GIFTS FOR AN AUTISTIC CHILD: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

“What should we get Declan for Christmas?”

Or for his birthday.  Or for Easter.

It is a completely natural question.  For my older kids I could tell family exactly what they wanted.  And if not I could tell family what the kids were into and let them decide on something special.

But Declan never played with toys.  I wanted him to.  I wanted him to sit and enjoy something for a little bit, but toys were never his thing.

Nor was sitting.  Sitting – not a Declan thing.

It took me a bit to UNDERSTAND what Declan’s Occupational Therapist when he was 2 years old was telling me.

“His body is CRAVING input.  You NEED to give his body INPUT!”

I did all the exercises with him.  I gave him deep pressure.  I used lotion to massage his arms, hands and feet.  I would throw him onto the couch – over and over again.  I would get someone to help me put him in a blanket to swing him back and forth.

I had seen those as exercises to help give Declan the input his body needed.  Slowly I began to realize that Declan was into toys.  Just not the every day ones.

Declan needed sensory toys!  His trampoline, his ball he sat on with the handle to bounce.  His playdough, his sensory sand, his Krazy Kar, his chewy tubes, fidget cubes, gel beads.

These are still the toys that he will go to today to meet a sensory need – and to PLAY!

Here is a list from Autism Parenting Magazine about Gifts for and Autistic Child.  As always, if you click the infographic you will be taken their blog for more detailed information.  Check it out!