Sensory Play for Neurodivergent Children: Supporting Autism and ADHD with Edx Education
Sensory Play for Neurodivergent Children: Supporting Autism and ADHD with Edx Education
At Edx Education we know that children learn best through hands-on, play-based experiences. Whether you’re a parent at home or a teacher in the classroom, our educational toys and sensory play resources are designed to make learning meaningful, joyful, and inclusive for all children especially those who are neurodivergent, including children with autism and ADHD.
Using our innovative products such as the Edx Education Sand and Water Trays, Multipurpose Trays, and open ended learning toys, families and educators can create sensory rich environments that support children’s development through play.
What Is Sensory Play and Why Is It Important?
Sensory play involves activities that stimulate a child’s senses touch, sight, sound, smell, and movement. This type of play is essential for early years development and is especially beneficial for neurodivergent children. Children with autism or ADHD often experience the world in unique ways. Sensory play helps them regulate emotions, improve concentration, develop fine motor skills, and feel more confident in their learning journey.
For example, our sand and water trays allow children to explore through scooping, pouring, digging, and tactile discovery. These soothing, repetitive actions support self-regulation and build focus a valuable strategy for both home learning and classroom settings.
How Edx Education Supports Neurodivergent Learners
Our award-winning educational toys for autism and ADHD are designed to offer flexible, open-ended play opportunities. Here’s how you can use our resources to support children with additional learning needs:
- Set Up a Sensory Play Station
Use the Edx Education Multipurpose Tray to create a safe, mess-free space for sensory exploration. Add water, colored rice, sand, foam, or pebbles along with tools like scoops, measuring cups, and toy animals. This allows children to explore textures and develop their fine motor skills in a calm, engaging way.
- Create Consistent, Calming Routines
Children with autism often thrive on routine. By offering daily sensory play using familiar toys and materials, caregivers and teachers create a safe, predictable environment that supports emotional wellbeing.
- Encourage Independent, Child-Led Learning
Let children choose how they play. Whether they want to pour water, draw shapes in the sand, or build with pebbles, giving them control fosters independence and builds self-confidence especially important for neurodivergent learners.
- Keep Play Calm and Purposeful
Avoid overstimulation. Focus on gentle colours, calming textures, and soft sounds. Our sand and water trays are ideal for soothing sensory activities without loud or distracting features.
- Integrate Learning into Sensory Play
Sensory toys are not only therapeutic but educational too. Use water play to teach volume and measurement, or counting games with pebbles and scoops to develop early maths skills. Talk through activities to encourage language development and communication.
Play-Based Learning for All Children
At Edx Education Global, we are passionate about inclusive education and empowering all children to learn through play. Our resources are used by teachers, therapists, and families in over 120 countries. Through our downloadable educational resources, educational toy collections, and the Play, Learn & Create podcast, we offer expert guidance on supporting every child’s development social, emotional, cognitive, and physical.
Whether you’re teaching in a classroom or playing at home, our mission is to make learning accessible, inclusive, and fun for all. Sensory play is a powerful tool, and with the right toys and support, children with autism, ADHD, and other additional needs can thrive.
Learn more about our full range of sensory toys and educational resources at www.edxeducation.com.
Listen to our podcast Play, Learn & Create for expert tips on play based learning.
Let’s build a world where every child can play, learn, and grow one scoop of sand at a time.
