Navigating the world of ADHD as a parent and counsellor, I’ve seen firsthand how sensory toys can make a significant difference. They’re not just toys; they’re tools that aid in sensory integration, provide stress relief, and help manage excess energy. Here’s an updated selection of the best fidget toys for kids, and even adults. They are perfect additions to sensory rooms, quiet moments at home, in the counselling room, or on your own desk. Each toy is a great sensory tool, promising to be a great addition to you or your child’s routine.
If you are looking for counselling for neurodivergent children or adults, the KiddyCharts editor, Helen Neale, works for Headstuff ADHD Therapy as a qualified counsellor. We also have a number of other resources for parents and teachers covering ADHD.
1. Fidget rings
These sensory fidget toys offer tactile stimulation and are a discreet way to keep fidgety hands busy. They’re ideal for improving tactile awareness of your fingers too. There are a few different kinds of rings that you can choose. We love the plastic wire ones, as much as the slightly more expensive ones that are often branded as anxiety rings.
2. Classic fidget spinners
Tap into the latest trends with spinners that come in different colors and shapes, providing visual and sensory stimulation. They’re the top pick for a fun toy that aids fine motor skills. We rather love this set of metallic ones as they look so cool.
3. Silicone chewables
A range of Montessori toys that double as chewable sensory tools, perfect for those seeking proprioceptive input and a calming influence. Available in various shapes and vibrant colors. We are particularly fond of the Lego-inspired necklaces.
4. Weighted lap pads
An excellent sensory tool for sensory processing disorder, offering deep pressure stimulation for a calming effect. A must-have in every collection of fidget toys – the one we are recommended is an animal buddy. If offers ears to play with, as well as the pressure sensation on the lap as well.
5. Tangle therapy toys
Engage in hands-on learning with toys that twist into different shapes, enhancing hand-eye coordination and serving as a quiet fidget toy for people of all ages. There are so many different types and colours of these classic toys, you are bound to find one that works for you.
6. Stress balls
Among the most popular fidget toys, these squishy balls are a great way to relieve stress, improve focus, and support sensory integration. They’re perfect toys for restless hands and come in different colors – these are our favourite ones with some motivational phrases on them.
7. Magnetic fidget toys
These toys provide a unique sensory outlet, allowing for creative play and fine motor development. They’re a perfect toy for older kids and adults alike. We rather love these building fidget magnetic toys; note they are suitable only for 12 and up though.
8. Kinetic sand
A top sensory tool for promoting sensory stimulation and fine motor skills, Kinetic Sand is a fun toy that allows kids of all ages to mould it into various shapes.
9. Liquid motion timers
Offer visual stimulation and a quiet, mesmerizing experience, making them a great addition to sensory rooms or as desk toys.
10. Stretchy strings
These stretchy strings are fantastic for tactile stimulation, fine motor development, and as a sensory fidget toy that comes in lot of different colors. As we have demonstrated with our unicorn coloring pages, we love a unicorn on KiddyCharts. These unicorn stretchy strings are our favorites as a result.
11. Wacky tracks
Snap and click these fidget tools into various shapes, offering both auditory feedback and tactile stimulation. A great toy for sensory exploration. This is a great multi-pack of wacky tracks for you to start with.
12. Flippy chains
A simple, quiet fidget toy that’s perfect for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, helping to manage excess energy in a discreet way. We love this set of four flippy chains, each with a different colored theme.
13. Balance boards
These boards are excellent for gross motor skills, helping children expend energy and focus better. They’re a fun educational game and a perfect addition to active play. We love the ones where there are little games to play in the middle, as they can make the gross motor activity even more engaging for kids. Check this balance board out, which also includes a maze ball activity too.
14. Squishmallows
Soft, sensory toys that provide a satisfying squeeze, as well as being awesomely furry, ideal for sensory stimulation and stress relief. A great tool for every parent looking for calming toys. These are great for adults and children alike as well – coming in different sizes, and with loads to collect. Naturally, given we love a good dragon on the site, the squishmallow dragons are our favorites.
15. Desk rotating fidget balls
These balls just sit on any desk, providing a sensory outlet and stress relief. They can make a great addition to a classroom, or a desk at home. They spin for quite a while with just one push – so are perfect to fidget with while listening, waiting, or watching.
16. Puzzle balls
Challenge fine motor skills and problem-solving with these puzzle balls, a fun toy that also aids in attention focus. We had one when the kids were younger, and both of them loved it. There are a range of different ones for different age ranges. The older ones have more puzzles within them. Check this puzzle ball out with 70 different puzzles inside it!
17. Marble fidget toys for kids
Encased in fabric, these fidget tools are perfect for tactile exploration and are a great toy for kids needing sensory stimulation in different ways. This selection comes with a few different colors.
18. Bouncy bands
Attach these bands to chairs to allow kids to move their feet while staying seated, a great solution for managing excess energy and improving concentration. These are ideal for classrooms too, and to help kids concentrate in smaller classes, such as for those in a group music lesson.
19. Spiky sensory balls
Offering both tactile and visual stimulation, these balls are a perfect toy for sensory seekers. They’re a popular choice for SEN and ADHD, and are also know as hedgehog balls. Our selection is a set of five with different colors – remember they bounce too so can be used as a bit more of an active fidget toy too.
20. Slap bracelets
Fun and colorful, these provide a sensory experience and fine motor skill enhancement with every slap. A nostalgic yet effective sensory tool – we have picked a small set with simple colors, but there are LOADS of different designs. You are bound to find one that works for you.
21. Twiddle cats/dogs
These plush toys provide comfort and sensory stimulation, making them a great sensory tool for anxiety relief and focus. Perfect for kids of all ages, and adults too. These are a little more expensive than some of the other ideas we have, but we wanted to provide a breadth of options for you.
22. Scented dough
This helps kids to engage with the sense of smell along with tactile exploration, making it a great sensory tool for creating calm. Comes in different colors for visual stimulation, and there are also LOADS of sets combining activities with the dough too. Check out the list above, or buy a simple scented dough pack instead.
23. Yoga balls
Used as chairs, these balls help with gross motor skills, balance, and provide a fun way to manage energy. A top pick for active kids. You can get the typical round yoga balls of course, but why not try the peanut yoga balls ones for something different too?
24. Sensory tubes
These sensory tubes offer hands-on learning through visual, tactile, and auditory experiences. They usually come in packs with different colors, and materials. They are a perfect addition to any collection of fidget toys for enhancing sensory integration – and they are a load of fun too!
25. Monkey rings
A fun toy that combines fine motor skill development with sensory stimulation, these rings are perfect for playful engagement and sensory exploration. They can be installed inside somewhere suitable. Altnative, explore the other options on Amazon.
Choosing the right sensory and fidget toys for kids can open up a world of learning and growth for children with ADHD. By integrating these toys into their daily routines, you give them the tools to engage with their environment positively and productively. Remember, the best part of exploring these toys is discovering which ones resonate most with your child or the kids in your classroom, providing them with the best experiences possible.
If you are looking for other articles on ADHD, do check out our resources for parents and teachers on ADHD. Here are some of the tips we have already published on the subject:
ADHD resources on KiddyCharts Part 4
Here is the fourth set of resources for ADHD from the site. We have loads for you so do check out the other ones as well on our ADHD page.
Explaining ADHD to teachers: A communication guide for parents
ADHD is now undeerstood to be neurological: so what to say to your child's teachers and how to say it.
ADHD and cannabis: What to do if your ADHD kid starts smoking weed
Why kids with ADHD are more likely to try cannabis, and advice on what to di if they do.
ADHD and friendships: How to help your child
Information on how to help your kids with their friendships if they have ADHD.
There are more off site too:
Other articles on ADHD from the web (Part 2)
Here are some more articles on ADHD from the internet - do check them out alongside the other resources that we have on our site too.
5 Simple Ways to Motivate a Child with ADHD
Some ways to help motivate those with ADHD - something that can be really difficult to do!
What's it like for a child with ADHD?
An over-arching article about what it is like as a child with ADHD.
10 Things Other Parents Need to Know About ADHD in Girls
ADHD in girls is something that we are only just discovering - with girls being diagnosed later in life on average that boys. Check this article out for more info now.
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Helen
Helen
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine! Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time. KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10. It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania. Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on. Get in touch TODAY!