The BEST Autism Toys and How To Use Them

Assess Before You Buy: Picking autism toys requires assessment. Understand that choosing the right toy isn’t about age—it’s about developmental and language abilities.
Cause and Effect Play: Start with autism toys that teach simple cause-and-effect relationships, like ball-and-hammer toys or peekaboo games, to build foundational language and attention skills.
Interactive & Language-Rich Toys: Make toys more engaging by using them to promote joint attention, language development, and social skills through interactive play. Keep the focus on fun, but with intentional teaching.

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Whether you’re a parent or a professional, chances are your house or office is overflowing with toys—some with missing parts, others gathering dust, and kids who might not know how to engage with them. In this episode of the Turn Autism Around® podcast, Kelsey General and I dive into how to use toys to improve communication, play, and social skills for children with autism or those showing early signs of autism. We will give you some ideas of autism toys you may want to have around.

🎯 Pro Tip: It’s not about the toys themselves—it’s about the procedures, the pairing, and the teaching. Toys should serve as tools to create opportunities for engagement, language development, and social connection.

Let’s explore how you can transform ordinary toys into powerful tools for learning and interaction. Whether you’re a parent trying to make sense of your child’s playtime or a professional searching for fresh, engaging ways to teach, these tips will help you get started.

Today Kelsey and I talk about a frequently asked question: What are the best toys for my autistic child? And how can I get the most out of them?

Best Toys for Children with Autism

I know you want to know. What are the best toys I should buy for my autistic child and clients? But, it isn’t that simple!

While there are some lists about the best toys– from sensory toys for autism to musical instruments to some cause-and-effect toys that I love…It isn’t just about the toy itself. It depends on a child’s interest, and their current ability levels.

So yes, keep reading for some examples and specific toys but keep in mind, you likely have the perfect toy in your home or clinic already for a child with autism.

🧠 Start With an Assessment—Not Just a Toy

Before grabbing a toy off the shelf, it’s essential to assess your child’s developmental and language level, rather than simply their chronological age. For example, my son Lucas was three years old but functioned at a 9-12 month level for expressive language. This meant his toy play had to reflect that developmental stage.

Many parents feel disheartened when they get these results, especially if their child is older but scoring in a younger developmental range. However, this information is incredibly valuable because it helps you choose appropriate toys and set realistic expectations for progress. Don’t worry if your child is not yet at an age-appropriate level for communication and play—it’s perfectly normal in autism, and the key is to meet your child where they are.

A great tool to help with this is the low-cost digital assessment I developed. This assessment takes just 10 minutes and provides insight into three critical areas:

Self-care and daily activities (eating, sleeping, grooming, dressing)
Language and learning skills, including social and imitation skills
Problem behaviors that may arise during play, like tantrums or avoidance

Taking this assessment helps you understand where your child stands, allowing you to target specific areas for improvement through structured toy play.

Cause and Effect Toys for Autism

Cause and effect toys are the building blocks of early toy play. I almost always start introducing a child with autism to cause and effect toys. These toys encourage attention and interaction, laying the foundation for language development and social skills. Most importantly, they are highly reinforcing, meaning they’ll keep your child engaged and motivated to play. They also may require an adult to make them more fun(hint: i’ll touch on this more in a bit)

Examples of Cause and Effect Toys:

Ball and hammer toys (like Ballboat): Hit a ball, watch it disappear down a ramp, and have fun bringing it back up.
Peekaboo or Jack-in-the-box toys: Hide something, and have it pop out, delighting the child.
Coin drop piggy banks (with or without sound): Insert a coin, hear it disappear, and watch it reappear.
Wind-up toys: Watch them move, flip, or spin—offering repetitive action that naturally engages the child.

These toys are effective because they pair with simple language: “ball,” “go,” “uh-oh,” or “more.” For non-verbal children or those with limited language, simply saying these words as the action occurs can significantly enrich their play experience.

Use Toys With Multiple Parts for Language Building

Toys with multiple parts, such as Potato Head, puzzles, or building blocks, are fantastic for encouraging language development. These toys are perfect for multi-step play, where you can pair actions with specific language targets. For example, “eye,” “nose,” “mouth,” and “foot” are one-syllable words that are perfect for a child with limited language abilities.

One of my all-time autism toy favorite? Potato Head.

Great for labeling and identifying body parts.
Allows for building and rebuilding, which supports imitation and understanding of cause and effect.
Can be used for more complex pretend play once the child starts mastering basic skills (e.g., “Potato Head is sleeping,” “Potato Head is hungry”).

I recommend keeping parts organized, whether in a labeled bin or bag. You don’t want to lose these small pieces, as that can disrupt the play and language-building process.

How to Play With an Autistic Child

Make toys more fun with you than without you.

Children with autism, particularly those who have minimal or no language, often engage in repetitive or solitary play. Our goal is to make toys more engaging by ensuring they are interactive and language-enriched, fostering joint attention between the child and the adult. This piece is more important than any autism toy you can buy!

How to Make Toys More Interactive:

Control the parts—give them one piece at a time while labeling.
Be silly and animated—use funny voices or sounds the child enjoys to increase interest.
Choose toys that require assistance—wind-up toys or bubble wands are perfect for this. The child will need you to make the activity work or be fun!

The key is to increase opportunities for social interaction. Reinforce the child’s interest in the toy by pairing it with positive, engaging moments.

Use Multi-Sensory, Language-Rich Toys

Some toys work well for combining visual, tactile, and auditory input with language development. These toys also provide opportunities for learning through play.

Recommended Multi-Sensory Toys:

Bubbles: A fun, interactive way to engage with your child while enriching their language through labeling (“pop,” “more,” “big,” “small”).
Play-Doh: This toy offers endless opportunities for teaching colors, shapes, actions (roll, squish, flatten), and more.
Magna Doodle: This tool can be used for drawing, labeling, and imitation exercises.
Inset puzzles: These are fantastic for teaching categorization, body parts, shapes, and simple nouns.

These toys offer endless ways to practice language and increase engagement, which is key for children with autism who might have difficulty initiating or responding to interaction on their own.

Introducing Pretend Play to Children with Autism

Pretend play can seem far off, especially for younger children or those with minimal language. However, pretend play doesn’t have to look like typical imaginative play. Start with real-life routines that the child sees frequently, such as washing dishes or feeding a doll.

Use toys such as:

Pretend kitchen sinks (with running water) for real-life, everyday routines.
Plastic food and dishes for feeding, cooking, or serving.
Dollhouses and farms to encourage simple role-playing.

The key here is to keep the play functional and to focus on language enrichment. Label objects (e.g., “plate,” “spoon,” “cup”) and actions (e.g., “wash,” “eat,” “serve”) as you engage with the child.

What If My Child Doesn’t Like Any Toys?

If your child refuses to engage with toys, cries, or shows little interest, it’s a sign to go back to basics. Don’t assume that all children with autism will enjoy the same toys, or engage in typical play patterns.

Start by observing what they do like. Do they:

Rock back and forth?
Line things up?
Stimulate with their hands or face?

If so, tailor your toys to those behaviors:

For rocking, use rocking chairs or exercise balls.
For lining up, try puzzles or counting toys.
For visual stimulation, try timers or color-changing toys that they can watch flip.

💡 Pro Tip: Use multiple reinforcers at the table or play area. Don’t rely on just one toy—keep it fresh and fun!

📦 Organize Your Toys for Teaching Success

To make the most out of your playtime, organize your toys in a way that makes them accessible and easy to use.

Create a system for storing toys in:

Rolling carts or bins for easy access.
Labeled shoe boxes for organizing small parts.
Clear containers to keep everything visible.

This organization minimizes frustration, helps maintain focus, and encourages structured play.

Final Thoughts: It’s About Procedures, Not Products

Choosing the right autism toys isn’t about buying the latest trend—it’s about how you use the toys. Play is a powerful tool for language, social, and emotional development, and it should be fun for both the child and the caregiver.

It’s essential to meet the child where they are, using intentional, language-enriched play to build skills, foster engagement, and create opportunities for interaction. With patience and the right strategies, you’ll see significant progress over time.

Top 5 FAQ Autism Toys

What types of toys are best for toddlers with autism?

Start with cause and effect toys and toys with parts to encourage interaction and language development.

My child only lines up toys—what should I do?

That’s a preference! Use similar toys (e.g., magnet blocks) and build interaction gradually.

Can pretend play happen without language?

Basic pretend routines like washing or feeding can be introduced early, but language helps it become richer and more meaningful.

Should I leave all toys out for free play?

No. Keep teaching toys stored separately to make them more engaging and structured.

How can I tell which toys are actually helping?

Assess the child’s engagement and interaction. Are they imitating, requesting, or labeling during play? If so, you’re on the right track!

You’ll Learn

The best toys for children with autism.
The best cause and effect toys.
How to play with a nonverbal autistic child.
How to build language and joint attention through play?
How to make toys MORE fun with a parent.
How to prepare your child for pretend play.

Resources