Discover the toy retailer that supports play and learning for autistic children and those with ADHD

Here, chartered psychologist Dr Mark Rackley shares how you can find the right toy for your child and how Learning Resources can help…

Toys that help with sensory processing and integration

A sensory toy is one specially designed to stimulate one or more senses. These can often be more appealing to autistic children and/or those with ADHD as they enable them to engage with their senses and regulate their sensory needs, helping them to stay calm.

Before choosing a toy, Dr Rackley says it’s important to personally consider the child you are buying for and how their neurodiversity affects them. “Don’t take a ‘one size fits all’ approach as their ASD and ADHD is unique to them,” he explains. “For some children, toys with flashing lights, loud sounds, specific textures and colours will trigger their nervous system and that will agitate them. Choose a toy that stimulates and engages them in a positive way or the opposite, one that relaxes them. Remember that people with ASD and ADHD have a sensitive nervous system that is impacted by sensations and that is a key factor to consider.”

Fidget toys can help fulfil a child’s sensory requirements and can even improve their ability to learn. They come in various shapes, textures and resistance levels, benefitting different sensory needs, and can help filter out distracting sensory input that may affect a child’s attention.

Learning Resources’ Sensory Trio Fidget Tubes are perfect for providing a controlled sensory outlet and for helping children to self-regulate and focus on learning activities. In each set are 3 high-quality tubes that build a different sensory skill as young ones play – they can listen to the falling beads, watch the swirling glitter and smiley faces and feel the weight of the falling sand. Playfoam, a squishy sculpting toy, is another great option if your little one prefers more tactile games.

Learning through numbers and supporting hypernumerate children

Some autistic children have a deep interest in toys with numbers and may even have an advanced knowledge of numbers, known as hypernumeracy. “For specific conditions, such as hypernumeracy, a toy that uses numbers in a fun and engaging way will be best,” says Dr Rackley. “Again, think about what engages the child and how they learn. Some will be more visual learners and others may be more kinaesthetic. It’s important to get to know the child in question so you can tailor the toy to their unique learning style.”

Inspired by the award-winning CBeebies TV series, Numberblocks MathLink^® Cubes have been specially created to include activities that help children recognise numbers, learn to count, add and subtract, discover division and multiplication and develop problem-solving skills. You can even extend the number learning with additional MathLink^® sets, including a farmyard and express train version.

Building social and emotional skills with Learning Resources toys

No one is born knowing how to regulate their emotions. Instead, it’s a skill children learn through their youth and into adulthood. If your child has autism and/or ADHD, however, this process can be a little more complex.

“With social and emotional needs, it’s important to get to know the challenges that the child may be having in that area,” says Dr Rackley. “If they need to learn social cues and boundaries, a game that proposes scenarios for them to assess can help with learning how social norms work. As for emotional regulation, you can have a bit more fun with this one. You could try a game where they learn how to express emotion in a safe way, such as a high energy game. Or, it could be a more chilled game that teaches them how to slow their emotions through either meditation or some form of relaxation.”

LUNA The Calming Kitty^™ is designed to help children manage stress and to support mindfulness and deep breathing. It also offers 3 different breathing patterns for children to practise and can be used as a colourful night-light to provide comfort at bedtime. With Pawz The Calming Pup^™, your child can simply squeeze the pup’s foot and follow the lighting prompts that guide through 3 breathing exercises. It also has a built-in night-light function with a timer that can be set for 5, 15, or 30 minutes.Top of FormBottom of Form

To find out more about Learning Resources and how it can help your child through play, click here