need gift ideas for Autistic toddler

In My Humble Opinion
1

My 3yr old nephew is Autistic (lower spectrum). His birthday party was this past wknd. Days before the party his mum told us that he always gets clothes… she wished he’d get a toy gift from someone once in a while, but understands why people prefer clothes–he has no interest in toys(clothes either, actually). But I remember him smiling while I was blowing bubbles (2/$1.00 @ Walgreens but their slimey fluid always dribbles downmy arm) for my son. Remembering my nephew’s slight glimmer of interest, I purchased a supposedly-good type from Toys R US, but the darn thing failed to work when we opened it for my nephew… everyone was disappointed–my niece nearly cried. I’ve actually gone to a few other specialty toys stores to try their versions and they didn’t work either.

Does anyone have any other gift ideas that might–even on the tiniest chance–spark a smile on my nephew’s face?

Spoleto

2

Have you considered a bubble machine ? They’re like $25 from Target now. They keep grubby fingers out of the bubble solution. Plus, even if he runs out of bubble solution, he might be intrigued with the motor hum and the wands going 'round and 'round. Or it might freak him out. I really can’t guess. :frowning:

Bubble solution is a tricky creature. If you shake it, it won’t work. If it gets bits of grass in it, it won’t work. If it freezes in the warehouse, it won’t work.

Here is a great website with toys recommended for autistic kids.

3

From what I’ve read, watching things spin is nice for people with autism. He might not be able to make a top spin by himself though.
If your nephew liked the bubbles, maybe he would like a lava lamp?

4

thanks for the website, it has great toy ideas! Forwarding to my niece, too. :slight_smile:

5

Yes, you’re right! And the lava lamp is another great idea!!! Thanx!!! :slight_smile:

6

How about Maisy? Does he like to watch Maisy at all? I found My First Bubble Blower, which looks simple enough, but still entertaining. Would he like Tumblin Sounds Goldfish? Twistin Bead Bear? Maybe this stacker that plays five classical music songs? (Music can be a way to reach some autistic children…) I’d be really careful with the lava lamp, they get HOT! Also if left on too long some can present a fire hazard.

7

My autistic son, has a collection of Rotating Motion Lamps.

A Plasma Ball might be more entertaining because it’s interactive.

8

What about something with wheels? Many kids with autism just love to spin wheels on things.

A train-related toy (e.g. Thomas The Tank Engine). I don’t know if train-fascination is extremely prevalent among kids “on the spectrum”, but it’s common enough among the kids I’ve known. Dweezil is interested in trains to the point of being obsessed with them.

Anything with flexing joints. My son has some small figurines which he’ll carry around and fidget with - sometimes we’ll see him holding the object in front of his face, waggling the movable part so fast and hard we think he’ll rip it off, and he’ll have a look of utter rapture on his face. Obviously you’d need to choose something age-appropriate, my son tends toward things like small Transformers which would be risky in the hands of a toddler.

A V-tech toy or something similar, where you press buttons and it makes noise. Do be prepared though, for the child to perseverate to the point of driving the family MAD:

Toy: “A is for ap” “A is for ap” “A is for ap” “A is for ap” “A is for a” “A is for a” “A is for a” “A is for a” “A is for” “A is for” “A is for” “A is for” “A is” “A is” “A is” “A is” “A is” “A” “A” “A” “A” “A” “AAAAAAA”

Mother: “ARGH!!!” :eek: :wink:

On rereading this, I realize I’m suggesting all sorts of things that the child would tend to perseverate on. Which may or may not be best from a therapeutic standpoint but obviously would please the child.

Just thought of another one that might be pleasing: Gearation. My kids liked that for a while and it’s fun to rearrange the gears and see how they move. There’s also an extra set of gears that you can purchase separately, that adds more variety.

9

Ooh, what about a Hoberman sphere? My 2 year old and my 13 year old both love it, for entirely different reasons. The baby likes to roll it on the floor and watch centrifugal forces open it as it rolls away. My 13 year old keeps taking his apart and putting the pieces back together. When I’m feeling silly, I just open and close it, saying “Big ball. Little ball. Big ball. Little ball.” in a goofy voice that makes the kids crack up.

(Is it incredibly insensitive to note that “Trip Toys” for stoners are great toys for autistic kids? Lasers, LEDs, spinny shiny disks…)

A couple of Amazon reviewers said it wasn’t sturdy enough for their kids, but they must be little monsters. Our baby’s is on its third kid, and there’s not a thing wrong with it yet.

Mama Zappa, the “A…A…A…AAAAAAAAA” problem is not unique to autistic kids, believe me. Sometimes it’s amazing how all the batteries “disappear” at night when the kids go to bed so Mama can have a sane day the next day. :smiley:

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No, 'cause it’s true! Says the mom of a kid who is on the spectrum (but just barely now).

AJ always loved figures, especially dinosaurs. He picked up on puzzles extremely quickly, and went from the easy peg ones to putting together 100 piece models.

Another good resource is Super Duper.

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My autistic son liked toys with gears. I once bought him a cheap little plastic tool bench (about $10) that had five gears and a few plastic tools. He was fascinated. (He was about three, at the time.)

He prefers toys that are predictable, repetitive, and with parts that spin. Toys that make noise might disturb him, especially if they’re loud or startling noises. One of our most successful toys was a Sit-&-Spin, and he still loves that thing. That wouldn’t be a bad idea for a 3-year-old.

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Zabali_Clawbane, I love Maisy, but my nephew isn’t interested in her at all. The only time he seems to be interested in anything is when my niece pops in a DVD of the Wiggles, and he’ll put his face centimeters from the TV screen, at this range, can he really see more than blurred pixels? He still doesn’t smile or make any sounds or movements. He has a stacker but doesn’t touch it. Bubble maker machine looks like a good possibility! I’ll get it and try it out, make sure it works first.
**
Batsinma Belfry**, I like the idea of the Rotating motion lamps, the Aquarium lamp looks wonderful! Thank you! :slight_smile:

Mama Zappa, he stares right past the Thomas trains, and other toys his parents have already purchased with no luck. Because my nephew has no language at all (not one single word… even his crying sounds like grunting), my niece was told wks ago by one of her son’s specialists, that she needs to start from square one, with flash cards for repetition… she’s frustrated because, as with everything else, he gives a blank stare or stares at other things. The flash cards, may be boring for my niece … my fear is that she’s in denial and until she accepts her son’s diagnosis and specialists’ recommendations, any progress will be slow to come.

**WhyNot **, My 2-yrold also loves the Hoberman too! but when my nephew saw my son playing with it, he gave it a 2-second glance and then walked away. Y’know, when i read that you integrated your own funny enhancement (goofy voice), I remembered that once when I watched him for a few hrs, my little boy wanted to play pillowfight (with soft fluffy pillows), my nephew didn’t, but when i started dropping them on his head and he heard the rest of us laughing, he started smiling and then he layed back against the couch so the pillows could drop onto his tummy, but when i told myniece, she didn’t seem to appreciate it… :confused: I dunno, I’m ignorant about this condition, I just thought if anyone could find something to bring life into this little 3-yr old darling’s eyes, and a smile too, well, if it was my son, I’d consider it a great milestone!

**EJsGirl **, I hope he’ll enjoy puzzles some day :slight_smile:

**MissGypsy **, I took my son’s plastic tool bench/tools to nephew’s house so he could see how much fun my son was having with it, I encouraged my son to ask him if he wanted to play, but no response at all. I’ll try the Sit’n Spin… we have one and i’ll take it over this wknd :slight_smile:

**Many thanks to you all for the great suggestions! ** If any of them work, I’ll post with an update. :slight_smile:

13

I have been trying to remember what it’s name was for a day or two. I saw a lamp once, that was shaped like a lava lamp, except it didn’t use heat to make globs of wax melt and rise/fall, it had a blower that blew colored plastic beads up through a colored liquid. They fell with a soft patter sort of like rain. I believe I saw a similar lamp for sale at Wal-Mart a few years back. I just don’t recall what it was called.