Toys play a vital role in ABA therapy, serving as essential tools for teaching, reinforcing skills, and keeping children engaged during sessions.
Research shows that well-chosen toys can significantly enhance learning outcomes, improve attention, and encourage positive behaviors in children undergoing ABA therapy.
They help therapists model tasks, practice communication, and develop cognitive, motor, and social skills in a fun and motivating way.
Choosing the right toys can make therapy sessions more effective and enjoyable for your clients.
In this article, we will explore a variety of top toy ideas that are engaging, versatile, and specifically designed to support ABA therapy goals.
Best ABA Therapy Toy Ideas
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Shape Sorters
Shape sorters help children recognize shapes, develop fine motor skills, and practice problem-solving.
Children learn to match the correct shape to the corresponding hole, which promotes hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.
Start with simple shapes like circles, squares, and triangles, then progress to more complex forms.
Shape sorters are excellent for teaching colors, size differentiation, and categorization skills. Reinforce successful attempts with praise or small rewards.
- Stacking Blocks
Stacking blocks is ideal for developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial reasoning.
Children can practice building towers, knocking them down, or arranging them by size or color.
Start with large, easy-to-grip blocks and gradually introduce smaller or interlocking blocks to increase difficulty.
Stacking blocks also encourages problem-solving, patience, and creativity. They can be used in turn-taking activities, cooperative play, and non-verbal instruction exercises.
- Puzzles
Puzzles are excellent for teaching problem-solving, cognitive skills, and visual discrimination.
Start with large-piece, simple puzzles featuring familiar images, then progress to more complex designs as the child’s abilities improve.
Use hand-over-hand guidance for initial support, gradually fading prompts to encourage independent completion.
Puzzles also promote attention, persistence, and fine motor skills. They can be used to teach concepts such as colors, shapes, and animals, and they can be adapted for various difficulty levels.
- Play-Dough
Play-dough offers a sensory-rich activity that develops fine motor strength, hand-eye coordination, and creativity.
Children can mold shapes, letters, or objects, which helps improve dexterity and grasping skills.
It also provides opportunities for turn-taking, imitation, and guided instruction.
Therapists can use Play-Doh for themed lessons, like making animals or food, or for practicing following multi-step directions.
The tactile nature of play-dough can be calming and engaging, making it ideal for children with sensory sensitivities.
- Sorting Toys
Sorting toys teaches children to categorize objects by color, shape, size, or type. Examples include colored bears, buttons, or themed sorting kits.
Begin with a single criterion, like color, and gradually introduce additional attributes.
Sorting activities improve visual discrimination, cognitive skills, and organization, while supporting early math readiness.
Reinforce correct sorting with praise or rewards, and encourage repetition for mastery. Sorting toys can also be used for turn-taking and cooperative play.
They are highly versatile and can be adapted to target multiple developmental goals, making them a core resource in ABA therapy sessions.
- Cause-and-Effect Toys
Cause-and-effect toys, such as pop-up toys or musical instruments with buttons, teach children that their actions produce predictable outcomes.
Pressing a button may trigger a sound, movement, or light, reinforcing attention and cause-and-effect reasoning.
These toys are particularly effective for children developing early communication and exploration skills.
Encourage the child to predict results, take turns, and explore different actions.
Cause-and-effect toys support problem-solving, cognitive development, and fine motor skills.
They are highly engaging and can be incorporated into structured lessons or free play, motivating children to interact with their environment in meaningful ways.
- Musical Instruments
Musical instruments like tambourines, xylophones, or maracas encourage auditory exploration, rhythm development, and fine motor skills.
Children learn to produce sounds, imitate patterns, and follow simple instructions.
Instruments can also be used for turn-taking, joint attention, and non-verbal communication exercises.
Musical play enhances sensory processing, attention, and creativity. It is highly motivating and supports social interaction when used in group activities.
By incorporating music into ABA therapy sessions, therapists can promote emotional expression, engagement, and learning through a multisensory approach that combines movement, sound, and structured instruction.
- Toy Vehicles
Toy cars, trucks, and trains promote imaginative play, fine motor skills, and problem-solving.
Children can push vehicles along tracks, ramps, or open surfaces, learning spatial awareness and cause-and-effect relationships.
Incorporate turn-taking and cooperative play by having multiple children share vehicles.
Toy vehicles also provide opportunities for labeling, categorization, and sequencing activities.
They can be integrated into themed lessons, such as city or construction scenarios, to encourage creativity and social interaction.
- Dolls and Action Figures
Dolls and action figures facilitate imaginative play, social skills, and role-playing.
Children can practice daily routines, pretend scenarios, and social interactions with these toys.
Use them to teach turn-taking, emotional recognition, and problem-solving.
Dolls and figures encourage symbolic thinking, communication, and empathy development. They can also be used in non-verbal instruction or storytelling activities.
Incorporating dolls or action figures in ABA therapy supports language development, social understanding, and creativity while providing a fun, engaging way to practice real-life skills and social scenarios in a controlled learning environment.
- Soft Balls
Soft balls are versatile for gross motor activities, turn-taking, and coordination exercises.
Rolling, tossing, or catching a ball teaches hand-eye coordination, motor planning, and social interaction skills.
Use balls in structured games to practice waiting, sharing, and following non-verbal instructions.
Soft balls reduce the risk of injury and encourage participation for children with varying skill levels.
Incorporating ball activities into ABA therapy promotes physical development, attention, and cooperative play.
They can also be adapted for sensory engagement, counting exercises, and interactive lessons.
- Nesting Cups
Nesting cups are excellent for teaching size differentiation, stacking, and spatial reasoning.
Children can stack cups to build towers or nest them to learn sequencing and order.
This activity supports fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving skills.
Use cups for sorting by color, size, or number to introduce additional learning goals.
Nesting cup activities are versatile, suitable for individual or group sessions, and can be easily integrated into structured ABA therapy lessons.
They promote engagement, concentration, and developmental growth while remaining simple and accessible for children of various ages.
- Magnetic Letters and Numbers
Magnetic letters and numbers support early literacy and math skills through tactile exploration.
Children can identify, sort, or sequence letters and numbers on a magnetic board.
This activity enhances recognition, fine motor skills, and cognitive development.
Use magnets for matching games, spelling practice, counting exercises, or pattern creation. Reinforce successful completion with praise or rewards.
Magnetic letters and numbers provide a hands-on, engaging way to introduce academic concepts while promoting focus and problem-solving in ABA therapy sessions.
- Stacking Rings
Stacking rings develops hand-eye coordination, fine motor control, and understanding of size relationships.
Begin with rings of different colors and sizes, modeling how to place them on the pole in order.
Reinforce correct stacking and encourage problem-solving by asking the child to experiment with different sequences.
Stacking rings also supports visual discrimination, spatial awareness, and early math concepts like sequencing and comparison.
This activity is simple yet versatile, making it a staple in ABA therapy sessions for promoting cognitive, motor, and independent play skills.
- Board Books with Textures
Textured board books combine reading with tactile exploration, engaging multiple senses.
Children can touch, feel, and identify different textures while following a story, enhancing sensory processing and attention.
These books support early literacy, vocabulary development, and object recognition.
Use them to model actions, encourage pointing, or match textures with objects. Reinforce engagement and correct responses to questions or prompts.
Textured board books provide an interactive and motivating way to combine sensory play, language development, and fine motor practice in ABA therapy sessions.
- Water Play Toys
Water play toys, such as cups, funnels, or small sprinklers, encourage sensory exploration and fine motor development.
Children can pour, scoop, and measure water, learning cause-and-effect relationships while practicing hand-eye coordination.
Structured water play can teach turn-taking, patience, and following instructions.
Incorporate themes like measurement or floating and sinking experiments to combine learning with fun.
Water play is highly engaging, promotes regulation, and can be adapted for individual or group therapy sessions.
- Busy Boards
Busy boards contain latches, switches, buttons, and zippers to practice fine motor skills and problem-solving.
Children manipulate different components, building dexterity, attention, and independence.
Busy boards also teach cause-and-effect relationships, sequencing, and coordination.
Introduce tasks gradually, reinforcing successful attempts and encouraging exploration.
These boards are portable and durable, making them suitable for individual or small-group ABA therapy sessions.
They combine sensory, cognitive, and motor development in one engaging activity, helping children practice essential skills in a hands-on, interactive way.
- Pop-Up Toys
Pop-up toys teach cause-and-effect, attention, and motor planning. Children press buttons, pull levers, or twist knobs to make characters pop up.
This reinforces the connection between action and result, promoting exploration and problem-solving.
Pop-up toys can be incorporated into turn-taking games, imitation exercises, or sensory play activities. Immediate reinforcement and modeling encourage engagement.
These toys are highly motivating, interactive, and visually stimulating, making them an effective tool for practicing motor skills, attention, and cognitive development in ABA therapy sessions.
- Sensory Balls
Sensory balls with different textures, sizes, and colors engage tactile, visual, and proprioceptive senses.
Squeezing, rolling, or tossing these balls develops fine motor skills, coordination, and sensory processing. Use them for turn-taking, guided motor activities, or calming exercises.
Sensory balls also promote attention, problem-solving, and social interaction.
They can be integrated into structured lessons or free play, making them versatile for various ABA therapy goals.
- Toy Animals
Toy animals promote imaginative play, social skills, and language development.
Children can sort animals by type, size, or color, practice naming them, or create role-play scenarios. Use them to teach emotions, sounds, or habitats.
Toy animals support symbolic thinking, empathy, and non-verbal communication, and they can be incorporated into matching, sequencing, or sensory activities.
They are highly versatile, engaging, and motivating for children, making them an essential tool in ABA therapy.
- Velcro or Hook-and-Loop Toys
Velcro toys involve attaching pieces to a base, helping children practice fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving.
Activities can include matching shapes, letters, or themed characters. Reinforce correct placement and encourage exploration of different combinations.
Velcro toys are durable, portable, and suitable for individual or small-group ABA therapy sessions.
They engage children in hands-on learning while supporting cognitive development, visual discrimination, and dexterity.
This type of play is interactive and motivating, providing multiple opportunities to practice structured or exploratory learning.
- Light-Up Toys
Light-up toys respond to touch or movement with visual feedback, teaching cause-and-effect relationships, attention, and exploration.
Children press buttons, shake, or move the toy to activate lights, reinforcing the connection between action and result.
These toys are highly engaging and motivating, ideal for children who need extra sensory stimulation.
Incorporate light-up toys in turn-taking, imitation, or non-verbal communication exercises.
They help develop fine motor skills, focus, and problem-solving abilities, making them a valuable addition to ABA therapy sessions.
- Sensory Bins
Sensory bins contain materials like rice, beans, sand, or water beads, often with hidden objects to explore.
Children practice tactile exploration, fine motor skills, and problem-solving while engaging in imaginative play. Use themed bins to reinforce learning goals or seasonal concepts.
Sensory bins encourage attention, patience, and joint interaction, supporting social and cognitive development.
Structured guidance ensures focus, while open-ended exploration promotes creativity.
These bins are versatile, multi-sensory tools that enhance ABA therapy sessions by combining learning, sensory engagement, and play in one activity.
- Finger Puppets
Finger puppets support imaginative play, storytelling, and social-emotional learning.
Children can use puppets to act out scenarios, practice turn-taking, or explore emotions.
Finger puppets encourage symbolic thinking, creativity, and non-verbal communication.
They are portable, engaging, and versatile for one-on-one or group ABA therapy sessions.
Use them to model language, teach problem-solving, or reinforce social skills in a fun, interactive way.
- Stacking Peg Boards
Stacking peg boards helps children improve fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and color recognition.
Children place pegs into corresponding holes, learning sequencing, counting, and spatial awareness. Begin with simple patterns and progress to complex designs.
Peg boards can be incorporated into turn-taking games or structured lessons, reinforcing problem-solving and attention skills.
They are durable, versatile, and engaging, making them ideal for ABA therapy sessions focused on cognitive, motor, and visual development.
- Building Sets (LEGO or Duplo)
Building sets like LEGO or Duplo blocks encourage creativity, problem-solving, and fine motor development.
Children can follow patterns, replicate structures, or invent their own creations.
Building sets promote spatial awareness, sequencing, and patience while supporting cooperative play and turn-taking.
Use them to teach colors, numbers, or simple instructions. These toys are highly versatile, engaging, and motivating, making them a valuable resource in ABA therapy sessions.