Toys for Autistic Children and Teens

Buying a toy or gift for someone on the autism spectrum can be challenging. During the holidays we receive many calls asking our product specialists for gift advice. Based on these questions our product specialists have put together this guide to help you choose the best gifts for kids, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum.

Often individuals on the spectrum have strong interests in a certain topic. If this is the case books or gift items that relate to their interests are always a hit. However, this can be difficult depending on the interest. If your loved one has a very specific interest start shopping early for their gift.

Keep in mind an autistic person's developmental ability rather than their age.

Consider Buying a Calming Gift

Kids and teens on the spectrum often deal with the challenges of unexpected events, miscommunication, and overwhelming sensory experiences. Their sensory threshold can be lower than the general population and daily experiences can be painful or very tiring. Calming gifts are often well received and are very enjoyable. Some calming gift ideas include vibrating items, soothing visual items such as spiral timers, rhythmic moving motion lamps. A soothing gift is not only enjoyable but can also make life easier for the whole family.

Slow, repetitive motion items are visually engaging and calming. Our most popular visual items include:

• The Jellyfish Lamp slowly changes colors as two large jellyfish slowly swim through the water.
• The Cosmic Cloud Lamp slowly changes colors as clouds and glitter swirl around.
• The Moon Light that slowly changes colors as you watch it.

Weighted items also make good calming gifts. These items provide deep pressure that causes your body to move from a "fight or flight" mode to a restful state. Some of these things can be more expensive but they will last for years if they are well made. Check out our weighted blankets, and weighted vests. We also offer adorable weighted animals that make great calming and soothing travel companions. Your child will love our cute weighted turtle.

Many autistic children and teens enjoy gentle massage items like our vibrating pillow. This pressure activated pillow vibrates when you squeeze it, saving battery life. When looking at massage items look for things that vibrate and are easily controlled by the individual. Our advisory board has found that deep tissue or shiatsu massage does not work well.

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  Jellyfish Lamp
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  Vibrating Pillow
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  Anger Management Box
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  Cozy Peapod

Sensory Gifts Everyone Will Enjoy

Many autistic children, teenagers, and adults enjoy sensory toys and products. They can help people to self regulate (calm down, focus, or relax), provide a pleasant activity or smaller items can be pleasant distractions when traveling to visit friends or family.

Some examples of popular sensory items include swings, weighted blankets, or cocoon type beanbag chairs, or toys with interesting textures, that play music, or light up.

Remember, to be sensitive with sensory items, many people on the spectrum have sensory integration challenges. Be careful not to pick a toy that can be overwhelming. It may be better to get something that provides one type of sensory stimulation- such as play putty (something to touch), a musical item, or light up item.

Examples of Sensory Gifts:

Is the person visually oriented? If so, great gifts to think about are interesting visual toys like the Moon Light, or spiral timer. Our most popular visual toy is the Jellyfish Lamp.

Does the person seek to touch lots of things? If so think about toys and gifts that are tactile with textures that are interesting to touch. Some popular tactile gifts include the fidget set, Super Sensory Kit, and the Bubble Poppers.

Visually interesting gifts are always a big hit.

Items that spin, light up or flash are often very well received. Spinning toys can be a very enjoyable Christmas or birthday gift. Often parents are concerned about giving their children spinning toys because they don't want to encourage self stimulation behavior. However, in some instances they can be helpful. For example, having a spinning toy that the child really enjoys in your purse can be helpful when you need to get some last-minute grocery shopping done. Or letting the child play with the spinning toy may allow the whole family to go out to dinner.

Remember, sometimes less can be more with sensory items. A toy with too much stimulation can cause over-stimulation and stress.

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  Super Sensory Kit
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  Sensory Swing
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  Sensory Rocker
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  Vibrating Neck Pillow