How to Choose Gifts for Autistic Children

Buying gifts for an autistic child can be difficult because of the many specific considerations that must be made. The child's age, the degree of autism, the learning level of the child, the communication level, and the child's interests all will play a role in choosing an appropriate gift.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Find out all the information you can about the child. His learning level may not be the same as his age or grade level, so toys aimed at a certain age might be inappropriate. If you're the child's parent, make a list of school and therapy activities your child enjoys the most to keep on hand while shopping.

2. Choose a gift that is helpful in verbal development. Flash cards encourage verbal interaction. There are even flash cards with emotions on them aimed specifically at children with autism. Computer-based flash card games can be great for older autistic children.

3. Think of gifts that you might not traditionally buy for a child. For example, the Time Timer is useful in helping children learn to tell time without reading a clock. It also allows an autistic child see how much time she has to complete a certain activity and can help motivate her.

4. Look for toys in stores and online that are aimed at children with autism. Because autism is so prevalent, there are many stores and toys with selections that have specific aims for autistic kids. Baby Bumble Bee has sets of gifts that are grouped by level.

5. Pick a gift that aids in sensory and motor skills development. Ball pits, koosh balls, play dough and resistance bands are examples. Dry-erase boards can aid in visual development and fine motor skills.

6. Look for gifts that will help a child in his specific problem area. Handwriting is very difficult for many autistic children. Weighted pens and weights that slide onto writing utensils can be helpful.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're not the parent of the autistic child you're buying for, run some gift ideas by his parents before you buy.
• Discuss gift ideas with your autistic child's teachers or therapist.

Resources

• Emotion Flash Cards
• Great Gift Sets for Autisic Children
• Weighted Pens

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[musicappreciate]

on 9/29/2009 Thanks--you hit a niche with this article. If only our extended family would read this.

[6daughters4me]

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