BCBA-Approved Toys for Learning and Development During Cyber Week 2024

BCBA-Approved Toys for Learning and Development During Cyber Week

Each year, we work with families to prepare for big holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, but this year, we want to set you up for one of the biggest shopping “holidays” of the year, too. Our Hopebridge team of clinicians put together a list of some of their favorite toys to encourage learning and development, all of which are on sale during Cyber Week.

Here are some of the 2024 Black Friday deals on autism-friendly toys and products to check out as you begin shopping the sales over the next week:

Mega Bloks – 100 pieces
Deal: 50% off at Macy’s
What we love about it: This one toy has so many skill-building opportunities. Kids can work on their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, colors, counting and more.

Govee Christmas String Lights
Deal: 30%+ off on Amazon
What we love about it: Holiday lights are a great addition to a sensory for many children who are soothed or fascinated by lights and colors. Sure, there are cheaper light options on the market, but this durable set enables color customization and lighting effects, plus it syncs with music and Alexa.

Giant Rainbow Playsilk
Deal: Up to 70% off sitewide from Sarah’s Silks
What we love about it: The simplicity and open-ended nature of these silks make them inspiring, magical toys that harness kids’ creative potential. Use this giant silk for parachute play, draping as a canopy over a bed, creating a fort or as a backdrop for puppet shows.

Play-Doh Carry-Along Creativity Set
Deal: 60% off at Walmart
What we love about it: Play-Doh is one of the simplest learning tools, yet offers so much potential. This set includes 40 different tools to exercise kids’ fine motor skills, plus various colors and styles of Play-Doh so kids can put their creativity to work.

Melissa & Doug Food Fun Combine & Dine Dinners
Deal: 50% off on Amazon
What we love about it: So many play kitchens come with the standard fruits, vegetables and desserts, but this set offers options families might find on their own plates at dinnertime. Realistic-looking play food like this can sometimes help children associate it with real food and encourage picky eaters to try new foods.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?  Slide and Find Board Book
Deal: Extra 20% off already discounted books at Book Outlet
What we love about it: Books are always on our lists of must-haves! Books that focus on repetition help babies and toddlers get familiar with specific words, animals and colors, and this one is one of our staples. This version features a sliding door, getting kids working on their motor skills and learning about cause-and-effect, too.

Wish Upon a Snowman: A Touch-and-Feel Book
Deal: Extra 20% off already discounted books at Book Outlet
What we love about it: Touch-and-feel books offer an interactive reading experience, giving kids access to language and sensory exploration all in one toy.

KRIDDO Tricycle
Deal: 22% off on Amazon
What we love about it: Riding a tricycle is a wonderful gross motor goal for many young children to work toward. This version is a great option for those who want the safety of a “big wheel” trike but more of the same feel as a “big kid” bike.

Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow! Activity Pad
Deal: 20% off at Kohl’s
What we love about it: Mess-free, reusable and easy to use? Yes, please! The Water Wow! activity books are handy to keep in the car or in a handbag for moments on the go when you need to keep your child entertained.

Kinectic Sand Construction Set
Deal: buy 2, get 1 free on select games, puzzles and activity toys at Target
What we love about it: Kinetic Sand is great for sensory exploration, and this construction-themed set has everything kids need for all-in-one fun. Practice communication by making truck sounds and labeling words like “up,” “down” and “dig” to make it even more interactive.

Taylor Joelle soft character dresses and t-shirts
Deal: 20-60% off sitewide
What we love about it: Though not the most affordable option available, this brand makes some of our favorite character dresses and t-shirts because they are soft and itch-free! Kids can use these to play dress up at home, as they are more sensory-friendly than most other costumes, so Black Friday is a great time to take advantage of a lower price.

More Support and Resources for Families of Children with Autism and Developmental Delays

These toys and those on our other gift guides offer tons of learning opportunities, but could your child use more support around play and other skills? If so, applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy), occupational therapy and/or speech therapy could be a good fit for your family. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help your child get the most fun and growth out of playtime, family time, school and beyond.

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