For children, the benefits of the right toys go beyond simple enjoyment. While fun to play with, toys also help children develop critical thinking skills, nurture their creativity, build social intelligence and enhance their gross and fine motor skills. One of the many options you’ll find on the market these days is tactile toys, which leads to the question ‘what are tactile toys and how can they help a child develop?’

Sister Sensory is Australia’s ultimate toy destination for stim toys, fidgets and a range of other sensory solutions. Whether you’re the parent, carer, teacher, tutor or healthcare professional of a neurodivergent child, we have the solutions you’re looking for. In this article we address the question “what are tactile toys and how can they benefit the child in your life?”

 What are tactile toys?

 Spend any time shopping for sensory or fidget toys and you’ll come across the name tactile toys. So what are tactile toysand how do they differ from other aids and accessories?

Tactile toys are sensory toys that have been specifically designed to engage the sense of touch. Sensory toys stimulate the senses and help children to process their emotions and the world around them. With their variety of different textures and materials, tactile toys provide a sense of calm through the sensation of touch and help children to regulate their emotions.

Both children who are under-responsive and over-responsive to touch can benefit from tactile toys. They can provide strong and unique sensations for children that are seeking greater sensory stimulation, or gentle sensations for those who are sensitive to physical touch.

Tactile toys are frequently a suitable solution for children with autism, ADHD, anxiety and sensory processing disorder (SPD), as well as any other child that can benefit from the tactile stimulation.

 Tactile toy types

 Like other types of sensory tools, there are a number of different tactile toys on the market. So what are the tactile toytypes you can choose from? Some of the most common varieties include:

Sensory balls: Sensory balls provide much-needed stress relief for adults as well as helping children develop concentration and hand-eye coordination. These balls come in different sizes and have a variety of textures. For example, some are extra spiky for some additional sensory stimulation.

Fidgets: Common kinds of fidget toys like tangles and fidget spinners can provide plenty of sensory stimulation, engaging both young hands and minds at the same time.

Slime and putty: These squishy substances provide a relaxing way for a child to stimulate their sense of touch, and come in a range of lively textures and colours.

Textured fabric books and toys: From puzzles to books, textures accessories come in a broad selection of different style surfaces from smooth to bumpy in order to provide tactile exploration or soothing sensations.

 The benefits of tactile toys for children

 Now you know what tactile toys are, here are some of the biggest benefits they have for children:

Better focus and attention

By keeping little fingers busy, tactile toys help children filter out distractions and pay closer attention to the task at hand.

Cognitive stimulation

Sensory stimulation, including with tactile toys, improve hand-eye coordination as well as other aspects of brain development including memory.

Improved motor skills

Tactile toys improve both fine and gross motor skills in children, improving qualities like strength, dexterity and hand-eye coordination through play.

Improved emotional regulation

Tactile toys help ground children in the present moment and relieve stress and anxiety. They direct the child’s attention away from their feelings and centre them in calm, repetitive actions. Tactile and other sensory toys strengthen the connections in the brain related to emotional regulation, giving children the skills to manage stress.

Enhanced social interaction

Many tactile toys, such as puzzles, encourage social interaction by giving children the chance to take turns, communicate and co-operate. These toys can bridge the gap between solo and more social forms of play.

Tactile toys available at Sister Sensory’s online store

 Sister Sensory provides tactile toys, stim toys and other sensory solutions for adults, children and medical professionals. These toys cover a wide range of childhood conditions including autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorder, as well as for general special needs and purposes.

We’re an NDIS provider and a family-owned business with 10 years’ experience and more than 2000 diverse products. Working closely with therapists and specialists from all over Australia, we provide you with the best available sensory integration and multi-sensory products for your child.

Our extensive tactile toy range includes fidgets, stim toys, bubble wands, puzzles, hand puppets, sensory balls and more – all designed to provide hours of stimulation and fun.

To find out more about our fidgets, call Sister Sensory on 0401 689 313, e-mail info@sistersensory.com.au or drop into Factory 4, 4 Brooke Court Melton, Vic, 3337.