here is a round up of developmental + fun toys for kids with cerebral palsy!
finding the right toys for kids with cerebral palsy has been quite a journey for our family. we started our journey with cerebral palsy in 2015 when our twins were born at just 31 weeks. they did extremely well for preemies and had a 28 day stretch in the NICU learning to breathe, eat and grow! as time went on, we started noticing a few deficits and that the girls weren’t meeting developmental milestones which led us down the path to piper’s diagnosis of cerebral palsy. with the help of our therapists, starting at just 6 months old, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite toys for kids with cerebral palsy!
of course it’s worth noting that children with cerebral palsy have a wide variety of needs and abilities. piper is a part time wheelchair user and wears an AFO {ankle foot orthotic} on her left leg but is very functional in her movements, which we thank our countless hours of physical therapy for! this list of cerebral palsy toys includes gross motor toys, fine motor toys, sensory toys, musical toys and everything in between! while this list includes our favorite toys for piper, who has cerebral palsy, ALL of our children enjoy playing with these toys!
toys for kids with cerebral palsy
1. squigz
these squigz were originally a gift for the girls when they turned 2 and they have received a whoooole lot of use out of them! from sticking to windows to high chairs, they are the perfect fine motor building toy. if you’re looking for a similar toy for younger children, hop down to #9 for larger squigz with a rattle + tactile experiences.
2. flying saucer swing
a swing like this flying saucer swing has many benefits and uses… from outside on a swing set, hung from a tree or even in the basement, your child will get a ton of use out of this beauty! we love the bright colors and piper has used this swing for everything from basic outdoor play to therapy on her belly to complete a puzzle!
3. balance stepping stones obstacle course {on sale!!}
we originally bought these stepping stones with grant money from the state and they have been amazing. a little over a foot in width as well as differing heights, these stepping stones are smoother than true river stones making it easy for kids to play without getting hurt! river rocks encourage imagination + creativity while improving gross motor skills. they’re perfect for playing ‘the lava game’ or obstacle courses inside + outside. they’ve held up beautifully and are fantastic for working on those gross motor goals in therapy like improving balance + coordination!
4. sensory balls
these balls have grown with us over the years and are fantastic for tactile exploration and even teething for babies! we’ve made countless games with tossing, catching and even closing our eyes to describe the texture.
5. spinny pins
this is the first of many fat brain toys to come in our list of toys for kids with cerebral palsy … and for good reason. colorful, quality toys that kids of all ages love to play with. each of these five pins feature fascinating textures to feel + a weighted base that wobbles. fit them into the slots of the big bowl either upside down or right side up and with a bump at the bottom, it’s always off kilter and always fun!
6. innybin fine motor toy
this was actually a 2020 infant/toddler toy of the year finalist! the 6 chunky blocks are each designed with textures that are sure to thrill the fingers. but the best part is as kids push them through the elastic bands of the cube, curiosity is sparked and young minds can’t help but experiment and discover! this is a great hand toy for kids with cerebral palsy and more specifically kids with hemiplegic cerebral palsy because it encourages bilateral strength and coordination.
7. melissa + doug musical instruments
shake, rattle, clack, + hum with this 7 piece wooden musical set! strike up the band, discover musical fundamentals and increase attention with this set that includes: a wooden handle castanet, two cymbals, a wooden kazoo, two rainbow-striped maracas, and a tambourine.
8. tobbles stacking balls
these were a fun gift from Santa and a fantastic puzzle toy for kids with cerebral palsy! 😉 the dual-textured surface of each of these 6 uniquely weighted Tobbles can be carefully balanced, suitably nested, recklessly spun + tower far above your expectations. these are great for encouraging sensory exploration, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and visual spatial awareness. this toy truly has endless possibilities and all of our kiddos from 18 months to 5 years still enjoy playing with them!!
9. pipsquigz with rattle
the ultimate KEEP-THEIR-ATTENTION TOY! kids can encounter playful colors, fun sounds, fresh tactile experiences and super-suction with these pipSquigz, a set of three fun little suckers for ages 6+ months. adored by baby and parents alike, pipSquigz are perfect for the stroller, highchair, bathtub, and anywhere-travel with fantastic suction with any smooth surface! these are bigger in size than the original squigz listed in number one making them easier for little baby hands to navigate + explore better as well as including rattles + differing tactile experiences.
10. Dimpl Digits fine motor toy
squishy, silicone bubbles captivate the fingers in a way that’s impossible to put down while simultaneously opening a new avenue for learning making this such a great fine motor toy, perfect for on the go! on one side, the bubbles are embossed with the numerals 1 through 10, each accompanied by its matching word in english. flip it over and you’ll find the words written in spanish, plus dots to feel + count! another great therapy toy for kids with hemiplegic cerebral palsy encouraging those hand muscles!
11. suction stacking kupz
each of these 6 colorful, squishy cups features a suction cup on the bottom, a suctioning brim at the top, plus endless creative-play possibilities all around. it’s simple yet versatile open-ended play that lasts!
12. balance beam stepping stones
like the river stones, these balance beam stepping stones are perfect for kids of all ages and abilities. piper loved getting physically active, having a blast with interactive stepping stone balance beams design to create fun, laughs, and healthy play. from balancing on a gymnastics beam, playing “don’t touch the lava”, or simply trying to jump between all the cracks in the sidewalk kids love interactive stepping games. designed with wide step areas, non-skid textured tops, and slip-resistant bottoms, these balancing beams make children stretch, reach, jump, and step to build strong muscles, agile joints, and healthier bodies through active play.
13. SpinAgain Kids Stacking Toy
this set of 6 vibrant, graduated discs that spin down a corkscrew pole and stack up any way you want; discs alternate between flower and star-burst shapes, featuring 2 colors each. then, pull the pole from the base to watch all the discs tumble to the ground; keep on spinning and stacking again and again; flip the base to choose either wobbly or sturdy and practice sorting discs by color, shape, + size!
14. klickity wobble toy
push, spin, rattle, click, and discover! little hands will be occupied for hours once you introduce them to this unique device that’s brimming with thrilling sensory-exploration experiences. push the pink bumpy ball in and the blue ball on the other side is pushed out… another great fine motor toy for children with cerebral palsy for on the go fun!
15. kids roller coaster – ON SALE!
this hot wheels™ coaster car was one of the best therapy purchases we’ve ever made. ALL of our children utilize this roller coaster, encouraging them to get outside and play. this roller coaster has been a huge game changer to motivate piper and help work on bilateral movements while pushing the car up the steps to be able to roll down! other skills we have worked on while playing include turn taking, step manipulation and language goals while asking for help! we keep this toy outside in the summer and move it to the basement for the winters!
16. fabric therapy swing
this therapy swing strengthens head, neck and core muscles which improves physical activities such as walking and running. hammock therapy greatly improves a child’s coordination, balance, body awareness, and concentration, promoting coordination + balance, strengthening muscles and improving motor skills! sensory stimulation with endless possible positions and hours of fun! this swing comforts and swaddles making it a therapeutic experience. the updated swing can now easily hold up to 150 lbs and won’t stretch to the ground. the swaddling sensory swing gives children a sense of calmness and blocks out unwanted sensory stimulation…truly a must for children with cerebral palsy!
how can these toys can help kids with cerebral palsy?
great question!! i specifically chose these cerebral palsy toys because they encourage bilateral coordination and help to build strength in both fine motor skills as well as provide sensory stimulation that is fun + engaging. most all of these toys are able to be played both independently and with siblings, parents + groups!
Hello Lindsey! In the summer session, every kid likes to play with water. And if they get any water toy then they love it a lot. These are so adorable, and the inflatable bounce house with a motor is my son’s favourite toy. Thanks for sharing the amazing toys’ details.