When you have a child with special needs, it’s not always easy to find toys and activities that are engaging, accessible and developmentally-appropriate. We’re excited to share these products and activities that were reviewed by experts in San Diego’s special needs community—local teachers, parents (with children of varying ages) and therapists (physical, ABA, occupational and speech therapists). We brought these people together to do the work for you and share their recommendations.
Whether you’re shopping for your own family or have a friend or relative with special needs, you’ll find products that encourage emotional intelligence, problem-solving, fine motor skills, stress relief, sensory engagement, creativity and more.
GIBBY’s Big Emotions Bundle
$199.99; https://gibbon-usa.com/pages/gibby-big-emotions-bundle
A three-part set that helps kids manage big feelings through movement, storytelling, and play. It includes: SlackBoard Kids – A smaller, lighter SlackBoard with fun, kid-forward designs. Storybook (GIBBY’s Tangled Up Day) – A relatable story about GIBBY’s tough day and how he gets through it with some simple strategies. GIBBY Stuffy – A soft, snuggly companion with Velcro hands and feet for extra hugs. Perfect for story time, quiet time, or whenever a little comfort is needed. “I like the art and the colors, super cool and well made. Visually appealing, and so is the book that comes with it” (teacher) “Good for PT, APE and emotional regulation” (therapist)
Hugarounds
$45; Hugimalsworld.com
Microwaveable, unscented weighted plushies that wrap you in warm, comforting hands-free hugs (like a neck wrap, but way cuter). Made with natural, mold-resistant clay beads and the softest, coziest plush, this adorable crew can’t wait to hug you.
The Eric Carle Very Hungry Caterpillar Color Discovery Spinner Toy
$14.99; Amazon.com
Helps kids learn colors and shapes through interactive spinning. Made from durable, non-toxic wood, it features vibrant, translucent disks that engage children visually and encourage sensory development. “Recognizable from the book. The toy has a beautiful and mesmerizing kaleidoscope feel. Reviewers felt the mechanism was very smooth and the toy was built well. The color spin was calming. But the toy had educational aspects as well relation to color and character. Would appeal to most in the age group and beyond.”
Braille Alphabet A-Z
$39.99; PlanToys.com
This 26-piece Braille Alphabet A-Z set can be played 2-sided, one upper case and another lower case. Each tile has a Braille symbol that represents each letter in the alphabet. Includes 26 tiles with uppercase and lowercase letters on alternating sides. Great for incorporating into learning environments to strengthen communication and language development.
Hand Sign Alphabet A-Z
$39.99; PlanToys.com
The 26-piece set features an impressed lower-case letter and corresponding American hand sign language picture. Includes 26 tiles with uppercase letters and sign language on alternating sides. Letters and hand signs are traceable so children can practice following them with their fingers or writing them on their own on paper. Strengthens communication and language skills, supports find motor skill development and encourages interactive play.
Palette of Personalities: Mood, Music, & Color Toy
$25; SassyBaby.com
A unique electronic toy with four fun functions: Notes, Emotion, Color and Song mode. Press to hear one of three classic piano songs, a full piano scale and make your own music, listen to the name of each color or hear the ways of expressing each emotion. ”An A+ for nonspeaking kids for teaching emotional awareness. Great for teaching basic music scale and for this reason, could be a good speech aid. Multiple communication uses made this a favorite among parents and teachers.”
Calming Cuddle Bug
$29.99; LakeshoreLearning.com
This adorable little bug is the perfect hug buddy and provides plush comfort and a gentle calm whenever kids need it. This textured plushie bug is designed to provide children with a “hug” that will help reduce anxiety and soothe their senses.
SENSORY
Grip-N-Stack Silicone & Wooden Blocks
$24.99; HapeToys.com
Offering unparalleled versatility and safety for your child’s playtime adventures, delight in witnessing your little one’s boundless creativity as they engage with the 10 vibrant blocks included in this set. “Silicone on edges makes them easy to grasp and stack.”
The Shower Sole Scrubber and Foot Massager
$13.99; www.love-lori.com
The mat is equipped with over 100 suction cups that cling to smooth and previously slightly wet surfaces. You no longer have to bend over or balance to clean your feet. Simply move the brush back and forth and your feet are clean. “It clings to the tub and my kid, who is reluctant to wash his feet, dragged his feet across with soap. Win! He loved it, as do I.”
Elsewhere Unplug Eco Dough
$18.99; ElsewhereUnplug.com
The brand’s Eco-Dough is hand made in small batches using natural, non-toxic ingredients. It provides hours of artistic exploration as well as engaging children with an opportunity to learn the basics of color theory by experimenting with mixing and blending the primary colors included in this assortment. “Eco Dough Participants really love the feel of this dough. There was something indescribably appealing to its texture that everyone picked up on. Everyone liked the fact that it is non-toxic.”
Arggh! Creatures Capybara 2-Pack
$14.99; www.Walmart.com
These adorable stress balls are designed to resemble the world’s largest rodent, the capybara, known for its calm and friendly nature. Perfect for squeezing, squishing and stretching, these stress balls are your go-to companions for easing anxiety and tension. Made from high-quality, non-toxic materials, these capybara squeeze balls are safe, durable, and built to withstand countless squeezes. One of our favorite sensory squeeze toys. Durable, very squishy, nice size and kids love Capybaras!
SPEKS Odds
$19.99; www.getspeks.com/
Meet Odds, our quietest fidget yet. Textured silicone with a magnetic core, Odds come in 4 colors and shapes, each providing unique palm massaging satisfaction. Designed to be discrete, sneak them into meetings to keep your hands busy and your mind focused.
Baby Tissue Box
$17.99; PlanToys.com
This toy engages children in pulling, inserting and exploring, strengthening fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and sensory development. The soft, colorful fabric helps refine grasping techniques, from whole-hand grips to precise pincer grasps. It supports stable sitting, introduces cause and effect and fosters independent play. “Box has a great feel-smooth texture. Great for hand coordination, teaching in and out concept, color concepts. Scarves can be tossed and caught as they fall slower than balls.”
ZEN/CALM
Turbobo – 5lb Plush Starter Bundle
$85; www.turbobo.co
A therapeutic weighted stuffed animal designed to feel like a warm, comforting hug. Engineered with five different therapeutic features, Turbobo eases anxiety, reduces stress, and promotes emotional calm for anyone who needs it. More than just a plush, Turbobo is a clinically backed support tool and the only product of its kind endorsed by medical professionals and trusted in 350+ K-12 schools nationwide to help students manage big feelings. “Nice weight, lavender is soothing for sensory needs, super soft.”
The CozyThrow
$188; https://cozyzzz.com
A unique, utility throw blanket with soothing hand and feet pockets, offering unparalleled warmth and comfort. Engineered to function like a swaddle, providing a calming sensory experience that helps settle the nervous system. Perfect for individuals with sensory processing disorder (SPD), ADHD, anxiety, or anyone seeking relaxation. The hand pockets feature finger and thumb openings, allowing users to hold objects while keeping their hands warm. “Warm and cozy. One mom did not want to take it off. Calming and cuddly effect-feet pockets a plus.”
Pause with Panda
$99.99; https://pausewithpanda.com/emotional-support-kids-2/
From the magical bamboo forest of Zinn, this irresistibly soft Panda offers over two hours of guided Pauses—promoting calmness, focus, movement, and kindness, plus soothing music and white noise. The adult companion app allows caregivers to customize Panda’s content, record personal Pauses, and track usage. More than just a cuddly companion, Pause with Panda is the first customizable plush of its kind designed to help children self-soothe and build resilience—without needing an adult nearby. Whether it’s a midnight wake-up or a tough moment at school, Panda is there to help children Pause, Listen, and Resume with confidence.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE/SELF AWARENESS
Pattern Peg Board
$24.99; PlanToys.com
Promotes creativity, systematic thinking and fine motor development as children arrange colored pegs into patterns. This activity enhances hand-eye coordination, finger dexterity and early math skills through concepts like color grouping, symmetry and sequencing. The circular guides on the board help with precise peg placement, allowing children to create freeform designs, follow pattern templates, sort by color and sequence and practice counting and basic math concepts.
“Well-made purposeful play toy about matching color and number sense. Best for guided play. Minor worry about losing pegs.”
“Cosmos” from the Holographic 2.0 Shashibo Series
$27.99; FunInMotionToys.com
Shashibo is a magnetic puzzle box that transforms into over 100 different shapes, offering endless opportunities for creative exploration. Each cube is powered by 36 rare earth magnets, allowing multiple Shashibo to connect together for even bigger builds. The smooth, durable surfaces and satisfying magnetic “click” provide sensory feedback that can be calming and engaging. The repetitive, screen-free play can help children manage stress, anxiety, or overstimulation while providing a safe, soothing outlet. “This toy is fascinating for the kid who craves visual stimulation or the engineer on the spectrum in your life. Perfect stocking stuffer. Spans age groups.”
Air Rocket Stacking Tower
$42.99; HapeToys.com
This innovative toy sparks curiosity about aerodynamics and physics through the playful animals, shapes, and numbers which also improve early counting and fine motor skills.
Gadget Gears Counting Toy
$14.88; Walmart.com
Focusing on enhancing coordination, cause and effect cognitive skills and screen free play. Fun bright colors, integrating numerical learning, mirror, busy gears with lights and sounds. Supports learning by integrating skills such as cause and effect, problem solving, hand-eye coordination, sensory development and more. “Visually sensory satisfying, a lot of learning happening while the child is visually stimulated.”
Loops Lab Starter Set
$139; https://loopslab.com/
Kids can easily create and mix music harmoniously and seamlessly with cool, collectible figures called “Loops”, bridging the physical and digital worlds. The starter set includes the signature Loops Lab 8-spot stage along with the “Lax Funkers” -a 5-piece figurines groove band (additional bands sold separately). Each band has its very own signature style, ranging from Rock to Pop, Electronic to Funk and more, creating dynamic sounds that are impossible to resist and yours to mix them all. “An interesting way to look and feel music. Good for hearing impaired to see the music. A good way to learn musical instruments and be part of creating music, this is great.” (music therapist)
My Rewards Pal
$34.99; BenebearGiving.com
Offers a new reward system to encourage empathy, kindness and respect. Each My Reward Pal comes with a plush, storybook lesson and reward tokens. Each time a child performs a positive action or behavior relating to the lesson taught by the set, they can insert a token into the plush. These tokens can be reused over and over again to continue showing positive behavior. Once they collect all the tokens, they can exchange them for a reward. “Participants really loved this reward idea. The horse comes in its own easy carry case, and kids get tokens for desired actions. One program director stated, “This toy is excellent for positive behavioral reinforcement and reward. It’s great for kids struggling with emotions.”
Rubber Convertible Boats
$20; PlanToys.com
It’s a rubber boat that explores both the surface and the underwater depths! By Simply pressing the center of the hull and turning it over, the boat becomes a submarine. This makes for an extra unique play experience during bath time and water play. Challenge your child’s creative thinking skills and stimulate their imagination while inviting them to explore their fine motor development with this water toy. “This non-toxic toy has multiple uses in the bath. Floaty as well as pop able, it could be turned inside out to be used to pour water for bathing. Simple design, easy to clean.”
Busy Builder Activity Blocks
$25; SassyBaby.comBlocks feature numbers 1-9 to count. Two blocks have rattle beads inside for added sound. Includes five balls to put in blocks, roll down the clear tube or bounce around. Two cars to carry and stack the blocks on, one car drives straight and the other wobbles for an added layer of fun. Five blocks open and close with unique emotions to learn on each block. No two blocks are the same color. Includes storage bag for easy clean up.
Emotiduos
$10; Miniland.com
Developed with the ANAR Foundation, Emotiduos helps children identify and understand bullying situations from an early age in a fun and engaging way. With ten puzzles and eight emotion faces, children learn to recognize emotions, express their feelings and develop key social skills.
Gears & Puzzles
$41.99; PlanToys.com
Put the gears together in whatever pattern you desire, and then watch the unique movements that you can create by spinning and twirling the pieces against one another. Create your own mechanical gear system and watch them twirl, twist and move in conjunction with one another. Includes 22 gears and pieces for play. Helps children develop strategic and logical thinking skills while improving their ability to focus on an independent task.
In Your Shoes Emotions Board
$35; Miniland.com
A complete game designed to work on empathy and cooperation from childhood. Through an emotions board and 25 illustrative images, children will analyze situations of pre-bullying at school, learning to identify conflicts related to bullying, understand their own emotions and explore tools to transform those experiences. With a practical and dynamic approach, this game encourages dialogue, reflection and the development of emotional skills, essential to create a more inclusive and respectful environment.
Light Up Pixel Piano
$34.99; HapeToys.com
Ignite your child’s imagination with the Pixel Piano! Witness the magic unfold as the piano transforms into a pixel screen consisting of animals and vivid colors, sparking curiosity and wonder. The Pixel Piano also introduces them to colors, and supports their cognitive development.
Original Mini Rainbow Stacking Toy
$99.95; Staplestein.com
This magical play experience awakens curiosity and offers a unique perspective, allowing all to explore and learn through playful movement. With its vibrant colors, the Mini is perfect for a range of activities, from stacking and balancing to spinning and engaging in first color and number games. It also serves as a versatile tool for water, sand, and snow play, whether indoors or outdoors.
CONNETIX Magnetic Titles Bright Portal Pack 48pc
$59.99; Target.com
Featuring eight bright colors, this pack includes three different sized squares designed to neatly nest together to level up open-ended play and STEM learning. The large and standard portal tiles – with their unique open-frame design, unlock innovative ways to engineer and build with multiple magnetic connection points on the inner and outer edges; while the mini-squares showcase the CONNETIX Smart-Spin technology, allowing magnets to rotate up to 360 degrees within the tile to build in new directions and discover exciting construction possibilities.
Fingerlings Interactive Baby Axolotl
$19.99; 5+
Target.com
Alix is pink with sparkly gills that light up in a rainbow of colors. Out of water, place your axolotl in your hand to see its tail wag with lights and sounds. Tap its head and your axolotl uses the color of its lights to guess your mood! Out of your hand, your axolotl sings you a song. So many magical sounds and reactions. Inflate the included pool, fill with water, and watch Alix swim. “I could see this being used in mud play and a visually calming activity”. (homeschool mom)
Loop Lasso
$39.99; LoopLaboratories.com
A thrilling, high-speed toy that shoots a glowing string at over 40 mph, creating mesmerizing levitating effects and vibrant patterns. Perfect for any nighttime adventure, kids can engage with the toy outdoors or indoors, watching the string glow and dance through the air. Its pocket-sized, rechargeable design ensures hours of fun and is ideal for kids who love light, movement, and a bit of magic. “Participants loved this for older kids, but we’re sure parents would spend a lot of times detangling. It was mesmerizing.”
Bluey Dump Truck
$17.99; Target.com
Bluey has her hard-hat on and Bingo has been having some fun in the mud. Help Bluey and Bingo load and unload three big rocks by moving the lever on the side of the truck to make the built-in bed tilt up and down. Put out the included safety signs so they can get the job done. “It’s great that they took an old-time favorite toy and updated it to a character that children relate to today. Sturdy and you can’t go wrong with a dump truck.”
Pokémon Trainer Expert
$32.99; UltraPRO.com
Test your Pokémon knowledge in a fun, interactive game. The electronic double-sided board offers beginner and expert modes, challenging players to guess which Pokémon is hiding behind the clues. “Most everyone agreed that everyone loves Pokémon and the board game could be used in multiple ways. Teachers thought this toy was exceptional for sorting and classifying, which is already and aspect of the Pokeverse. Parents liked the easy instructions.”
PRODUCTS
PLAY Voice Recorder
$59.99; https://voice.gift
A handheld voice recording device that lets you “stick” a voice note to just about anything. Whether it’s passing down life lessons, telling favorite stories, or simply leaving a message that says “I’m proud of you.” This unique gift is already being used by families to preserve memories, share messages across generations, and keep loved ones close, even when they’re far apart. “I can think of million uses for this.” (Early Childhood Coordinator” “Accessible for nonspeaking as well as speaking difficulties.” (speech Therapist)
Keep Going First Aid Kits
$41.95; KeepGoingFirstAid.com
Created by a mom of four,these are the ultimate travel essential for families. TSA-approved and packed with 130+ first aid items (burn relief, bandages, antiseptic wipes, and more), these kits come in stylish, water- and stain-resistant cases that fit easily into carry-ons, diaper bags, or glove compartments. “It has everything in such a compact space. I like the individual sized packets and the reminders.”
Spongies Comfort Cushion
$147; www.spongiescomfort.com
For those needing IVs, injections, blood draws, and infusions, The Heart has madeover 100,000 (and counting!) of these procedures more comfortable. Its thoughtful design keeps the arm elevated and straight, provides a gentle, skin-friendly surface, and even offers emotional comfort with its heart shape. It helps distract patients from the needle and reduces pain perception through the simple act of squeezing.
BACKPACKS
Central Adaptive Backpack & Crossbody Bag
$35–$70; Jansport.com
From its tangle-proof shoulder straps to the fumble-free release buckles, the Adaptive Backpack is all about living on easy street. Adjustable loops for back rest and anchor straps on bottom ensure versatile and secure fit against mobility devices. Shortened height improves access to items on the bottom of the pack while on a mobility device. “These backpacks are worn by everyone but are especially good for kids with mobility devices. Because they ARE worn by everyone, it makes a student with disabilities stand out a little less for being different. Lots of great designs in fashionable colors.”
SHOES
Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins: Ultra Flex 3.0 – Smooth Step
$60; Skechers.com
Perfect for little ones who love to Just Slip In, it is crafted with a stretch fit engineered knit upper, a cushioned memory foam insole, and the heel pillow that holds the foot securely in place, making getting ready for a long day stress-free for kids and their families.
BOOKS
Invisible Isabel
$9.99; Amazon.com
From award-winning author Sally J. Pla comes an illustrated middle grade novel about introverted Isabel Beane, who learns to speak up to quiet her worries. Isabel Beane is a shy girl who lives in a home full of havoc and hubbub and hullabaloo. With five siblings, there is always too much too much-ness. At school, there’s a new girl who is immediately popular, but she’s also not very nice to one person—Isabel. Isabel has never felt more invisible. She begins to get bombarded by fears, like being abandoned by her classmates and taking the upcoming Extremely Important standardized test. Her fears feel like worry-moths that flutter in her belly. With every passing day, they seem to get stronger and stronger. How can Invisible Isabel make people listen? “Written from the heart as only a person who has experienced bullying can, this 2nd-4th grade book by local author with Autism Sally J. Pla tackles anxiety, social awkwardness, and bullying in a thoughtful and ultimately triumphant way. Soared to the top of school reading recommendation lists in many states.”
IRON MAN: SOMETHING STRANGE
$12.99; AbramsBooks.com
Iron Man must team up with Doctor Strange to outsmart an otherworldly force that threatens New York City in this new Mighty Marvel Team-Up early graphic novel series. When the communications system goes down at the tower, technical genius and super hero Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, thinks there will be a quick and easy solution. But when Iron Man learns that the root of the problem is the arrival of the otherworldly creature Gargantos and it’s missing children that are loose across New York City, Iron Man quickly finds that he’s out of his depth. Luckily for him, mystical expert Doctor Strange arrives to team up with Iron Man and save the day! The two heroes must find the missing gargantots within the hour or Gargantos will return to take its anger out on the city. Can the two heroes gather the mystical toddlers in time? “Graphic novels tend to have more complex word use than typical books and the combination of picture book and late elementary and mid-grade reading facilitates timeline understanding for children with intellectual disabilities. Said one mom, “My child has Down Syndrome and graphic novels make it easier for her to engage and follow along.”
Old MacDonald Had a Farm Tales
$26.99; HeyDoodle.com
Features a reusable silicone coloring book with stretchable pages that easily fold down for convenient storage in a keepsake box. Packed with engaging and educational activities, this delightful book is designed to keep little ones entertained for hours. “Wipeable and reusable coloring! Folds down to be compact. Great for doctor visits. Familiar theme.”
To see parent and therapist-approved everyday products for individuals with special needs, visit specialneedsresourcefoundationofsandiego.com/useful-products
WHERE WE SHOP
Lakeshore
www.LakeshoreLearning.com
Known for their teacher and related services discounts, we guarantee you that many of the toys in your OT, PT, or SLP’s stash come from Lakeshore. They carry a fantastic collection of music toys and often have discounted packs of 5 or 12 for classroom settings. Before the rest of the world caught on to the importance of diverse colors of dolls and STEAM teaching products, Lakeshore had a wide variety of culturally significant toys and science projects. Large print books, toys that help teach about money handling, social skills toys, book-related teaching aids and large-quantity, high-quality craft supplies are in abundance. Our favorite section is near the register, where they typically have a variety of fidgets, stocking stuffers and THE best selection of pencil grips for supporting handwriting skills. Located in Hazard Center Shopping Center in Mission Valley or online.
Hand2Mind
www.Hand2Mind.com
This online resource features really great alternatives for teaching hard-to grasp ideas like fractions and storyline intent. They also carry a variety of sensory products and social emotional skills builders. Perhaps our favorite section is the one devoted to a multi-sensory approach to literacy. Parent resources teach parents how to use their toys to teach tough subjects like math in a fun, effective and often tactile way. The company is available online to tackle an individualized approach to learning and is therefore well suited to supporting home learners.
LakiKid
www.LakiKid.com
This online store is one-stop-shop for sensory needs. If your child struggles to stay seated and maintain attention, if they have trouble regulating their emotions, or if they crave sensory stimuli, there is a product on this website for them. More than a toy store, they specialize in seating, sleeping and calming solutions to some of our biggest home challenges as well as fun and empowering awareness gear to support diversity and inclusion.
Lottie
www.Lottie.com
At first glance, the Lottie dolls seem like your average make believe play dolls, and this is why they are important. The diversity displayed by the dolls is subtle and just what we need right now. All the dolls are inspired by real kids. The full Finn doll playset is our favorite, as Finn loves astronauts and has Autism. He communicates with a PECS-style system of cards, has glasses that help him with glare, has noise canceling headphones that help with loud sounds and is the proud owner of a therapy dog. His friend Rosie Boo has Down Syndrome which is hinted at by her odd socks (a movement within the Down Syndrome community) and ankle supports for walking. Mia is a Black photographer for the school newspaper with a cochlear implant. Lottie dolls are made to the exact proportions of the children they represent, so you won’t find body image issues here.
Nee Doh
www.Schylling.com
If you really want to understand the popularity of this sensory toy brand, we suggest you head to TikTok and watch the thousands of videos posted by neurodiverse fidget enthusiasts. Most will talk about the benefits of their beautiful, fun, hand-sized, sensory squeezie balls and noodles, but we also love their volleyball-sized, neon fabric balls which are perfect for hugging and can be used on a long flight as an airline pillow. We discovered, quite by accident, that they glow under black light in our school sensory room, which only added to our enjoyment. Nobody gets kneading like Nee Doh.
Crazy Aaron’s
www.CrazyAarons.com
We love this king of the sensory putty industry for its variety and beauty, but the website also offers a unique array of science experiments and crafts based on their product. Our fascination began with the space putties and then blossomed with the magnetic putties, with which we could easily lose an hour hypnotized by the putty reacting to magnets and moving on its own. The addition of scents opened up a whole new world, and if you ever owned scented markers as a kid, you will truly understand the draw of this product. Made in the USA and created by a certified science geek, this is one of THE best stocking stuffers on the market.
Miniland
www.MinilandGroup.com
Inspired by Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, this toy group takes a multi-sensory approach to play and learning. We love the organization of this website, as parents can search by age and child’s play needs. Our favorite toys include a realistic baby doll with Down Syndrome, providing feelings of positive identity and creating a diverse playroom, a mirror with tabs to name feelings, the translucent Conexion toy that teaches spatial awareness, dimension and surface area in a visual and tangible way, and their wide array of sensory and emotional intelligence tools and toys.
Leave a Reply