22 Best Sensory Toys for Kids Who Love All the Feels

Made for infants and babies, each of the three “tools” makes a sound: the paint tube squeaks, the paintbrush makes a crinkle and the crayon makes a rattling giggle. Then there's a bear to love and a carrying case, with six colors to identify. One tester mom said her 1-year-old mastered putting everything into the carrier, then taking it out again. Ages 0+

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Each time a child pulls a scarf from the tissue box (which also works on their grasping skills), they'll be treated to a different color or texture. Parent testers were pleased with the quality materials of the scarves, and they reported that their babies loved emptying the box again and again. Ages 0+

The scales of this fish toy have different textures, some are crinkly, and some shine with a mirrored surface. Your baby will discover pictures of sea creatures underneath the scales, too. The tail squeaks and works as a teether, for all those babies who explore with their mouth. Ages 0+

Also on our list of the best toys for kids with autism, this sensory ball is baby-safe but appeals to big kids, too, who find it easier than a regular ball to catch and hold onto. "The texture on the balls helped my 2-year-old's hands grip them, so I really loved that feature," one parent tester said.

This ball arrives flat and you have to inflate it. Check to be sure you are buying one with a pump. It comes in lots of colors, and in a set of four small balls that arrive fully inflated. Ages 6 months+

This squishy ball is covered in easy-to-grab bumps that each offer a different texture for babies to explore. It also has cool colors, bold patterns and stimulating rattling sounds. Ages 6 months+

The open-ended, indoor/outdoor nature of these foam shapes mean kids can use them in many sensory adventures — stacking, spinning, standing, balancing, etc. They can be drums, they can be stones for "The Floor is Lava," they float in the tub and can be filled with water.

They also come in pastel colors and in smaller sets of three . Ages 1+

Bath time is always sensory, since water play is built right in. But you can extend the experience with these building bath pipes, which each do something unexpected when water is poured in. Some have pieces that turn, some divide the water flow into multiple sprays and some change the water's direction. Ages 1+

Dimpl Digits features numbers 1 through 10 in a rainbow of bubbles that give a satisfying pop when kids push them in. Flip it over for the numbers in Spanish, too. An older child might want a Simple Dimpl keychain for their backpack. Ages 1+

It's a two-for-one: Kids can use the big building blocks to make farm animals — and, when assembled, the animals double as musical instruments. We're talking about a horse xylophone, a cow drum, a pig cymbal, a chicken rattle, an egg clacker, a sheep with guiro-like notches and more.

Some of the blocks have additional sensory features, like ears with textures or pieces that click. "This is a great toy for fine motor development and musical interest," a parent tester noted. Ages 1+

We recommend using this outdoors for good, wet water play. Kids pour water into the upper tier and watch as it falls down to the lower basin like rain. Testers liked that the number of accessories it comes with and that the 360 degrees of play makes it easy for siblings and friends to use together. Ages 18 months+

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Yes, kids can build with these translucent blocks, but they can also be squished or stretched. Some have bead or other sensory items nestled inside. The set comes with 20 blocks and makes a nice addition to a child’s larger construction collection. There's now a Jelly Blox Truck Kit as well. Ages 2+

A favorite of our Good Housekeeping readers, this is an open-ended toy, meaning there's no one "right" way to play with Bilibo. Kids can flip it one way and stand on it, or flip it the other and sit in it. It's fun for rocking in, or hiding under — depending on your kid's sensory needs at the moment. Ages 2+

Bristle Blocks are interlocking pieces made of soft, rubbery spikes that have a fascinating texture which allows them to link together smoothly. This is a big bucket of pieces 80 pieces that encourage imaginative builds. Ages 2+

Watching the glitter, colors and other materials rain down in these fidget tubes offers a calming experience for kids who need a distraction or a minute to cool down. The set comes with four tubes: a glitter tube, a fidget tube, a reverse hourglass and a gravity spinner, but Hand2Mind also has tubes that help kids name emotions (those are a previous Best Toy Awards winner). Ages 3+

It's possible to do a DIY sensory bin for your kid, but that means buying a medium like sand, toys to hide in it and small tools for your child to use to cover and unearth the treasures. Everything is already included in this set — even the bin!

Kids can bury then dig up the toys (glittery balls, squishy alien) among the small rocks, which make a pleasant sound as they shift around. The brand has other themes, too, like a construction-toy sensory bin with sand. Ages 3+

Does your kid crave physical play? The 10 pieces in this set can be used to form zig-zag balance beams, a star shape or more, encouraging your kids to practice balance and jumping on and off. They have a non-slip base. Ages 3+

There are lots of brands of slime and other sensory compounds out there, but none have quite the color-changing magic of the Crazy Aaron's brand. It's not as slimy as most slime compounds, yet it doesn't dry out and it stores in its own 4-inch tin.

This blue-purple putty is called Super Scarab; there are plenty of others, like a blue glittery version called Mermaid Tale. Ages 3+

Playfoam on its own is a great sensory toy: The beady, moldable foam offers textures to explore, and it doesn't dry out so you can use it over and over.

Playfoam comes in many forms, but this set includes six pods each with two foam colors, and a mystery pet buried inside each pod. It can keep one kid occupied for a stretch, or break it out for a playdate. Ages 3+

A perfect item for a calming corner, these mazes are designed to be traced with a finger. There are also breathing exercises designed to match the patterns that kids can practice if they want to get better at self-regulation. It comes with two double-sided mazes, for four different breathing exercises. Ages 3+

We've tested and love this inexpensive toy bubble machine that blows thousands of bubbles a minute, delighting kids with the opportunity to chase and pop the soapy bubbles.

It comes with four ounces of bubble solution, which lasts about a half hour. To keep the fun going, we suggest getting a jug of Gazillion Bubble Solution and refilling the bottle that fits onto the machine. Requires 4 AA batteries; ages 3+

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