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Visual Stimuli Resources for Kids

Visual stimuli resources for kids are a must in our house. We have two children who are crave visual stimuli.

The challenging part about meeting the needs of a child who is hyposensitive to visual stimuli is finding ways to meet that need safely and without destruction of property.

I remember vividly the many times Bulldozer threw toys across the room as a toddler, because he loved to watch them fly.

Then there was the time he flooded the upstairs bathroom, because he was enjoying watching the water run.

Sunshine also craves visual stimuli, but in different ways. Most often her go-to source of visual stimuli is bright flashing lights with colors changing.

In this post I share all of our favorite visual stimuli resources for kids from the past and present. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!


Visual Stimuli Resources for Kids


Visual Stimuli Resources for Kids


When you have a child who craves visual stimulation, it is crucial to have safe and age appropriate toys in the house that meet the sensory needs. Otherwise your child will seek the visual stimulation elsewhere in ways that may not be as safe.

Here are our favorite visual stimuli toys for kids!

Visual Stimuli Games and Toys for Kids

Visual Stimuli Toys and Games for Kids


Sensory Fidget Tubes

Flashing Light Up Bouncy Balls

Glitter Wands

LED Light Panel and Accessories

Find It Game

Ocean Animals Search and Find 100 Piece Puzzle

Eye Found It Board Game

Where's Waldo? Book

Blocks

LEGO Sets

Ball Pit

Spinning Tops

Lite Brite

Marble Run

Suspend Game

Plasma Ball



Visual Stimuli Fidgets for Kids


Visual Stimuli Fidgets for Kids


Bulldozer and Sunshine also both like visual sensory experiences where there are a lot of moving parts, like with these fidgets below. Numbers are also fun for them.


Glow in the Dark Spaghetti Ball Fidgets

Fuzzy Bands

Stretchy String Fidgets

Calculator

Squishy Pencil Grips

Multicolored Pin Art Board


Liquid Visual Stimuli Fidgets for Kids


Liquid Visual Stimuli Fidgets for Kids


Liquid visual timers are the perfect fidget to take on the go when you have a child who craves visual stimulation related to water. 

We kept at least one packed in our to-go sensory bag for years. When I had to take Bulldozer to a place where he needed to sit still, I would pack several and switch them out.

Liquid Motion Bubbler Timers

Liquid Motion Spiral Timer

Zig Zag Liquid Timer

Jumbo Ooze Liquid Timer

Tornado Lamp

Erupting Volcano Motion Bubbler


Visual Stimuli Timers for Kids


Visual Stimuli Timers for Kids


None of my kids are fans of using timers to show how much time they have to complete a task.

They do enjoy and ask for timers in situations where they have to work on a nonpreferred task for a certain amount of time, so they know when it will end.

Timers are also used for baking and waking up in the morning.

There are many timers out there, but these are our favorites.

Sand Timers for Kids

Stoplight Traffic Light Visual Timer

Visual Analog Timer

Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock for Kids


Visual Stimuli for Kids at Bedtime


Visual Stimuli for Kids at Bedtime


Both Sunshine and Bulldozer struggle with severe anxiety at night and in the dark. Over the years we've tried and tested many supports to help them. As we've found the right ones sleep has improved and anxiety lessened. 

It seems that my kids need visual stimuli even more at night and in the dark, in order to feel regulated and safe.

Kids Star Light Projector Night Light

LED Strip Lights

LED Curtain Lights

Tetra Bubbling LED Aquarium


Visual Stimuli Accessories for Kids


Visual Stimuli Accessories for Kids


Sunshine loves to accessorize as often as she can. Whether at home or on the go, she always wears jewelry and is carrying something in her hands.

Jewelry and other other accessories are the best when they have a light up component to them. Sunshine can use them to provide herself with the visual stimuli she needs at any time.

Spinning Light Up Wand

Flashing Rings

Light Up Necklace

Twinkle and Shine Light Up Wand with Fiber Optics

Glow in the Dark Scrunchies

LED Light Up Bracelets


Visual Stimuli Supports for Kids in the Bathroom


Visual Stimuli Supports for Kids in the Bathroom


The bathroom is yet another place where it seems Bulldozer and Sunshine crave visual stimuli most. When fun and safe ways aren't provided to receive that visual input, it's very easy to be unsafe and cause destruction.

Here are our favorite bathroom resources that help with hygiene needs, bathing, and so much more. They make such a difference for both Sunshine and Bulldozer.

Rainbow Light Up Electric Toothbrush

Toilet Light

Bathroom Timer for Kids

Fogless Shower Mirror

Submersible Lights


Visual Stimuli for Kids Outside


Visual Stimuli for Kids Outside


One might think that the outdoor environment provides enough visual stimuli on its own, but that's not necessarily always true.

Whether it's day or night, we've found some really fun ways to add to the visual sensory experience.

Bubble Machine

Garden Lights

Glow Sticks

Sandbox with Toy

Water Table with Accessories

Outdoor Trampoline Sprinkler and LED Lights

LED Bike Wheel Lights

Pinwheels

Magical Flames Color Changing Packets

Sprinklers


There are so many safe, healthy, and fun ways to provide visual stimuli for kids who crave it. Once you observe and learn your child's interests, you can think of so many different ideas.

When Bulldozer was little he was very passionate about balls. The more he had the happier he was. We provided a bin full for him he would use regularly. All were different colors, textures, and weights. Some lit up. Some didn't. As long as he had his balls, he was a happy kid.

Bulldozer also loved vehicles. He loved lining up his Hot Wheels cars and monster trucks providing the visual stimuli that he felt he needed. The vehicles would be sorted by color. Bulldozer would take the time to spin the wheels of each car, examining them up close, and at eye level, which was very pleasing to him.

Sunshine loves Christmas lights and anything that lights up really. She enjoys watching lights flash, spin, change color, and flicker as often as she can.

Every child is different in their visual stimuli preferences. 


Visual Stimuli Resources for Kids


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