Sensory play is more than just fun—it’s a powerful tool for children with autism. It helps them explore the world, calm their bodies, and build essential skills through play that speaks to their unique needs. As a parent, you don’t need expensive toys or complex tools to start. Just a few household items and a little creativity can go a long way.
Introduction: Why Sensory Play Matters for Children with Autism
Many autistic children experience the world differently through their senses. They might be extra sensitive to sounds, textures, or lights, or they may seek more movement and pressure to feel regulated. Sensory activities help provide the input they crave or gently introduce them to sensations they find overwhelming.
Regular sensory play can improve:
- Focus and attention span
- Emotional regulation
- Motor coordination
- Communication and interaction
By integrating sensory play into your day, you’re giving your child tools for comfort, learning, and connection—all from the safety of your home.
11 Easy-to-Do Sensory Activities for Autism
Let’s explore simple, at-home sensory activities that can be adjusted to fit your child’s preferences and comfort level.
WonderGames: Screen-Based Sensory Games for Autism
WonderGames combines sensory play with augmented reality (AR) to create engaging digital experiences that support motor, cognitive, and emotional development. These screen-based games are trusted by thousands of parents and therapists worldwide. They allow children to:
- Pop virtual bubbles, trace shapes, or follow on-screen patterns
- Build sensory processing skills through visual and auditory feedback
- Stay engaged while building developmental skills through fun, interactive movement
Playdough for Tactile Exploration and Creativity
How to try it: Give your child a few colors of store-bought or homemade playdough and set them up at a clean table. Offer simple tools like plastic knives, cookie cutters, or rolling pins. Encourage them to squeeze, roll, and shape the dough freely. Add scents like vanilla or cinnamon for extra sensory input.
Squishing, rolling, and shaping playdough can be a calming and satisfying activity. It strengthens fine motor skills while giving kids control over the texture and colors. You can even make your own scented playdough at home for added sensory variety.
Sensory Bins with Rice, Pasta, or Beads
How to try it: Fill a large container or plastic tub with dry rice, uncooked pasta, or water beads. Bury small toys or objects inside and invite your child to find them using their hands or scoops. Supervise play to avoid spills or mouth exploration.
Fill a container with dry rice, pasta, or water beads and hide small toys inside. Let your child dig, scoop, and explore textures. This kind of sensory bin encourages tactile play and hand-eye coordination while helping children learn to focus on simple tasks.
Pouring Station Using Cups, Funnels, and Water
How to try it: Set up outside or over a tray indoors. Provide cups, spoons, pitchers, and funnels with a tub of water. Let your child pour, transfer, and experiment with moving water from one container to another. Add a few drops of food coloring or floating items for fun.
Set up a mini water lab with cups, funnels, and pitchers. Pouring helps build hand strength, coordination, and sequencing. Adding a few drops of food coloring or floating objects can make it even more engaging.
Bubble Wrap Popping for Tactile and Auditory Feedback
How to try it: Place a sheet of bubble wrap on the floor or table and invite your child to step on it, press it with their fingers, or roll over it with a toy. Popping provides instant sound and texture feedback. Supervise younger kids to prevent chewing.
Who doesn’t love bubble wrap? It’s simple, portable, and provides satisfying sensory feedback. Popping bubbles helps with finger strength and gives both touch and sound stimulation.
Sensory Bottles with Glitter, Beads, and Water
How to try it: Fill a clean plastic bottle 2/3 full with water. Add glitter, sequins, beads, or food coloring. Seal tightly with glue or tape. Let your child shake, roll, or watch the contents swirl. Use during quiet time or for calming transitions.
Create calming sensory bottles by filling plastic bottles with water, glitter, food coloring, and beads. Watching the materials move inside the bottle can be soothing and provide a quiet break when your child needs to self-regulate.
Swinging and Spinning for Vestibular Stimulation
How to try it: Use a backyard swing, hammock, or even a swivel chair indoors. Gently push or spin your child while checking for signs of enjoyment or discomfort. Always supervise and limit time to avoid overstimulation.
Swinging, spinning, or rocking helps activate the vestibular system, which is responsible for balance and spatial awareness. Whether it’s a backyard swing or a rotating chair, these movements can have a calming effect on overstimulated children.
Musical Instruments for Auditory Sensory Play
How to try it: Offer simple instruments like tambourines, shakers, toy drums, or xylophones. Allow free play or create rhythms together. You can also use kitchen items like pots and wooden spoons to make music.
Drums, shakers, or xylophones allow children to experiment with rhythm and sound. Playing instruments can reduce anxiety and help children learn cause and effect while stimulating auditory processing.
Frozen Legos for Cool Temperature Play
How to try it: Place a few plastic blocks in a bowl of water and freeze overnight. Let your child explore the frozen blocks using their hands or tools. You can also provide warm water to melt them slowly. This introduces cold temperatures in a safe and playful way.
Freeze plastic blocks like Legos in water overnight, then let your child explore them as they melt. This introduces temperature play in a safe and exciting way, while encouraging problem-solving and sensory curiosity.
Outdoor Exploration to Engage All Senses
How to try it: Head to a garden, park, or backyard. Ask your child to find items with different textures (smooth leaves, rough bark), listen for sounds (birds, cars), and name what they see or smell. Let them explore freely with gentle guidance.
Take a walk in the garden or park and invite your child to notice different textures, smells, and sounds. Nature naturally offers a full-body sensory experience—from walking barefoot on grass to smelling flowers or hearing birds.
Plastic Bag Kites for Wind and Movement Fun
How to try it: Tie a string to the handle of a lightweight plastic bag to make a simple kite. Let your child run with it on a breezy day. They can feel the tug of the wind and see the bag float and flap behind them.
Tie a ribbon or string to a plastic bag to create a simple kite. Letting your child run and feel the kite tug in the wind is a great way to combine movement, tactile input, and cause-and-effect learning.
Conclusion: Making Sensory Activities Part of Your Daily Routine
Incorporating sensory play doesn’t require a huge time commitment or special skills. These easy activities can become daily rituals that help your child feel more connected, calm, and confident. Whether it’s a five-minute playdough break or an afternoon swinging in the park, each moment builds your child’s sensory awareness and resilience.
If you’re looking for screen-based options to supplement physical play, WonderTree’s sensory games offer engaging and developmentally supportive experiences right from your home.
FAQs
What are sensory activities for autism?
Sensory activities are play-based experiences that stimulate one or more of the senses—touch, sound, sight, movement, etc.—and help autistic children explore or regulate their sensory environment.
Why are sensory activities important for autistic children?
They support sensory integration, reduce anxiety, and improve focus, emotional regulation, and social engagement.
How do sensory bins help with autism?
Sensory bins provide tactile stimulation and encourage focus, exploration, and fine motor development in a calming, low-pressure setting.
Is playdough a good sensory tool for children with autism?
Yes! Playdough encourages tactile exploration and creativity while helping develop hand strength and coordination.
Can WonderGames replace physical sensory play?
WonderGames complements physical play by offering visual and auditory sensory input in a fun, structured format—ideal for indoor or screen-based sessions.
What are some safe outdoor sensory activities for autistic kids?
Walking on grass, smelling flowers, playing with water, or running with kites are all excellent, safe outdoor activities.
How does swinging or spinning support sensory needs?
These movements stimulate the vestibular system, helping children with balance, spatial awareness, and self-soothing.
Are fidget toys and sensory bottles helpful for emotional regulation?
Yes. They provide repetitive, calming feedback that can help children self-soothe during moments of stress or overstimulation.
Can I create sensory activities at home without expensive materials?
Absolutely. Many effective sensory tools can be made from items you already have—like rice, plastic bottles, or fabric scraps.
How often should I do sensory play with my autistic child?
Daily exposure, even in short bursts, can be very beneficial. Consistency helps build tolerance, engagement, and emotional balance over time.
