/ / Christmas Gift Guide for Kids with Autism and Sensory Special Needs

Christmas Gift Guide for Kids with Autism and Sensory Special Needs

Answers in Genesis

 

Anyone who loves a child with autism or sensory special needs knows that “conventional” is not often a word we use to describe them. Some of the popular toys and games are simply too loud, too distracting, too bright, and just too much for our kiddos to handle. If you’re shopping for kids or teens with these kind of special needs this Christmas, I hope you’ll find this list helpful! They are products we’ve personally used (or would like to!) in our own family.

Christmas Gift Guide for Kids with Autism and Sensory Special Needs at heartandsoulhomeschooling.com

{I have included my affiliate links to Amazon and National Autism Resources.}

Toys for Kids and Teens with Autism

Games are an amazing way to not only have fun, but to help kids and teens with Autism focus, learn and communicate better. Here are 5 great gift options you can give to help make their holidays a bit merrier!

Reverse Charades

Reverse Charades is a team version of the classic charades game. Each team is given 60 seconds to act out as many words as one person can guess. This set includes 720 humorous words for hours of fun. Great for kids who need a team to work with as they explore pretend play and nonverbal cues. Current Amazon price is only $9.99, so it’s affordable!

Original Tangle with Texture

Tangle with texture

Poppin Peepers

Poppin Peepers

 

The Blunders Game

Blunders game

Have fun teaching positive social skills with the Blunders Game. Children 5 and up will learn about honesty, responsibility, table manners, school etiquette, telephone manners, respectfulness, kindness, how to give confident introductions and how a party guest and host should act. Children learn these skills and more as they help Bobby, Brenda, Billy, and Becky Blunder improve their manners and navigate different social situations.

The Fidget Set

Fidget set

We think this set is pretty great! It has a little bit of everything for sensory stimulation and calming fidgets. Squish, squeeze, shape, and mold your way to better concentration and appropriate textural stimulation and play.

Social Skills Bingo for Teens

Social skills bingo

 

For Homeschool

Concentrating on schoolwork can have additional challenges that come with autism and sensory special needs.  Here are some things we’ve found that help!

Chewable Pencil Toppers

Chewable Pencil toppers

My daughter will chew and eat the erasers off pencils.  These are a safe alternative for her!

Pencil Grips

pencil grips

 

Weighted Lap Pad

weighted lap pad

These help restless kids sit still while listening read-alouds or other schoolwork.  This type of counter-pressure also helps my daughter when she’s having a bad day and just needs some comfort of deep muscle pressure.

Weighted Vests

weighted vests

 

Adjustable Time Timer

Time Timer

 

Sleep

Nighttime can be a nightmare, that’s why there are some great products that help promote falling asleep.  Let your little ones rest easy with these gifts designed to help promote a calm atmosphere and a good night’s rest.  Lil Sis absolutely requires white noise and a nightlight (well, several different nightlights) to be able to sleep.

Laser Stars

Laser Stars nightlight

Tranquil Turtle

Tranquil Turtle nightlight

Sleep Sheep

Sleep Sheep

This is more than just a cuddly toy to sleep with, it actually plays comforting white noise sounds!

Weighted Blanket

weighted blanket

This is genius!  We don’t have one, but I bet Lil Sis would really like it!

Jellyfish Lamp

jellyfish lamp nightlight

 

We have a butterfly lamp instead of these jellyfish, but I know Lil Sis would be totally fascinated by this.  She loved the real jellyfish exhibit at the aquarium!

Stocking Stuffers

These are some fun, smaller items that would make great stocking stuffers.  We have variants of all of these.  Her neurotypical sisters enjoy these fun diversions, too.

Ooey Gooey Octopus

ooey gooey octopus sensory toy

Koosh balls

Koosh balls for sensory play

Theraputty

theraputty sensory putty

Suddenly Snow

suddenly snow

Liquid Timers

liquid timers

 

Ooze Tubes

ooze tubes

 

 

Bonus Ideas

Here are 5 more gift ideas that could be great for any kid or teen across the spectrum.

Finger Paint Sensations Kit

finger paint sensations

Glow Cuddles Bear

glow cuddles bear

Cyclone Pinwheel Lightshow

glowing cyclone pinwheel lightshow

 

Flowing Sand Panel

flowing sand panel

Strobotop

strobotop

 

I hope this list helps you find gifts for the special kids on your list this year!

autism products

 

 

Christmas Gift Guides | ihomeschool network

Sara
Follow on
kids subscription boxes

6 Comments

    1. Thank you! I hope it helps others. It’s hard to know sometimes when you’re buying for someone else, but from my own experience these would be great gifts. 🙂

    1. That’s a good idea! I should write another post on that topic. 🙂 My daughter also hates socks. It was a struggle just to get her to wear shoes for a long time. Now she will wear shoes and socks when we go places, but immediately takes them off in the car.

Thank you for taking the time to comment!