Top Gifts for Children with Autism
December is upon us! For many, December is the busiest month of the year. You are tasked with finding the perfect tree, attending family dinners, and are on the lookout for gift ideas for that special child in your life. Buying gifts for a child with autism doesn’t have to be as hard as you might think. When purchasing a gift for your child, consider what type of things they are currently interested in. Most kids tend to have preferences when it comes to their toys! Another consideration is what might support their educational and therapeutic goals.
In this blog post, we will cover some suggested gifts! And nope, you don’t have to worry about spending too much or going to a specialty therapy shop. These are all very practical gifts that can be found online or in stores found in your local area.
What To Consider When Shopping
The special child in your life may not express much interest in the new popular toys out this season. And that’s actually great news for you. No waiting in line in hopes you will get one of the few left after Black Friday! When you are ready to shop, think about any special interests they’ve had recently. Have they recently been excited about Disney, cars, horses, etc? Even if the toy will not support their educational or therapeutic goals, you can still feel confident in purchasing something that will bring them joy.
Another thing to consider when shopping, is your child’s specific needs. If your child is non-verbal, you may want to consider a speech therapy tool. If your child craves sensory, you may need to look for items that will provide a lot of sensory input. If your child experiences anxiety, they may benefit from fidget toys and calming tools.
You may get to a point where you are Googling ideas, which is perfectly okay! Here are some categories you will find helpful when searching online for ideas: developmental toys, vestibular toys, speech therapy tools, fidget toys, calming gifts, oral sensory gifts, and sensory toys.
Suggested Gifts with Links
We are going one step further and suggesting specific gifts and toys your child may enjoy. Remember, you know your child best and what they will like!
Developmental Toys
Vestibular Toys
Speech Therapy
Fidget Toys
Calming Gifts
Oral Sensory Gifts
Sensory Gifts
Giving the Perfect Gift
Not all children need the newest toy in the store. And in particular, your child may benefit from a tried and true classic! We want you to keep two important things in mind as you are shopping this season. The first is that you know your child best. Trust yourself that you know what they will like and what will benefit them. The second thing to keep in mind is your child’s developmental and sensory needs. Meeting one of their needs is a great goal when picking out the perfect gift.
If you are purchasing a gift for a friend’s child or a relative and you don’t know the particular needs, fidget toys and sensory toys will almost always be the right fit! As with all gift-giving, it’s really the thought that counts.
Do you have any favorite places to shop? Or any specific gifts you’d like to recommend for other parents shopping for their children on the spectrum? Let us know in the comments!
