Engaging children with autism and ADHD in sensory activities can help improve their focus, motor skills, and overall well-being. Here are 50+ sensory activities to explore:

Playdough exploration: Assists with providing proprioceptive input to the hands and allows for tactile play. 

• Help your child roll the playdough back and forth on a table with one hand or two hands. Using two hands to roll the playdough helps with bilateral coordination.
• Hide beans, small buttons, or raw rice in the playdough and have your child search for and remove them 1-by-1 to help with hand coordination, manipulation, and strengthening.

Sensory Bins: Fill bins with rice, beans, or sand for tactile exploration. Hide small toys inside of the bins and have your child dig with their hands to retrieve the objects.

• This is a great activity if your child struggles with tactile sensitivities to their hands.
• Great for fine motor skills and hand manipulation skills.

Water Play: Splashing and pouring water for soothing sensory input. You can help your child scoop or “fish” for objects/toys like magnetic alphabet letters or plastic fish.

• Scooping objects from the water with a spoon or ladle can help with arm and hand coordination and control skills.
• Using a water table makes it easier to set up and clean up! Check out my favorite water sensory tables HERE!

Bubble Wrap Popping: Great for tactile and auditory stimulation.

Finger Painting: Promotes creativity and tactile sensory exploration.

• Use a finger painting activity book to provide a visual and intentional task for your child.
• This helps with visual motor skills, fine motor skills, and developing cognitive skills.

Kinetic Sand: Moldable sand for hands-on play.

Weighted Blanket Time: Provides deep pressure for calming effects.

• Great for when your child is feeling a little overstimulated or overwhelmed.
• Learn how to incorporate a weighted blanket into a sensory room or calm-down corner!

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Trampoline Jumping: Burns energy and enhances coordination.

Music and Movement: Dancing to music for auditory and proprioceptive input.

Nature Walks: Engages multiple senses in a calming environment.

• Try a bug catching kit to help your chuld explore their environment.

Fidget Toys: Keeps hands busy and aids concentration.

• Great if your child struggles to maintain attention to tasks.
• Consult with your child’s occupational therapist to learn how to incorporate fidget tools at home or in the classroom.

Sensory Bottles: Visual stimulation with glitter and water bottles.

Smelling Jars: Identifying different scents for olfactory stimulation.

Foam Rolling: Provides deep pressure and muscle relaxation.

• Incorporate a foam roller into an obstacle course to help your child engage!

Therapy Putty: Strengthens hand muscles and provides tactile input.

Listening to Nature Sounds: Auditory stimulation for relaxation.

Obstacle Courses: Combines physical and sensory challenges.

• Things you can incorporate into an obstacle course: stepping stones, tunnels, a ball pit, or crash pads.

Finger Tracing on Sandpaper: Textural exploration and fine motor practice.

Blowing Bubbles: Improves oral motor skills and visual tracking.

Sensory Swing: Provides vestibular input and relaxation.

Bean Bag Toss: Enhances hand-eye coordination and proprioception.

Body Sock Play: Deep pressure and proprioceptive input.

Feather Touch: Light touch sensory input for calming effects.

Jump Rope: Enhances coordination and provides vestibular input.

Squishy Toys: Tactile stimulation and stress relief.

Light-Up Toys: Visual stimulation and focus.

Weighted Vest: Provides calming deep pressure input.

Blowing a Pinwheel: Oral motor skills and visual tracking.

Mirror Play: Visual and proprioceptive feedback.

Dry Pasta Sensory Bin: Tactile exploration with varied textures.

Hugging a Stuffed Animal: Provides comfort and proprioceptive input.

Playing with a Stress Ball: Tactile input and stress relief.

Balancing on a Beam: Enhances balance and proprioception.

Sensory Ball Pit: Tactile and proprioceptive input.

Blowing Up Balloons: Oral motor skills and deep breathing.

Foot Massage: Tactile and proprioceptive input for relaxation.

Yoga: Combines balance, proprioception, and deep breathing.

Tactile Books: Textural exploration with varied materials.

Rolling Pin Play: Provides deep pressure input.

Walking Barefoot on Different Textures: Tactile exploration with varied surfaces.

• Try using sensory floor tiles to help your child explore different textures.

Jumping Jacks: Combines movement and proprioceptive input.

Playing with Magnets: Visual and tactile stimulation.

Blowing Through a Straw: Oral motor skills and focus.

Puzzle Play: Enhances fine motor skills and visual processing.

Drumming: Provides auditory and proprioceptive input.

Climbing: Combines vestibular and proprioceptive challenges.

• For ease of use, try an indoor Swedish playground for climbing fun!

Playground Slides: Vestibular input and fun.

Tactile Gloves: Different textures for tactile exploration.

Hand Clapping Games: Coordination and rhythmic auditory input.

Sandcastle Building: Combines tactile and creative play.

Foam Block Building: Enhances fine motor skills and tactile input.

Using a Theraband: Provides resistance and proprioceptive input.

Stretching Exercises: Enhances proprioception and relaxation.

Riding a Scooter: Combines movement and vestibular input.

• Try a scooter board to help your child burn off excess energy!

Finger Puppets: Enhances fine motor skills and imaginative play.

Playing with Sponges: Tactile exploration and water play.

Tactile Wall Panels: Provides varied textural exploration.

Hand Washing with Different Textures: Combines tactile and hygiene practice.

Playing with Clothespins: Fine motor skills and hand strength.

Using a Vibrating Pillow: Provides tactile stimulation and relaxation.

These activities can be adapted to suit the individual needs of each child, helping them explore and engage with their environment in a way that is both fun and therapeutic.