The best sensory toys for babies

By NewFolks Published April 20, 2021

woman watching as boy plays with toys — Young woman playing with games boy in nursery school room Getty Images / omgimages

Your child’s early years are the most important in terms of development. Through sensory play, kids of all abilities and needs can build the nerve connections that will help them complete more complex learning tasks.

Sensory toys are also known to help calm anxious or frustration in children. While this can important for all young children, it can be especially beneficial to kids in the autism spectrum. The use of sensory toys for autism stimulates the brain, enhances engagement, and promotes social interaction. Let’s take a look at our favorite sensory toys to support early childhood development.

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Sassy Suction Cup STEM Learning Toy

Best value sensory toy

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Toys that promote your child’s development don’t have to break the bank. With the Sassy Suction Cup STEM Learning Toy, you can promote your child’s visual tracking and strengthen their fine motor skills at a great price. The colorful beads inside this toy’s spinning wheels build sound-to-sight connections and strengthen hand-eye coordination.

Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy

Best sensory toy for teething

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Keep your little one entertained and soothe their teething discomfort with the Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy. This soft maze is sure to capture their attention with its colors, design, and pleasing rattle sound. Simply hand wash to keep clean and continue with the fun.

Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball

Best multitextured sensory toy

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Textures are incredibly beneficial to your growing child. The Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball features multiple textures and materials to engage your little one and promote tactile sensitivity. Young kids learn how to reach, grasp, and transfer objects from one hand to another safely while enjoying hours of fun.

Sensory toys provide multiple benefits to young children and kids in the autism spectrum. They promote development, broaden their skills, and encourage relaxation. With the toys on our list, children of all abilities and interest can enjoy prolonged periods of entertainment that is as educational as it is fun.

Topics

Activities

6 creative family game night ideas

These fun games will entertain the whole family

Parents with children playing a board game.

If you're frustrated with how much time everyone in your family spends in front of screens, family game night can be a great way to disconnect and have fun at the same time. And even though board games are fun, there are lots of other games you can play as a family that can be done both in and outdoors. We have some fun and creative games to share that will have your family laughing, giggling, and having the best time together.
Family game night ideas

The alphabet game
This is a rather fun trivia game that everyone can enjoy. It is a simple game that begins with choosing a category. That category could be anything, whether you want it to be desserts, music, or fruit. After that, say, your category was animals, the first person can say whatever animal they want that begins with an 'A.' But the next person has to continue it on, answering with an animal that begins with 'B.' If you can't figure out an animal within an allotted time frame of your choosing, you have to wait until the next go-round.
Family Olympics
Much unlike the actual Olympics, you do not have to be an acrobatic high-flying gymnast or a figure skater. All you have to do is bring your sense of humor. There are all kinds of games that the whole family can play. Some of them include:

Activities

Get the ghosts and black cats, it’s time to throw a Halloween party that rocks

Go spooky or cute with these Halloween party ideas just for the kiddos

Mother and father with daughter in Halloween costumes

Halloween is one of those holidays kids start talking about before the chill is completely in the air. The topic of conversation is always the same, too: What they're going to be for Halloween. Not all kiddos enjoy walking the neighborhood and knocking on strange doors to ask for candy. Then, there are the children who have birthdays on October 31. They always take second to trick-or-treating.

Well, if you've always thought about throwing a Halloween party for your kids -- what's stopping you? Sure, the thought can be pretty scary. Kids get very hyped up for Halloween. Hosting a Halloween party isn't as difficult as you think, though. It can be a fun way to make October 31 even more special, especially with these Halloween party ideas for kids.
Easy Halloween party ideas for kids

Inspiration

The best Halloween costumes for a family of 4 that are simple to find or create

Halloween themes for your crew of four

Family of four dressed in Halloween costumes.

Halloween isn't just for kids! Dressing up as a family is a bonding experience that allows you to get creative together. Plus, it might get you guys the good candy for being the cutest family out trick-or-treating. Whether you have little ones or older kids, there are a variety of group costume ideas to get the whole family in the spooky spirit. Check out some of the best Halloween costumes for a family of 4 that will make your crew the neighborhood celebrities on All Hallows' Eve.
Dress up as your favorite animated or movie family

Use being a family of four to your advantage by looking up families that feature four or more members, then each family member could pick their favorite character and bring the beloved show or movie to life. Let the little kids pick out their favorite show or see if the parents want to throw it back to a movie they grew up with.
Iconic animated families to recreate