The Sensory Experience: A Guide to Sensory Toys for Adults
Sensory toys are no longer just for children. More and more adults are discovering the calming, focusing, and therapeutic benefits these tactile tools can offer. Sensory toys designed to stimulate one or more of the five senses—touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste—can aid in stress management, improve concentration, and even promote better sleep. Let’s dive into the world of adult sensory toys, exploring various categories and how they can enhance your daily life.
1. Fidget Toys
Fidget toys are designed to engage your sense of touch, offering a satisfying tactile experience. They’re excellent for relieving stress, improving focus, and even helping to manage conditions like ADHD and autism. Here are a few examples:
- Fidget Spinners and Cubes: These classic sensory toys provide a satisfying tactile experience and can be calming. They’re perfect for keeping your hands busy during Zoom meetings or brainstorming ideas.
Here are a few popular fidget toys available on Amazon:
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Sensory Fidget Toys Set – This set includes a variety of fidget toys such as fidget spinners, stress balls, tangle toys, and more. It offers a range of tactile experiences for stress relief and improved focus.
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Infinity Cube Fidget Toy – This compact and durable toy consists of interconnected cubes that can be folded and unfolded in various ways. It’s perfect for keeping your hands occupied and helps promote relaxation.
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Twiddle Fidget Toy – The Twiddle is a versatile fidget toy with multiple textures, buttons, and attachments to engage your senses. It provides a great way to relieve stress and stimulate your creativity.
- Stress Balls: Designed to be squeezed, these balls often have varied textures and can help reduce anxiety levels. Some even have different colors or patterns that emerge when packed, offering visual stimulation.
Here are a few popular adult stress balls available on Amazon:
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Gaiam Stress Balls – These stress balls are made of a soft and durable material. They provide a comfortable grip while squeezing and can help relieve tension and anxiety.
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Serenity Bamboo Stress Relief Ball – This stress ball is made of 100% natural bamboo and provides a firm yet pleasant texture. It’s designed to promote relaxation and stimulate acupressure points in the hands.
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YoYa Toys DNA Stress Balls – These stress balls are filled with water beads and provide a unique tactile experience. They can be squeezed, stretched, and rolled, offering relief and sensory stimulation.
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Funky Egg Splat Ball – This squish ball can be tossed, squeezed, or splatted against a surface. It’s a fun, satisfying, stress-relieving toy that returns to its original shape after being squished.
- Tangle Toys: With their interlocking and twisting parts, these toys offer an engaging tactile and visual experience that can be surprisingly soothing.
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Tangle Jr. Original Fidget Toy – This is the classic tangle toy consisting of interconnected curved sections that can be twisted and turned into different shapes. It offers a satisfying tactile experience and can promote relaxation and focus.
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Tangle Therapy Relax for Hand and Mind Wellness – This tangle toy provides
therapy and relaxation for both hands and mind. Its textured surfacecan be twisted and manipulated to relieve stress and anxiety.
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Tangle Creations NightBall Tangle Matrix – This toy glows in the dark, adding extra visual stimulation to the tactile experience. It can be twisted, turned, and coiled to provide a calming and entertaining sensory experience.
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Tangle Original Textured Fidget Toy – This tangle toy features various textured sections that add a new dimension to the tactile experience. It can be taken apart and rearranged to create different shapes and patterns, offering endless possibilities for sensory exploration.
2. Visual Sensory Toys
These toys appeal to your sense of sight, often with bright colors, lights, or visually stimulating movements. They can help create a calming environment and are especially useful for adults managing sensory processing disorders.
- Liquid Motion Bubblers: These captivating toys contain colored liquid that bubbles and moves when turned upside down. They’re excellent for visual stimulation and can promote relaxation.
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Super Z Outlet Liquid Motion Bubbler – This bubbler features a colorful liquid flowing and swirling, creating a soothing visual experience. It’s compact and perfect for both children and adults.
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Neliblu Wacky Tracks Snap and Click Liquid Motion Bubbler – This unique bubbler combines the fun of a fidget toy with the mesmerizing liquid motion. It can be bent and snapped into different shapes, providing tactile and visual stimulation.
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SenseYo Liquid Motion Timer Bubbler – This bubbler has a sleek design and features two colorful liquids that flow and interact with each other. It’s a great stress-relieving toy that can promote relaxation and improve focus.
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YUE MOTION Liquid Timer Bubbler – This bubbler has a mesmerizing spiral-shaped design with colorful liquid that slowly moves and drips. It can be used as a relaxation tool or a decorative piece.
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USATDD Liquid Motion Bubbler – This bubbler features a gentle liquid flow with vibrant colors. It’s compact, durable, and provides a calming visual experience.
These Liquid Motion Bubblers can create a calming and visually stimulating experience for adults, making them an excellent addition to your sensory toy collection.
- Kaleidoscopes: These timeless toys offer a constantly changing array of colors and patterns, providing a mesmerizing visual experience.
Here are a few Kaleidoscopes for adults available on Amazon:
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Bits and Pieces – Mini Kaleidoscope Toy for Adults – This mini kaleidoscope features a sleek metal design and provides a mesmerizing visual experience with vibrant colors and intricate patterns.
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Tri-Colored Lens Kaleidoscope – This kaleidoscope offers a unique twist with its tri-colored lens design. It creates stunning visual effects and can be a beautiful decorative piece.
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N & J Kaleidoscope in Solid Ebony Wood – This handmade kaleidoscope is crafted from solid ebony wood and features a high-quality mirror system. It offers a refined and elegant visual experience.
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Great Explorations Wonder Stars – Though not a traditional kaleidoscope, these glow-in-the-dark star-shaped stickers can create a dazzling visual effect on any surface. They’re a fun and creative alternative for adults.
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Sliced Agate Crystal Kaleidoscope – This unique kaleidoscope features a sliced agate crystal as its main element. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and offers stunning patterns and colors.
3. Auditory Sensory Toys
Auditory sensory toys provide pleasing sounds that can promote relaxation and concentration. They’re ideal for adults who find comfort in auditory stimuli.
- Sound Machines: Offering a variety of calming sounds such as rainfall, ocean waves, or white noise, these machines can improve focus or facilitate sleep.
Here are some sound machines that can benefit autistic adults, available on Amazon:
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Marpac Dohm Classic White Noise Machine – This classic sound machine generates soothing white noise that helps mask background noise and promote relaxation.
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LectroFan Classic White Noise and Fan Sound Machine – This versatile sound machine offers a wide range of white noise and fan sounds to create a calming environment.
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AVANTEK White Noise Sound Machine – This compact and portable sound machine features 20 soothing sounds, including white noise, nature sounds, and lullabies.
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Big Red Rooster 6 Sound White Noise Machine – With six different sounds, including white noise, rain, and ocean waves, this sound machine provides various options for relaxation and sleep.
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Adaptive Sound Technologies LectroFan Evo White Noise Sound Machine – This advanced sound machine offers 22 non-looping fan and white noise sounds, adjustable volume, and optional timer settings.
Please note that it’s always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional or therapist to determine the most suitable sensory tools for individuals with autism.
- Music Therapy Instruments: Simple instruments like hand drums, maracas, or rainmakers can simultaneously produce calming sounds and offer a tactile experience.
Here are some Music Therapy Instruments available on Amazon that can benefit autistic adults:
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Remo Hand Drum – This hand drum is made with a durable synthetic head and provides a rich, resonant sound. It’s easy to play and can help promote relaxation and self-expression.
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Nino Percussion Egg Shaker Set – These egg shakers produce a gentle, rhythmic sound when shaken. They’re compact and easy to hold, making them ideal for individuals with limited motor control.
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Westco Vibraslap – The Vibraslap is a percussion instrument that adds a unique sound effect to the music. It’s easy to play and can provide sensory stimulation and engagement.
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SoundSet Bamboo Rainstick – This bamboo rainstick produces a soothing sound reminiscent of falling rain. It can be rotated or gently tapped to create different sounds and rhythms.
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Remo Rhythm Club Konga Drum – This Konga drum is designed to be played while seated or standing. It has a sturdy construction and delivers a deep, resonant sound that can be calming and energizing.
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African Percussion Kalimba Thumb Piano – The Kalimba Thumb Piano is a portable instrument that produces melodic sounds when the metal tines are plucked. It’s compact and easy to play, making it suitable for individuals with limited dexterity.
Please note that it’s essential to consider individual preferences and consult a music therapist or healthcare professional to determine the most appropriate music therapy instruments for autistic adults.
4. Tactile Sensory Toys
Tactile toys emphasize the sensation of touch, with textures designed to stimulate or calm.
- Sensory Rings/Brushes: Often used in occupational therapy, these toys offer a unique tactile experience and can help reduce stress and anxiety.
Here are some sensory rings/brushes that can benefit autistic adults:
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Sensory Brush Set – This set includes sensory rings and brushes designed to provide a soothing and tactile experience. They can help reduce stress and promote relaxation.
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Tactile Sensory Rings – These sensory rings are made of soft and durable materials offering different tactile stimulation textures. They can be worn on fingers or held in the palm.
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Soft Silicone Sensory Rings – These rings are made of flexible and gentle silicone material that provides a satisfying sensory experience. They are designed to be comfortable for individuals with sensory sensitivities.
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Spiky Sensory Finger Rings – These sensory rings have spiky textures that offer a unique tactile sensation. They can be used for sensory exploration, stress relief, and sensory integration therapy.
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Fidget Sensory Toy Rings – These adjustable rings have textured surfaces and movable beads that can be spun or rolled, providing a calming sensory experience. They are small and discreet, making them perfect for on-the-go use.
Please note that individual preferences may vary, so trying different sensory rings/brushes is recommended to find the ones that suit you best.
- Play Foam or Kinetic Sand: Moldable and satisfying to touch, these toys are great for stimulating creativity and reducing stress.
Here are 5 Play Foam or Kinetic Sand products from Amazon that are suitable for autistic adults:
- Sensory Sand Yellow 5 Pounds Sensory Toy for Adults Boys and Girls
- This is a high-quality play sand product that is soft, eco-friendly, and has a vibrant yellow color.
- Moldable Sand Toy Kit (12 Sand Packs Assorted Color) Therapy Sensory Toy Colored Sand for Kids and Adults
- This kit includes 12 packs of moldable sand in assorted colors. It’s a great therapy sensory toy for both kids and adults.
- Educational Insights Playfoam Glow in the Dark 8-Pack
- This play foam set glows in the dark, providing a unique sensory experience. It’s a squishy anxiety toy suitable for kids and adults with ADHD and Autism.
- GRAB A SMILE Stretchy Sand Sensory Toy – Non-Drying, Non-Sticky, Non-Toxic Reusable Slime with a Smooth Sandy Texture for Tactile Input – 1.1 Lbs (Yellow)
- This sensory toy is made from high-grade, BPA-free, hypoallergenic material. It has a smooth sandy texture that’s great for tactile input.
- 6 Pack Magic Sand – Space Sand Hydrophobic Sand Play Sand Colored Sand Toys for Kids & Adults-6 Colors
- This set includes six packs of magic sand in different colors. It’s a fun and engaging toy for both kids and adults.
Please note that it’s always important to consider the individual’s sensory preferences and needs when selecting sensory toys.
5. Olfactory Sensory Toys
Appealing to the sense of smell, olfactory sensory toys can provide a calming effect and stimulate memory recall.
- Aromatherapy Dough: Like a stress ball, this pliable dough releases soothing essential oils as you knead and squeeze it.
Here are 5 Aromatherapy Dough products from Amazon that are suitable for autistic adults:
- Pinch Me Therapy Dough – Holistic Aromatherapy Stress Relieving Putty – 10 Ounce Ocean Scent
- This therapy dough is designed to help refocus, rebalance, and restore with aroma treatment. As you knead, it can help relieve stress and strengthen your hands.
- Focus Blend of Essential Oils – Gluten-Free & Non-Allergenic – Child & Adult Therapy Tools
- This aroma dough is an excellent tool for ADHD management in children and adults. It can help deal with restlessness, frustration, and lack of focus.
- Scented Therapy Putty
- This scented therapy putty can help relieve stress and promote relaxation.
- Aroma Dough® Gluten-Free, Soy-Free Modeling Dough for Kids, Sensory Eco Friendly Set (5 Pack) All Natural Aromas!
- This gluten- and soy-free modeling dough suits individuals with celiac and special needs. It’s made with 100% wheat-free flour and natural aromas.
- Lavender Scented Stress Ball for Anxiety and Stress Relief – Purple 3 Pack
- These handcrafted lavender stress balls contain fragrant French lavender flowers inside, providing a long-lasting fragrance for stress relief.
Please note that it’s always important to consider the individual’s specific sensory preferences and needs when selecting sensory toys.
- Scented Candles or Diffusers: Though not a toy in the traditional sense, they can offer a multisensory experience with their gentle glow and relaxing scents.
Here are 5 Scented Candles or Diffusers products from Amazon that are suitable for autistic adults:
- Scented Candles for Home Scented Aromatherapy Candle for Women, All-Natural Non-Toxic Soy Candle Gift in Concrete Jar, 7 Oz (Soho Regency)
- This soy candle is designed to burn slowly and is perfect for creating a calming environment.
- NEST New York Wilderness Midnight Moss & Vetiver Scented Votive Candle for Home, 2 Oz.
- This beautifully fragranced candle is crafted with a proprietary premium wax formulated to burn cleanly and evenly.
- NEST Fragrances Midnight Moss & Vetiver, Reed Diffuser 5.9 fl oz, 5
- This reed diffuser releases a beautiful fragrance that can help create a calming environment.
- Aroma Dough® Gluten-Free, Soy-Free Modeling Dough for Kids, Sensory Eco Friendly Set (5 Pack) All Natural Aromas!
- This modeling dough is gluten-free and soy-free, making it suitable for individuals with celiac and special needs. It’s made with 100% wheat-free flour and natural aromas.
- Cliganic Organic Essential Oils Set (Top 5) – 100% Pure Natural – Aromatherapy, Candle Making – Peppermint, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass & Orange
- This set of organic essential oils is perfect for aromatherapy and candle making. It includes peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and orange oils.
Please note that it’s always important to consider the specific sensory preferences and needs of the individual when selecting sensory products.
Sensory toys for adults are a growing trend that offers many benefits, from reducing stress to improving focus. Try experimenting with different types to see which ones suit you best, and you may discover a delightful new tool for maintaining a sense of calm and well-being in your daily life.
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