Its time to buy your Autistic child a gift.
My Autistic child was diagnosed 2 years ago and ever since it has been a constant discovery of what they like and what they enjoy to play with.
Autistic children have different needs than your average child.
Also they have different tolerances and limits.
SO the thing to consider when buying an Autistic child a toy is their sensory needs.
We certainly do not want to get them anything that will overstimulate them and tire them out.
But the question is, WHAT can we buy them?
That they will truly enjoy.
And Love.
And actually use and play with.
I have made other posts about the best Sensory toys for Autistic children, which you can read here
And I also have another collection of the best toys to get for Autistic children to help with their development here
Now for this post,
I have come up with a lot of different gift ideas.
18 to be exact.
All backed up by research and experience
Not any single Autistic person is the same as another.
And so therefore, I have tried to include a variety of different gift ideas. Both for different kinds of homes, such as flats, studios, houses etc. And for different kinds of Autistic children.
Some prefer messy play and some prefer neat and ordered play.
I can guarantee you that all the toys I have gathered below will be a HIT.
They are all very much alligned with different budgets.
Some of the gifts are on the higher budget side and others are on the lower budget side.
Either way gifts are gifts and everyone loves getting a good present.
Lets get started on this now!
These are the gifts which I have gathered through research that might be best suited to the Autistic child you are planning to buy it for.
-
Trampoline
Whether the trampoline is big or small, you can find one suitable for your home.
The big ones can go in the garden and the smaller ones can be specific for inside the house.
I personally do not have a garden so my child used to play on a indoor smaller trampoline.
Not the big ones with the net like they are in the garden but they go have a handrail that your Autistic child can hold on to while jumping on it.
I will say that if you buy the indoor one, and you decide to use it inside your house, make sure that the trampoline is surrounded by pillows and blankets.
A trampoline is nice and sensory also.
You can feel the wind on your body as you jump up, the pit in your stomach as you jump down and also the resistance on the bottom of your feet when you hit the trampoline.
It is great fun and can be used with another kid if the Autistic child wishes to co-play.
Otherwise it is an excellent source of play and can help the Autistic child release their energy and possibly even sleep better that night.
2. Binoculars
If the Autistic child is a little bit of an introvert and likes to sit in silence and watch the outside world without having to interact with the outside world. Then Binoculars are the best gift you can ever get your child.
You can get cheap toy binoculars which are just as fun, or you can splurge a little bit more and get a proper heavy duty binocular.
Or if the Autistic child that you are getting a gift for enjoys bird watching, or has an insect hobby, or anything of the sort etc.
You never know.
Maybe this will be the beginning of an amazing hobby for the Autistic child.
Possibly, you are even bringing them the beginning of a wide scope of fun activities that they can do with their binoculars.
3. Fridge Magnets
This is a simple yet very much gift.
I got my Autistic child this as a gift.
My Autistic child can use it on their radiator in their own bedroom, or on the fridge in the kitchen, OR on our magnetic whiteboard.
You can easily bring them with you to a friends house.
It can be very resourceful for home schooling.
In that you can teach the Autistic child to read or do maths using the magnets.
They come in various colours and also in various shapes and sizes.
I got the alphabet set for my child as well as the numbers.
They’re a big hit in my house I promise you!
4. Microscope
There are so many different science projects that you can purchase.
And also I remeber in school we would peel thin layers of onions, just to have a look at its cells.
So a microscope is a really good gift for anyone who is into biology or science.
Even a young Autistic child who isn’t sure of what they are interested in or not, it is a cool toy.
Something they can show off to their friends and tell everyone that they own.
We brought one for my nephew and he treasured it like no other gift he had ever gotten before.
It was such a heartwarming thing to see.
Microscopes are one of those cool, ‘mature’ gadgets that really make a child feel special when they own one.
And for an Autistic child who is into biology, a microscope would make their whole year!
5. Textured Books
Textured books are absolutely amazing. They can learn and also engage all of their sensory stimulations.
They are great to develop a child’s understanding of the outside world.
And also it helps them understand what certain textures might feel like.
Another thing to consider is that if there are certain textures which really bother them and that they cannot stand. A textured book can really help them get over that.
Then of course there are other Autistic children who worry about touching animals or objects in real life and simply cannot bring themselves to do it.
A way for them to experience a little bit of the outside world textures that are prevalent around them but that they are not yet comfortable enough to touch.
6. Train Sets
From everything I have read and researched. Train Sets are a huge hit and extremely popular among Autistic children.
Train sets have trains which can connect with each other through magnets, as well as ellaborate tracks to build.
Building train tracks is a very good exercise for developing problem solving skills as well as motor skills and building skills.
There is something with using your hands to do any kind of building works that really stimulates the brain.
Also this can be played as an individual game or as a game with your friends.
So on a day where the Autistic child feels like playing on their own, the train sets are amazing for this.
And on a day where your Autistic child wants company and wants to play with other children then they can also co-play with their train set.
7. PlayDough
PlayDough is a brilliant sensory toy and is great for stimulating fine motor skills, big motor skills as well as helping them develop their imagination.
The Autistic child also learns to use other materials such as:
- Shapers,
- And Cutters,
- Or Rollers,
- And Scissors,
- And Finally Colours,
These are very good materials for any Autistic child to get a good grip on.
The reason for this is that this child will also be using these materials also in school and in the outside world.
So it comes in as excellent practise.
When it comes to PlayDough you can build and create and make and try.
And it will greatly help develop the Autistic child’s skills in life.
A really, really good gift.
8. Foam Tiles
I got these as a gift for my Autistic child.
They’re not expensive either.
And they come in:
- Shapes,
- Alphabets
- Numbers,
- Animals etc
These tiles are roughly 30cm by 30cm and you can build cubes, squares and even triangles.
My Autistic child loves interlocking the tiles into each other and can get lost doing it for hours.
You can take the squares and build upwards or outwards.
You can sit inside the cubes or rectangles if you leave a little opening in it.
My non Autistic child also absolutely loves playing with interlocking foam tiles too.
And they even play together on it.
Sometimes they fight on it yes.
But that is just brother for you!
9. Blocks
You can buy a variation of different types of blocks, in any colour, shape or size!
Playing with or learning how to Stack Blocks, Legos etc can help the Autistic child learn:
- How to align and balance something up
- Building imaginary cities etc
And
- Counter balance – How to stop things falling over using counter weight.
You can teach the numbers and the alphabet using these.
And it is absolutely excellent for motor skills.
It is a really well rounded gift all in all.
10. Puzzles
Lets talk about puzzles.
These hour clogging games are incredible.
SO much fun and so relaxing and calming.
I can sit with my Autistic child and do these for hours.
Also maybe this one might be a bit selfish to add to this list.
But It is here because I love to do puzzles so much. And I have Autism.
Puzzles are amazing for helping your child recognise that small details come together to make a bigger picture.
Autistic children tend to focus on small details and then forget about or not really see the full larger image.
Doing puzzles can help them understand that a lot of small pieces must come together to create something big and amazing.
11. Beads
Beads are excellent presents/gifts for Autistic children.
Actually for any child.
Creating and crafting is great play for children.
Autistic children can sit for hours and create long necklaces or bracelets or even decorations for special occasions.
Sometimes, just hanging their creations around the house, or on lamps or the ceiling lights make the child light up in joy.
Beads that are different in size and texture and colour are really fun.
It is also a great educational tool in helping a child develop their fine motor skills and their eye to hand co-ordination.
12. Toy Kitchen/Builder Set
We got my child this.
My Autistic child fell in love with this playset and sometimes even uses the toy hammer to hammer down the toy nails in the holes.
I actually have witnessed my child do this when they become frustrated.
So it is an excellent gift in the way that the Autistic child can absolutely play with it but also use it to express their frustration and vent their anger. In a safe space and environment.
We also got a little tool set kit for it.
So it truly is a great gift idea.
Also Autistic children need help in the imaginative play area.
What I mean is that Autistic children prefer real life play over pretend play.
Because it is hard for us to imagine things that arent there.
And also for the fact that most of us Autistic are visual. So if something is not there or we have not been it previously, our imagination will struggle to conjure up an image.
It is definitely a good form of learning also.
Here is an image of what we got for my Autistic child:
Of course you also have the option to buy a toy kitchen like this one:
It really depends on what the child is in to.
You can find these from an average price range to really top notch quality ones that are slightly more for a higher budget if you have it.
13. Velcro Darts
This might not be for all Autistic children.
However, I will say that if your Autistic child or the Autistic child you are thinking of buying this for likes to throw objects, then this will be an excellent gift.
The positives of buying an Autistic child velcro darts is that the child can play alone when they have had their ‘daily dose capacity’ of humans they interacted with during the day.
But if they wish to play with others, then they can also do this. Because Velcro Darts can have more than one player.
Another big plus is that it teaches patience and practises how to wait for your turn.
Some Autistic children find release in throwing things when they get frustrated.
Actually, now studies have shown that people are reacting to the increase in costs, especially in the Netherlands by going to smash/rage rooms to vent out their angery and frustrations.
(You can read that Article here)
So if the Autistic child who this gift is intended for likes to throw things to release their temper. Then perfect.
They can throw the darts instead.
It is a good safe way to vent out their frustrations.
14. Finger Paints
Fun and Messy.
I think paints are a fun gift to get anyway.
And also a pretty standard gift.
So if you are in a situation where you are unsure of what to buy for an Autistic child, finger paints are a pretty standard option.
They are more messy than using standard paints and so obviously much more fun.
I will add a little recommendation, that if you do buy this for an Autistic child as a gift.
For the parents sake. Try to also buy a full long sleeved painting apron.
That will absolutely be appreciated by everyone!
15. Arts and Crafts set
- Glue/Lime
- Tissue Paper,
- Paper mache
- Scooby Strings
- Cutters
- Child safe scissors,
The whole shebang.
A great all round gift that WILL be a huge hit with any child you give this to.
Autistic or not.
It is well within budget and can be a very good group activity. As well as an individual activity.
I also got my Autistic child a handbook on tutorials of different Origamis.
The thing with such a broad gift like this is that even if the Autistic child does not like some parts of the crafts or does not enjoy using paper mache, they will most likely enjoy something else. Maybe the scooby strings.
So with a gift like this you can almost guarantee that the child will like something of it. AT LEAST.
16. Robots
My sister brought my child a robot.
It has been a VERY, VERY big hit.
The robot walks around the house and spins and dances with motor noises.
It is more entertaining than the TV for my children.
The introduction of technology into the household is something new for me.
I cannot say that I like it, but I do not dislike it.
Technology is a scary thing.
BUT it is a fact of reality and the future and I think my children should be a part of that.
So I am truly grateful for my sister, bring developing technology into my more traditional, household.
17. Play Sand
Play sand is a very nice gift.
It is not expensive and you do not need to take a child to the beach in order to have them come and play with sand.
You can buy sand to play with at home.
And shape it into castle and everything else.
You just need a wider bowl to place the sand inside.
Sand is really fun to play with.
I mean, myself as an adult, when I go to the beach, I play with the sand.
And build castles with my children.
A fair warning, is that it can get messy if it is pushed around on the floor.
And to also not play with it outside the house because it can easily get wet and dirty.
Especially with other messier children around.
18. Slime
A simple, budget friendly toy.
You can always hide a little train inside the slime.
Or you can buy slime with objects hidden inside it.
So it will be like a present within a present.
In fact it is really fun and really cool.
Maybe the Autistic child likes glitter and a specific colour, so you get the slime for them in their favourite colour with their favourite toy or object.
When you personalise a gift to an Autistic child it really makes them feel special and it is very much appreciated.
Actually, I think all children appreciate it.
