Learning Toys and Teaching Autistic Children Different Skills

There are a lot of learning toys for teaching autistic children.  There are companies that sell products specifically designed for special needs children.  I’ve listed below just a few toys for teaching autistic children that are designed for a specific developmental area.  They are each linked to a different company.  You can visit each link to see what else they have to offer.

Toys For Teaching Autistic Children Fine Motor Skills

Wooden Educational Jig-Saw Puzzle – 18″ Round:

These wooden toys for teaching autistic children help develop dexterity, hand/eye coordination, color, shape, size identification, problem-solving and reasoning skills, plus many others.

ThinkFun: Has activities and games that work on social skills, academics, fine motor skills, and more.  The Knot So Fast game is a great family game, and it can be used for teaching autistic children how to tie a knot.

Shape and Color Coaster:  This is from Different Roads to Learning.  They have a variety of products for different developmental concerns for teaching autistic children.  This is a toy that aids in recognition of shape, color and categorizing. The five brightly colored shapes fit on the slightly bent pegs of matching bright plastic.

Toys for Teaching Autistic Children Social Skills or Communication

ModelMeKids.  This isn’t a toy, but I think ModelMeKids has one of the best systems out there for working on social skills with autistic children.  Their DVDs range from teaching faces and emotions, to body language and more.  They also have them designed for specific age groups.

The PINK Take Your Pix® boardbook photo album, from Board Book Albums, has sturdy pages, into which photos can be inserted from an opening in the top of the pages.  It also comes in other colors.  I’ve worked with them in the past, and think their albums are high quality.  Uploading pictures into the book is easy, and they create and ship them out quickly.

Toys for Teaching Autistic Children Academics

TeaCHildMath:

This is a website that you can download activity sheets for your child.  It focuses on teaching your child math.  These activities are also good for children that need help with fine motor skills and writing skills.

Zatswho®  is a creative and sensory, hands-on learning game. Recommended by educators and parents alike Zatswho® we also had it evaluated and carry an AblePlay™ rating seal to assure parents it’s great for children of all abilities. Teaching photo recognition, shapes, colors, matching and other basic skills, helping to facilitate language, memory development and creative thinking it can be a comfort item too! Along with using this as an educational tool, it also can be used for communication and social skills.

Reward Charts from Special Learning:  Most of our autistic children respond well to positive rewards.  I know that mine does.  Special Learning has reward charts for home and school.  Their charts are great tools for teaching your autistic child at home.  Special Learning also has other products to help parents and teachers.

Fat Cat Phonics:

They have learning kits in a box that are designed for specific academic areas.  They range from colors and shapes, to reading or math.  I think they are a good fit for autistic children, because they are interactive.  They are perfect if you are teaching your autistic child at home.

AnyBook reader uses a simple touch, record and playback process that allows you to read any story and record your own voice while you read it. This way, your child can hear your voice anytime they want to read.  Great for teaching an autistic child how to read.  You use your own books, which is a plus.