Family-run Fidgets Factory in Huntington Station champions sensory play

At Fidgets Factory in Huntington Station, shoppers will find sensory toys in various shapes and sizes that can be popped, squeezed and pulled.

The shop, which opened in February, is dedicated to all things sensory-friendly and has become a labor of love for the Kahn family, who is from Bannu, Pakistan.

Raf Khan co-owns the shop with his younger son, Yahya Khan, and daughter-in-law, Kauser Khan. His older son, Farid Khan, handles the store's business development.

It was Kauser's idea to open the shop due to a special connection she and her husband, Farid, share with sensory toys. Their 11-year-old son, who is on the autism spectrum and is nonverbal, has been playing with them for over a decade.

Sensory toys, says Farid, help people who are neurodivergent or neurotypical find a sense of calm in "today's busy world."

A sensory toy, as described by Farid, is "a toy designed to stimulate one or more of the senses: touch, sight, sound, smell and even taste." They offer numerous benefits, whether it be "therapy, relaxation, focus or just fun," he says. 

Sensory toys for sale at Fidgets Factory include squishy toys, Pop Its, sensory putty and slime. "Every toy is a unique sensory experience," Farid says. "Everyone perceives senses in their own unique way."

"When our son first got diagnosed with autism, the only sensory toy they had [on the market] was just a small shoulder massager that vibrates," he says. "The occupational therapist told us to just have him hold this or play with this while it’s on and vibrating. That was over 10 years ago."

Since then, Farid and Kauser have purchased various sensory toys for their son, which Farid says "gave us a pretty good experience with the different types of toys" available for neurodivergent individuals.

The couple also noticed that their other children loved the toys just as much. That prompted Farid to research the Long Island market, which he found lacked stores selling a wide variety of sensory toys for both children and adults.

Fidgets Factory offers sensory products designed for ages 3 and up, including teens and adults. The bestseller is sensory putty; each jar is $15. The putty is a nonstick, nontoxic and gluten-free product for ages 5 and up.

The store's cheapest item is a $1 stretchy Pop Tube; the most expensive is a $100 sensory surprise box called the Factory Box Max.

Fidgets Factory, 2020 New York Ave, Huntington Station, 631-970-4264; fidgetsfactory.com.