess, low-maintenance” set.

Key Specs

Each of the 12 bands in this set is comprised of a nylon wristband and a set of four metal bells. The straps are adjustable and will fit adults and kids. These bands can also be wrapped around ankles, attached to hats, looped through buttonholes, and more.

Kids will love how their movement controls the volume and speed of the sound, and it will help younger ones learn cause and effect.

Reviewers say the bands are fun, especially around the holidays, with many noting that they were surprised by the “actually very good” quality, considering the low price.

Key Specs