Written by Mike Price, OT
Children with special needs, who may have physical, emotional, behavioral, or learning impairments, require toys that are safe, fun, and tailored to their abilities. These toys not only provide enjoyment but also support emotional, physical, and intellectual development. When shopping for special needs toys, consider features that promote sensory engagement, social skills, and motor skill development to ensure the toy meets the specific needs of the child.
 | 1) Sensory Bead Tactile Stimulation Curtain View Product |
All children have toys they prefer. A favorite toy will get more attention and use than others, so try to learn what means the most to the child. That will determine which toy a child will get the most out of having.
Not all kids have the same needs or will play with a toy in the same way. Some children may not be able to use a toy as it was originally intended. Toys that are fun and safe for kids with physical, cognitive, or sensory challenges, and that don’t require a high level of focused attention, language skills, or balance and coordination, will keep kids engaged and enjoying playtime.
If a child is receiving therapy, there could be specific therapeutic goals that toys can contribute to achieving. When another person who can help build skills participates in play with a game or toy, the activity can support the desired outcomes of a treatment plan.
Gross motor skills involve large muscles in the torso, arms,, and legs and include movements like lifting, throwing, walking, running, and kicking. They are also related to balance, strength, reaction speed, and body awareness.
Fine motor skills are performed by smaller muscle groups, like the ones in the hand and wrist. They are called on in academics for activities like holding a pencil and cutting with scissors, play activities like building with blocks and doing puzzles, and self-care activities like brushing teeth, tying shoelaces, and zipping zippers.
Mastering gross motor skills instills confidence and contributes to beneficial exercise and other physical activities.
Although gross motor skills are associated with movement within large muscle groups in physical activities, these activities have been linked to increased cognitive function and contribute to paying attention and recalling what’s been learned.
 | Puzzle Panel Tactile Sensory Toy View Product |
Our number 5 entry on the list of top special needs toys is the Pediatric Fabric Puzzle Panel by Southpaw Enterprises. This hook-and-loop puzzle panel supports imagination and creativity while cultivating visual, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and fine motor skills.
Kids can manipulate the 120 colorful geometric shapes on this tactile learning aid's wall-mounted textured fabric board. This toy employs hand-eye coordination and dexterity, encourages reach in all directions, and develops fine motor skills by calling on small hand and finger movements to arrange shapes anywhere on the large board.
Duplicating the patterns that are provided requires attention and focus. It teaches the child to follow directions, builds critical thinking skills, and helps develop visual motor and memory-matching skills.
Users can also figure out how to put the geometric pieces together to create their own pictures, sparking developmental enrichment and imagination. The fabric is soft and accommodates most hook-and-loop fasteners to hold up pictures, words, and symbols.
Framed in wood, the puzzle panel is easily installed with its included hardware. It can be used as a standalone engaging piece or with other elements of the product line, including a sound and music activity panel, a fiber optic activity panel, and a tactile panel.
The skills learned through this toy can be translated into daily activities like writing, brushing teeth, and dressing. It made our list of top 5 special needs toys because it supports multiple therapeutic objectives in a way kids find enriching, engaging, and fun.
 | Gel Aquarium Pad with Moveable Fish View Product |
The Gel Aquarium Pad with Moveable Fish by Skil-Care, our number 4 pick, is designed to provide effective sensory stimulation and reduce anxiety and boredom. This multi-modal toy addresses both sight and touch, serving as an excellent tool for training hand-eye coordination and improving fine motor skills. Encouraging users to move the four fish around the pad, helps enhance finger strength and dexterity through tactile stimulation. This pad can be placed on a convenient surface or lap, making it a versatile option for children with special needs.
 | Pull Ball Stimulation Toy for Improved Hand Eye Coordination View Product |
The Pull Ball Stimulation Toy by Enabling Devices, our number 3 choice, is a versatile and engaging toy designed to enhance fine motor skills, finger isolation, and hand-eye coordination. When pulled from its housing, the multifaceted tetherball activates lights and music, stopping when released as the ball returns to its starting point. This lightweight and durable toy, now 3D printed for increased reliability, offers a fun and interactive way to stimulate young minds and support early motor skill development. The Pull Ball is powered by 2 AA batteries, ensuring long-lasting play.
 | Enabling Devices Activity Wall Panels View Product |
These highly engaging Activity Wall Panels from Enabling Devices offer an exciting way to develop cognitive and fine motor skills. Our number 2 choice on the top 5 list has three different animal designs to choose from, you can bring your clinic, classroom, or home to life and watch your students or patients progress to new levels.
Unlike most flimsy and plastic activity boards, these panels by Enabling Devices are made from solid wood, meaning a lifetime of use with minimal maintenance. These panels also come with pre-drilled fixing holes and screws for seamless mounting to get your space ready in no time! Filled with lively entertainment, these boards offer a mixture of activities to mature and expand upon hand-eye coordination, muscle dexterity, and intellectual activity.
The Frog panel features a five-row abacus with colorful beads to enhance counting and color recognition skills, while the Zebra teaches shape differentiation with eight circular cutouts encased in geometric shapes. Boasting a moving bead on a wire maze, a launch lever, and a four-cog rotating system, the Horse panel cultivates strong fine motor skills.
Grasping and manipulating objects on the panel boards introduces sensory and mental stimulations, helping individuals gain confidence in their physical, mental, and social abilities. These durable panels can be ordered individually or in a variety pack of three, containing one of each panel, for a room full of exciting engagement!
 | Sensory Bead Tactile Stimulation Curtain View Product |
The Sensory Bead Tactile Stimulation Curtain by TFH, our number 1 choice for tactile stimulation for special needs children, is an excellent tool for enhancing fine and gross motor skills. This pediatric tactile stimulation toy features a sturdy, colorful wooden support and a curtain of cool metal bead chains that children will love running their hands through. The tactile experience provided by the flowing metal beads encourages interaction and sensory exploration, making it a valuable addition to any sensory play area.
Physical and cognitive impairments present challenges to children and their caregivers, making their experiences different from those of their peers. However, these challenges do not diminish their need for or ability to play. In fact, play therapy is crucial for the growth and happiness of children with special needs, making special needs toys an essential part of their development. The toys on our top 5 list address the need for developmental progress towards therapeutic goals while creating a fun experience for every child.
Our top pick, the Sensory Bead Tactile Stimulation Curtain, stands out as the best choice due to its ability to provide exceptional tactile stimulation and both fine and gross motor skill enhancement.
For more information and resources to support you or your loved one's well-being, visit us at Caregiver University!
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
