Top 9 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Autism Spectrum Child

The holidays are in full swing and maybe you haven’t purchased a gift yet for that special child on your list. Here is a list of the top nine gift ideas for kids on the autism spectrum.

Crayola Glow Dome. Crayola every year comes out with a sensory friendly toy for your little artist. The Crayola Glow Dome allows your child to draw-mess free-on the dome. Then turn off the lights, and turn on the dome and watch their creations come to life. This is perfect for a child who is visual and wants to express their imagination.  

Nintendo U Draw Studio. This new technology from Nintendo Wii allows you to draw on a tablet while it projects to your TV. Many children with autism struggle with fine motor skills, and lack necessary hand strength to perform writing tasks. This integrated technology and fun, and positively reinforces your child’s budding drawing and writing skills.  

Video games. Most of the visual ASD kids I know really love video games. Ask what system they have and look for games inspired by their favorite characters or programs. Game Stop and EB Games have one of the largest collections of new and used games.

Playdough. Playdough, modeling clay or putty allows your child to build hand strength and de-stress. Play dough can engage a child with sensory issues for hours at a time, if you don’t mind the inevitable crumbling. Playdough is inexpensive and there are numerous play sets available. Floam is similar to playdough, it is made out of tiny beads that can be squished that stick to themselves. Easier clean up than playdough.

Slides, Swings, and Climbing Things. Outdoor play sets are a necessity for the child who has energy to burn, or needs heavy input. Climbing helps give their muscles this input which lowers the need for stimming behaviors later.  Autism spectrum kids can literally bounce off the walls trying to regulate themselves. Having your own outdoor playground makes life easier for both the parents and the children. Swings have shown progress for many kids who receive occupational or physical therapy.

Gift Certificates for Hotels or Amusement parks. Families with children on the spectrum typically do not get out very often. The average family-polled in a recent survey states they get out for entertainment purposes 7 or less days a year. This is because of the trials involved, limiting food for special diets, and the costs. Nothing would bring a bigger smile to the faces of an autism family then gift certificates for entertainment. Amusement parks have rides that can provide the input of twenty occupational therapists! Well that isn’t a noted fact, but it certainly feels this way.

Lego Sort and Store. Ask any parent what they hate most about legos and they will tell you it’s stepping on them. Now Lego has a container/sorter shaped like a Lego man head-which is amusing. Sorting the legos by size exercises cognitive and spatial skills. Good for kids over the age of 4.

Sensory Themed Toys. Spinners, lava lamps, strobe lights. Anything that glows, sparkles or is otherwise illuminated is a sure hit for the visual child on your list. Scented toys, slimey toys, koosh balls, bubbles and bath foams are all sensory tools that need constant replacement in an autism spectrum household.

Gadgets. For the Child obsessed with numbers and who have a real fascination for all things electronic will love. Calendars,Calculators,Thermometers,Water collection devices, Weather stations, Humidity monitors, and Night vision googles.

Toys R Us Differently abled Toy Guide-