Sensory activities for kids with autism are important to help regulate the sensory system. Sensory activities for autism include fine motor and gross motor activities. They are also fun and can promote increase learning, communication and interaction. Read about the 21 benefits of sensory play for autism in this post. For the best autism activities for parents, teachers and therapists, get my autism activities workbook bundle.
Best Sensory Activities for Autism
You may notice that your child has multiple food sensitivites, refuses to wear certain types of clothing, avoids getting his or her hands dirty or general hyperactivity and irritability. All of these symptoms can be caused by sensory dysfunction.
If you are looking for a comprehensive overview of sensory processing disorder, as well as specific and effective strategies to help you deal with it in your home or classroom, I highly recommend you take a look at Sensory 101 the most complete resource I know of to help you deal with these challenges.
At my center, I include a lot of sensory activities in the children’s programs because they tend to be very motivational for the kids and give us the opportunity to work on so many skills : communication, interaction, following steps, independent activities and more, depending on the organization of the activity.
These are 30 of my favorite sensory activities for kids with autism :
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2. Gardening with Kids with Autism.
4. DIY Light Table & Light Table Projects.
6. Seashell Crafts and Activities.
8. Dried Beans and Other Everyday Therapy Tools.
10. Creative and Fun Play with Straws.
11. Sensory Box Ideas.
12. Building a Nest Playdough Play.
13. Playdough Stamping.
14. Bow Tie Pasta Crafts.
15. Flower Power Springtime Crafts for Kids.
16. DIY Plantable Felt Gardens.
19. Frozen Legos.
20. Water Table Sensory Play Ideas.
23. Printable Sensory Communication Workbook.
24. Colorful Tulips Playdough Mat.
25. DIY Fidgets.
26. Colorful Socks Playdough Mat.
27. Train Sponge Painting Activity for Kids with Autism.
28. DIY Gluten-Free Playdough.
30. Monet Inspired Sensory Play.
More Autism Resources
- The Successful Interaction with a Child with Autism Course – learn to better understand your autistic child or students with this complete course.
- Autism Activities Workbook Bundle – build communication skills, fine motor skills, sensory play skills and daily living skills, while helping your child or students to successfully manage any difficult behaviors, with these fun, educational, printable activities.
- Autism Activities Vault – your collection of 420+ autism activities for the entire school year.
- Sensory Communication Workbook – Build communication skills with simple sensory activities.
- How to Make a Communication Binder Guide & Workbook – Learn how to create a Communication Binder for your child or student with autism using real photos. Follow my expert guide to learn how to use it to increase communication skills.
- Autism Adapted Books Bundle – a collection of 10 adapted books that will help you build communication skills while teaching more than 120 vocabulary words.
- Autism Social Stories Bundle – a collection of printable social stories to help your little learners work on their social skills.
- Zoo Animals Play Dough Mats Bundle – use these printable play dough mat to work on the names of the animals, build language skills, and increase fine motor strength and precision in a fun, sensory way!
Enjoy these sensory activities for kids with autism!
Use these sensory exercises for autism to help your child or students thrive.
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Pin for later!
First published April 20, 2017. Last updated March 3, 2025 with more information, additional tips, and better readability.
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