Finding the perfect gift for a child on the autism spectrum isn’t easy, not even for their parents. Many autistic individuals have very specific likes, dislikes, needs, abilities, sensory issues, etc. For me, there were many of my son’s birthdays (and Christmases) that I felt like a total gift-giving failure. Remote control car… Fail. Games… Nope. Toy race track… Not happening. These were things that most little boys would probably enjoy, but my son had no interest. Many toys were never played with and ended up in a yard sale. Over the years and fails I discovered that sometimes you have to think a little outside the box when it comes to gift giving for a child on the spectrum.
A few things to consider when looking for the right gift: What are some of the child’s favorite things (toys, movies, music, clothes, activities, books)? Does the child have sensory issues (auditory, visual, tactile)? It may also be helpful to consider the child’s cognitive age vs. actual age. My son is almost 17 but still loves The Wonder Pets and Veggie Tales. His cognitive age is younger than his actual age due to his autism, and I am personally okay with buying him something that may be for a much younger child.
There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a gift that will be used and enjoyed by a child on the spectrum, and here are a few suggestions:
A New Favorite Shirt… Does the child have a favorite color, favorite character, movie, or activity? Thanks to the Internet you can find almost anything in t-shirt form. Also keep in mind that some kids may be irritated by tags in clothing, so you could remove it or buy tagless. Softer fabrics are usually better, too.
A Musical Instrument… I recently purchased a kalimba or thumb piano for my 16-year old son on the spectrum. He loves it. It is tuned properly, which is a plus for our pitch-perfect kids. The sound is pleasant and not loud, so it’s excellent for kids with auditory sensitivity issues. He can play it (also good for fine motor strengthening) and it sounds pretty, not dissonant. Younger children can play them, too. I purchased my son’s kalimba from Amazon.
Games… Simple card games that don’t have a bunch of rules to remember can encourage turn-taking and socialization. Uno, Go Fish, and War are fun to play, can teach our kids some needed skills, and are great for family time and playtime with peers.
Music… Give the gift of music! Does the child have a favorite artist or band, genre, instrument? Although many stores have stopped selling them, you can still find CDs online. Or what about an i-Tunes gift card so parents can purchase music and upload to their child’s device? I’ve given my son a few boom boxes and headphones and those are always a hit, as well. Music can soothe, calm, and make us all happy. This is no different for someone on the spectrum. Give them something to sing and dance to.
Movies/Books/Accessories… If the birthday girl or boy has a favorite movie or show, Blue’s Clues for example, find a book about Blue’s Clues or find toy figures from the show. There are puzzles, games, balls, etc. Items like these that tie into a favorite program or activity may encourage some pretend play or they may enjoy just having those items in their collection.
Puzzles… Puzzles of their favorite show, characters, places, colors, or animals, make a fun and educational gift. Playing with puzzles improves cognitive skills, fine motor development, problem solving, hand-eye coordination, and even social skills. Scientists say that the brain produces dopamine, a chemical that is involved in learning and memory, when you are engaged in solving a jigsaw puzzle. Good stuff all around.
A Vacuum… “HUH,” you say? Hear me out. My son has always been fascinated by vacuum cleaners and he’s also a neat freak. He had toy vacuums when he was little, but one year I bought him his own inexpensive bagless upright. He vacuums his own room now and will vacuum the rest of the house if I ask him. This is a life skill and it gives him a chore that he actually enjoys doing. Keep in mind that some individuals on the autism spectrum may have auditory sensitivity, so a vacuum may not be the best gift. Some kids can wear noise cancelling headphones while using one to minimize the sound.
Good luck and remember, the best present you can give a child is your presence.
