The Nine Best Fidget and Stim Toys on Amazon
Do you find yourself sitting at a desk and you notice your foot going up and down? Do you find yourself chewing on your pencil while listening in a meeting? While you are thinking do you click your pin out and in? Do you take your pencil and roll in on your upper lip while you are thinking? Do you doodle on your notes or write on your desk? Then you hear the words… Stop Fidgeting! Pay attention! Does this mean you have Autism? No… but you might need a fidget toy! 
According to The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), over 96% of kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report having sensory issues, either being over-stimulated or under-stimulated by everyday sensory input. Every kid has their own way of trying to satisfy their sensory cravings. Bouncing, jumping, snapping, clapping, and hand flapping are all typical forms of self-stimulation or “stimming.”
Stimming is defined by oxford languages as “behaviour consisting of repetitive actions or movements of a type that may be displayed by people with developmental disorders, most typically autistic spectrum disorders.”
So what can you do to help you personally or satisfy your son or daughter’s need to stim? You may want to give stim toys a try.
What is a Stim Toy?
Stim toys (or fidget toys) are designed to stimulate a person’s sensory system. Stim toys come in all shapes and sizes, and each one is made to stimulate an individual sense.
For example, chewable jewelry may be a great option if your child stims by putting things in their mouth. For those who stim with their hands, something like a stress ball or fidget spinner may provide the tactile stimulation they need.
How do Fidget Toys Help Autism?
Everyone handles sensory stimulation differently. For example, some people with autism (often known as sensory avoiders) are easily overstimulated by various sights, sounds, or textures. For these individuals, a fidget toy can help ground them, taking their attention away from their surroundings by focusing on the sensations that a fidget toy provides.
On the other end of the scale, sensory seekers (or people who underreact to sensory information) require far more stimuli to function normally. These kids often struggle to sit still, causing them to pace, fidget in their seats, or rock back and forth.
If your child is a sensory seeker, you may find a wiggle seat particularly helpful. These specialized cushions provide additional proprioceptive stimulation helping to satisfy their sensory needs without them even thinking about it.
Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all stim toy for every kid. It may take a few tries to find one that works, so be patient, and don’t be afraid to experiment.
Our Top Picks for Stim Toys For Autism
“Farm Beadeez” are the perfect autism fidget toys if you are looking to bring a little laughter into your child’s life. Each of the six different squishy farm animals is filled with hundreds of “jelly-like water beads” that provide “satisfying tactile feedback.”
When squeezed or stretched, the heads of these adorable animals expand in a comical way which is sure to put a smile on any child’s face.
Each “Farm Beadee” is made from durable, non-toxic (CPSIA inspected) silicone, ensuring that these stress balls will last for years to come.
15 Piece Fidget Toy Pack
If you are just diving into the world of stimming toys for autism, this 15 piece set of sensory toys is the perfect place to start. The five unique toys in this kit allow you and your child to experiment with audible, tactile, and visual stimuli without spending a fortune.
The toys included in this pack are small and portable, so you can help your child develop creativity and fine motor skills just about anywhere.
Bouncyband Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet
The “Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet” are an innovative product for sensory seeking kids that provide the same sensory stimulation of a wiggle seat while retaining the feel of an ordinary chair.
These “Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet” easily snap onto existing chair legs, and because they have soft baseplates, you can use them on hardwood floors, tile, or carpet without worrying about causing damage.
Before you buy the “Wiggle Wobble chair feet,” it should be said that they can support a total weight of 120 lbs. So if your son or daughter is on the heavier side, a traditional wiggle cushion might be a better option.
Chew Necklaces for GirlsWhen they are overloaded (or underloaded) with sensory stimuli, kids with ASD often put small objects in their mouths. This can pose a serious choking hazard, so why not give them something safe to chew on.
These fun-shaped stim chew necklaces are made from the highest quality, food-grade silicone, are completely waterproof, and are easy to clean with soap and water.
Since these necklaces are pieces of wearable jewelry, your daughter can take them anywhere and use them as needed.
JNATER Shark Tooth Chew Necklaces
If your son tends to regularly chew on his clothes or put things in his mouth, you might consider purchasing a set of these “JNATER Shark Tooth Chew Necklaces.”
Just like the necklaces for girls that we mentioned before, these stim-chew shark tooth necklaces are also made from BPA-free, food-grade silicone, so you won’t have to worry about your son getting sick from constantly having this necklace in his mouth.
Additionally, “JNATER Shark Tooth Chew Necklaces” feature a unique break-away clasp, so if the necklace ever gets caught or snagged on something, it will snap open to avoid injury and stress.
Little Sensory Cushion
The “Wiggle Seat Little Sensory Cushion” is another fantastic product from Bouncyband. This small-sized seat has a classic round wobble cushion design to provide proprioceptive stimulation to little sensory seekers between the ages of three and seven.
Thanks to its versatile design, this sensory cushion allows you to dial in the perfect level of sensory stimulation for your son or daughter. One side of the cushion is textured with small raised bumps, while the other side has larger rubber nubs for extra stimulation. Additionally, since this wiggle seat is inflatable, you’ll have the flexibility to put more air in or let it out to achieve optimal comfort.
TheraBand Stability Ball
Sometimes, traditional wiggle seats just don’t cut it for sensory seeking kids. Inflatable cushions provide some sensory stimuli, but since they are stationary, they don’t require very much balance to use.
Why not get rid of the chair altogether and replace it with a “TheraBand Stability Ball?” Occupational therapists often recommend inflatable exercise balls for kids with ASD to improve posture, balance, core strength, and overall stability.
To accommodate your child’s age, size, and height of your table, the “TheraBand Stability Ball” is available in four different sizes.
Step2 Dino Dig Sand & Water Table
If you have toddlers or younger autistic kids who are just beginning to explore tactile sensory stimulation, the “Dino Dig Sand & Water Table” by Step2 is an excellent stim toy to introduce textures while simultaneously helping them develop essential motor skills.
The “Dino Dig Sand & Water Table” has two sides, one for sand and one for water allowing your children to take included dinosaurs on adventures and dig for the bones molded into the table.
When it comes time for clean-up, simply pull the non-leak drain plug to empty out the sand and water from the table.
Playz 5pc Kids Playhouse Fort
Children with Autism are within themselves. This Playhouse will enable them to have the freedom of expressing themselves and sharing it with peers. They will be interacting with their peers and won’t even realize it. If you have the area, then have all the fun in the world and order the balls with it!
The Playz “Playhouse Fort” Is an absolute must for any parent looking to set up a playroom for their autistic son or daughter. Tunnels are to help strengthen children wrist, its apart of growing. “You have to crawl before you walk.” This old saying does hold some Marret. Crawling is a part of the growth of our brains. Crawling helps both sides of the brain work together. Ball-pits assist the children with balance and body control. Basketball hoops are great way to practice eye and hand coordination.
Playz truly goes above and beyond the safety standards with their “Playhouse Fort.” The company claims to be the only manufacturer to use “triple secured ends,” ensuring the metal coils within the tunnels will never come loose, injuring your child.
As a note, while the Playz “Playhouse Fort” can hold up to 1000 balls, they are not included. So you will need to purchase balls, like these ones, separately.
Choosing the Right Stim Toys for Your Child With Autism
Hopefully, this list of our favorite sensory stim toys has given you some ideas for tools you can add to your autism toolbox. If you have experience with a stim toy that we didn’t mention on this list, we would love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and join our fantastic community of parents and caretakers of kids with autism disorders.
