Subscription boxes for the whole family seem to be everywhere we look on social media these days, from crafts, fitness and self-care to clothing, books and snacks. And with good reason too: They’re curated experiences sent to your door—and who doesn’t love getting mail that isn’t just bills and junk? Here we’ve compiled a few of the best sensory toy subscription boxes for children with autism spectrum disorder.
While sensory toy play is beneficial for all children, it’s particularly beneficial for those who are neurodivergent. These benefits can be twofold: regulation and reinforcement, says Dr. Sara Feldman, a Mom-Approved ABA therapy provider and CEO and owner of The Helm ABA, which has locations in Dallas, Allen, Lewisville, Irving and Denton.
“Within therapy settings, sometimes kiddos will want to have access to [sensory toys] as an opportunity to help regulate themselves and prepare themselves to learn and then other times kids will want to work for something,” Feldman says. “So one is ‘I’m using it to regulate, so I’m able to learn’ and the other would be, ‘That’s my preferred way to engage in fun and recreation.’”
When choosing a sensory box for your child, Feldman recommends keeping a few things in mind:
- Durability: If you have a child who enjoys chewies, or an oral-motor input, you’ll want to make sure those items are very sturdy and safe.
- Affordability: Is the box cost-effective and does it fit within your budget?
- Variety: If you’re not sure what kind of input your child prefers, look for a box that includes multiple types of sensory inputs to explore. That way, you’ll be able to narrow down what specifically your child is drawn to.
RELATED: 7 Sensory-Friendly Attractions in Dallas-Fort Worth
Keep in mind that while there are age ranges listed for each sensory subscription box, these are general guidelines. You know your child’s independence, learning and developmental levels and needs, so you’ll know which box is most suitable for your child.
1. Box of Sensory Toys
This sensory toy subscription box for children was created by a long-time K–12 educator-turned-therapist, and Feldman says she wouldn’t be hesitant to get it for kids of all ages. There are four box options to choose from (monthly boxes come with six to eight toys and quarterly boxes come with nine to 12 toys), and each has girl, boy and unisex options.
All items included in the boxes are chosen based on their therapeutic or skill-building benefits, like fidgets, putty and items for oral motor, fine motor and/or gross motor skills. Feldman particularly likes the idea of the themed boxes that are occasionally available, like the recent Easter Advent Calendar. It’s “a nice way for grandparents to be able to give something that’s actually useful because gifting for kiddos that are on the spectrum can kind of be hit or miss,” she says.
Ages: Fidget toy box: 8–12; VIP box of sensory toys: 4–9; school sensory box: K–5th grades; Teen sensory box: 13 and older
Price: $26.99 fidget toy box (monthly); $45.95 VIP box of sensory toys (monthly); $75.95 school sensory box (quarterly); $75.95 teen sensory box (quarterly). Use discount code “DFW20” for a 20% discount. (Note: These are not affiliate links.)
Want more info? Visit boxofsensorytoys.com and follow on Facebook or Instagram.
2. PRE Box
This sensory subscription box was created by two Dallas-based pediatric speech-language pathologists, utilizing the Emotional Regulation Approach to prepare children for new experiences, like going to the dentist or getting a haircut, and increase emotional regulation. Each PRE (proactive regulatory experience) Box includes a PRE Story about the situation, visual cues for children to understand what will happen, tips for parents on how to talk to and prepare their kids and ideas to play with what’s included in the box.
Other items in the box include toys that look like real things your child would encounter. The doctor sensory box, for example, comes with toy versions of doctors’ tools (stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, bandages, etc.) and Play-Doh.
“This box is really cool. And I haven’t seen anything like that out there,” Feldman says. “It gives you all the different things that you could think about if you needed to talk about [an experience] like, ‘We’re going on an airplane, what would that be like?’ So it’s almost like a sensory desensitization opportunity as well.”
Ages: 3 and older
Price: $52 for 1 month; $50 per month for three-month and six-month subscriptions
Want more info? Go to getmyprebox.com and follow on Facebook or Instagram.
3. Stacy’s Sensory Solutions
While this isn’t technically a subscription box, Feldman says Stacy’s Sensory Solutions store in Plano is one of her go-to recommendations for sensory toys. The inspiration for the Plano store came from Stacy creating products for her oldest daughter, long before she was diagnosed with sensory integration disorder. The store specializes in sensory solutions for children of all ages and diagnoses, from weighted blankets and compression clothing to sensory toys and aromatherapy.
The sensory packs are targeted to your child’s specific needs, including sensory tools for frustration, textural input variety pack, age-based sensory input variety packs, homework and remote learning focus pack and a durable fidget pack. Because they target specific needs, Feldman says they’re a great option once you know what your child likes and needs.
Ages: All ages
Price: $75 per sensory pack, available for purchase online or in-store at 1220 Coit Road, Suite 102, Plano
Want more info? Visit stacyssensorysolutions.com and follow them on social media through Facebook or Instagram.
4. DeveloPlay Box
Each curated box by DeveloPlay, a company founded by a California-based occupational therapist, includes five to eight hand-picked sensory and motor tools and toys, like sensory putty, fidgets and squeeze balls. Based on the images of previous subscription boxes, Feldman says this box may be better suited to children who don’t have very destructive behaviors or older kids who have recreational play skills. If you are looking for a box for a little one or a child who is developing skills, consider the early explorer box, a quarterly subscription geared toward ages 1–3.
Ages: 3–10
Price: DeveloPlay: $49.95 month to month; $149.95 for 3 months; $299.95 for 6 months. Early Explorer: $69.95
Want more info? Visit developlaybox.com and follow on Facebook or Instagram.
5. Sensory TheraPlay Box
Created by a New York-based occupational therapist, these sensory subscription boxes feature five to seven items selected for one of four reasons: They’re favorites used in the “therapy world,” they’re “tried and true” items that have positive feedback from parents, they’re toys kids love to play with or they’re everyday toys that aren’t necessarily marketed toward children with special needs but do have developmental and sensory benefits.
And that last point is something Feldman mentions as something she particularly likes about this box. “If I’m thinking of an elementary school child that’s in a general education classroom, these might be very appropriate toys,” she says. “When I think about fidgets and things like that, I always think about normalization and does it look appropriate within the classroom without having somebody go, ‘What is that?’”
Ages: 5–9
Price: $42 month to month; $124.50 for 3 months; $238 for 6 months; $462 for 12 months
Want more info? Visit sensorytheraplaybox.com and follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
Top image courtesy of Sensory TheraPlay Box
