Gift Suggestions for Autistic Child

My autistic nephew is now 12 and is just beginning to associate more socially with me. Mind you, conversations are not always on par with “Meet the Press,” but he has made advances, considering I only see him a few times a year. Now that Christmas is coming up, I’d like to give him a gift that would be more personal from me, but also would be enjoyable for him.

He is a genius with computers, but he always gets games and such. He’s not shown any skills like Rainman, but it’s obvious his analytical mind is superb. Just wondering if any other dopers have been successful at gift giving with autistic family members and if any particular type of gift stands out in memory?

My wife works with several autistic children, and one of the most rewarding things for them seems to be artisitc expression. I’m not sure if it’s the almost total focus on certain tasks that brings it out, but they seem to love creating. Maybe something like modeling clay or a big sketch pad with some drawing supplies?

The arts supply thing might be a good idea, I know that one of my favorite kids in the entire world, an autistic 5 year old boy, absolutely loves art. However, if I were you, I’d ask his parents what he’s into, too. Since you don’t get to spend a lot time with him I really do think asking mom or dad will be your best bet on getting him something he will love. This little guy has developed a passion for dinosaurs recently (“draw a steosaurus, Channen!” he almost can pronounce my name, lol) so I think I’m buying him a dinosaur book - I bet your nephew’s folks can disclose his enthusisms to you, too.

A swing.

Sounds bizzare but go with me on this.

Apparently, being on a swing “occupies” part of their mind in a good way. Especially swings that can rotate as they swing, i.e. a simple tire swing hung by a single rope from a tree.

Several of the really successful learning centers for autistic children will put the kids on a swinging, slowly spinning platform even while they are working on strictly educational topics.

My 9 yr. old son is Autistic, and enjoys things that stimulate his mind such as puzzles. He’s a math whiz and would rather have an Algebra book than any of the popular toy.
Autism comes in many different forms, and there is no stereotypical characteristics for autistic behavior. I agree with the suggestion of asking the parents. Every Christmas my in-laws give my son creative type toys and I end up selling them on Ebay.

I have a 12 year old nephew who is autistic, but much more severely than as described by dreamlab. Buying gifts is tough, even though I’m pretty close to him. He likes things that involve sensations, with bright lights or textures or vibrating or such. Unfortunately, that generally equates to small children’s toys, but that’s what he seems to love. I agree about checking with the parents, of course.

I’d ask the parents. I’ve got two boys with ASD dx’es and one of them would love the craft idea and the other would chuck it in a cupboard.

I’d be very wary of the swing idea. Primafloret the Elder has vestibular problems and if he had a swing he’d use it to hype himself up and it would not be pretty. Most if not all autie kids have sensory problems and it’s worth checking before you make the parents’s lives a misery.