Buying Gifts

A very dear friend sent our boys a gift box a few weeks ago. She sent a few different things that would have been great for children their age, at least stereotypical children. Admittedly she didn't really have a clue about what to get for an autistic child. This seems to be true for many, many people. Just like any child, you need to find out if they have a preference to certain toys. Most kiddos on the spectrum seem to have their own specific toys they are drawn to and depending on their specific needs, you can't always go by the recommended age group.

Here are some basic ideas:

A lot of kiddos with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) like cars or anything with wheels or pieces that go round and round.

Another thing is anything with lights and/or sound (however, make sure there are no sensitivities to either of these before buying them):

Some kiddos need different stimulation, for instance: oral (chewies); vibration (constant movement - vibrating pillow); then there's fragrance (some kiddos have different scents that calm them).

Another group of items are things with different textures. For instance, some kiddos love soft, satiny cloth they can rub against their skin. Other kiddos may not like anything that is too soft. There are many varieties of textural input, and it's best to check with the parents for preferences.

I hope these ideas are helpful for you and give you some examples of different gifts available for those on the spectrum.

From a mother's heart to yours - don't forget to ask the parent or caregiver what the person seems to  like. Don't worry about getting something they already have, sometimes it's good to have more than one of the same item around.