Sensory Toys For Preschoolers
As a mother of a son with sensory processing and a mother of a preschooler I am constantly looking for toys, games, puzzles and gadgets that will both meet my sons needs and keep him occupied. I mean who isn’t???
Like every other mother here I also struggle with my son loosing interest in toys, and getting bored. And then I have wasted money- which makes me mad. I can tell you we have spent a lot of money on toys that we “thought” would be amazing and have ended up sitting in a bin never having been used. Believe me when I say we have out right wasted money on toys for Declan. It was time for a change. We needed something that would engage him. And we needed toys to meet his needs.
Over the course of this last couple weeks we have been working with his therapist to really hone in appropriate sensory toys for preschoolers. My goal was to spend money of toys and games that would meet his sensory needs, entertain him and not waste money.
BENEFITS OF SENSORY TOYS
- They provide the sensory input your child is craving and seeking.
- The duration of engagement is greater because they are physically feeling something that makes they body happy.
We have gone a bit overboard on the purchasing. We got so excited to see him engage and love these sensory toys that we kept buying. The reason he is loving them is because his body is actually feeling differently. When he uses them the need to seek sensory is diminished. His body is able to feel something when he uses his sensory toys. Our goal when purchasing sensory toys was to incorporate both heavy stimuli and calming toys. That is benefit of sensory toys. They accomplish two things:
TOP SENSORY TOYS FOR PRESCHOOLERS 
A few things. I have a son so some may be seem more boys than girls but I would disagree. Most, if not all of these, are equally beneficial for girls as they are for boys. Next, these are not the only toys we buy for him. He still gets dress up, trucks, trains, etc. These are to supplement his other toys and to offer sensory integration into his daily life.
Relaxing and Calming Toys:
Most of the toys/activities in the list are great sensory toys for those kiddos with SPD that are avoiders. However, we use them regularly for my son who is a sensory seeker. The yoga spin wheel and the weighted blanket have proven to be amazing tools for calming him down. Both are must have’s for sensory integration. Also, he can take the blanket to school for rest time which is a HUGE help in keeping him calm.
Input and Activity Toys:
While the crash pad is on the pricier side it has been one of the favorites. It provides that heavy impactful sensory that he craves and needs. He uses it often! And all his friends think his house is the best because he has a cool crash pad #mompoints. The gray wiggle cushion has been a life saver. Both at school and at home. It allows him to concentrate and complete more directed tasks. And he loves the way it feels so there is no fighting. I do understand why the blow up popper bag could be controversial and believe me I felt the same. But with direciton and boundaries this has become a favorite as he is able to get the sensory input in a safe and non-hurtful way. The contact between his hand and popper bag provides the input that he needs and this has become one of the best sensory toy purchases.
Books & Meditation:
We feel strongly that beginning to educate our son, about his sensory processing disorder, NOW is important in setting him up for success down the line. The line of books we have started reading have given him the chance to understand himself better. We have started with books that speak directly to concerns and symptoms we see. He is able to identify and connect with the character. They also offer very sensible and tangible solutions for the kids. The mindful meditation cards are a practice we are currently implementing. With the continuous needs for stimuli and input we are aiming to balance his sensory diet. So the mindful meditation accomplishes that goal.
BEST SENSORY TOYS FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Below are all the best toys we have purchased. As we purchase and try more I will update. All are available on Amazon and all are Prime available.
Also, these are affiliate links which means if you purchase from this list I may make a small (very small) commission. This commission helps keep the blog running!
With Love,
Looking for additional resources for sensory processing disorder??
I have a free resources library that I created for my son using my years a special education teacher and I am sharing it. Click HERE it’s FREE!!!