Choosing The Right Gift For A Child On The Autism spectrum

When it comes to buying a gift for a child on the autism spectrum, your decision requires a little more time and care, and it’s a little tougher for all involved if you get it wrong. Sad but true. Buy the wrong gift and you risk distress for the child as well as the parent.

A great place to start for advice is asking the parents, who can usually give you some tips regarding the particular kinds of skills the child is currently concentrating on, and some fun and relevant toys that suit. Maybe fine motor or active play skills are a priority for example, or the child might enjoy a tactile toy that will soothe and relax. Is the child learning to be more independent? Toys that assist in self help might be a good option. There can be a lot of expense in encouraging learning through play in kids with special needs, and the parents will appreciate the effort and assistance a gift that meets current skill development goals instead of something inappropriate or potentially stress inducing.

Whilst it’s not uncommon for kids on the autism spectrum to have obsessions, and sometimes families and therapists would rather move away from those things, at the end of the day, isn’t gift giving about pleasing the receiver? If you really want to see joy on a face when they tear (or carefully and quietly) open the paper, play to the child’s interests and obsessions.

Finding the right toy can be a game of trial and error, and if you really don’t trust yourself and would like the child or the parents to choose themselves, a gift voucher is sure to please.

Buying the right gift for a child on the autism spectrum is a little more challenging as the usual age appropriate gifts are not always suitable, but it’s not hard to find something that will bring joy, development or relaxation with a little bit of thought and a great selection from a fantastic online store like the Toy Bug.