Sensory Friends
Let's stay connected:
  • Home
    • About us
    • Contact us!
    • Join Our Email List
    • Media Page
    • Book Christine Goulbourne
  • Blog
    • Disability Blogs
  • Sensory Friends Directory
  • Resources
  • Great Giveaways!

Top Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids and Loved Ones with #Autism and Special Needs

12/12/2017

5 Comments

 
Picture
It’s that time of year when gift giving is in full swing. Families are preparing for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, Boxing Day and other wonderful traditions this time of year. Many of us like to express how much we care about others by giving them something we hope brings them joy. It’s not always easy buying things for family and friends, and sometimes buying for loved ones with special needs can be even more challenging.  As a parent of a teen with autism, I do my homework each year. I came up with a really cool list of gift ideas I share with family and friends. These gifts are great for most kids of all ages. I’ve got a few creative ideas for picky loved ones too!  I’m happy to share them with you!
Of course, the first thing to do is ask the intended gift recipient what they want or talk to them and learn about their interests. Asking parents, friends and family members for ideas are also great leads for gift ideas. My hope is that this post will also help you decide on what to buy for your loved ones. Many kids and adults with disabilities have specific sensory and learning needs that have to be met on a regular basis. Many of their needs involve being stimulated by one or more of their five senses (sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch). Movement or gross motor skills (spinning, jumping, rocking, pacing, etc.) are also examples of some needs that should be met regularly. Understanding sensory needs helps with gift giving ideas. Here are some of the hottest items and ideas I think could be winning gift ideas! If you find something you'd like to buy, just click on the item - I made it easy for you! Please note that if you purchase something off this post- at no additional cost to you, I get a small commission. 

Fidget Toys

These cool gadgets work for children and adults with sensory issues and without! Sometimes keeping your hands busy makes it easier for many to focus, learn and relax. My son loves squeeze toys, fidget spinners, and beanie animals that are small and easy to travel with and wave. These are some of the most popular items on the market today:
​
Tangle Therapy Relax for Hand and Mind Wellness
​​Yoya Toys


​Visual Fun!

For kids who need visual stimulation, things that light-up, spin, make bubbles, change colors, or sand timers are perfect gifts for visual input. Over the years, family and friends have become great toy detectives when it came to buying visual gifts for Richie! Here are some of today’s best-selling items:
​

Lava Lamp
Lightshow DJ


 
Tactile (Sense of Touch) Enjoyment

While it may be touch and go when it comes to hugs and touching for some kids, many of them do have a need for tactile input. Richie loves hugs and affection, but it must be on his terms. He loves my kisses, but I have to let him know when I plan to hug him. He enjoys touching many textures like slimy or sticky toys, pins and more. These are the most popular toys in this category:
​
Pin Art

Water Beads
Play Foam


​Learning Games

Giving educational toys, these days doesn’t spark the same reaction as unwrapping a gift-boxed sweater! Toy makers have come up with genius ideas for making learning fun!  Check out these most wanted learning toys!
​


​Sound Puzzles
Smart Talk


​​Auditory Enjoyment: 

Children and adults with auditory sensory issues don’t necessarily have issues with their ability to hear. Auditory sensory issues have more to do with how the brain interprets what’s being heard. In other words, certain sound patterns can either bring joy and happiness to someone – so much so that your loved one may become fixated on those sounds. They repeat specific sounds or play songs over and over again. On the other hand, some sounds may be extremely painful to your loved one. This may cause them to cup their ears or exhibit challenging behavior. These items may bring joy to your loved ones and it doesn’t hurt to know they are top sellers too!
Noise Canceling Headphones
Rain Maker
Toobaloo-Auditory Feedback
Water Dancing Speakers


​Vestibular Motion

Vestibular input is critical for most children and adults with developmental disabilities. While movement is important for brain development, it also helps to calm, regulate, and comfort children and adults with autism and other disabilities. If you’re thinking about a gift that will bring joy to someone you care about, these gifts hold their rank as number one!
Indoor Trampoline
Fun and Function Scooter
Indoor/Outdoor Swing
My 1st Flyer Pogo Stick

​Remember that gift certificates are perfect gestures of thoughtfulness when your goal is to make someone happy. A gift certificate to your loved one’s favorite restaurant, department store, ice-cream parlor, movie theater, or better yet – season passes to their favorite amusement park, museum, zoo, or other preferred place – and you just might be nominated as gift giver of the year! Even if you’re not this year's nominee, try to remember that children and adults with disabilities are intuitive people who sense when someone cares. The most important message you want to get across is that you care for someone and you’re thinking of them. There is no greater gift than the gift of thoughtfulness and love. 

​My family and I wish you and yours a joyous holiday season!
Picture
Welcome to Voices of Special Needs Blog Hop -- a monthly gathering of posts from special needs bloggers hosted by The Sensory Spectrum and The Jenny Evolution. Click on the links below to read stories from other bloggers about having a special needs kiddo -- from Sensory Processing Disorder to ADHD, from Autism to Dyslexia! 


Want to join in on next month's Voices of Special Needs Hop? Click here!
An InLinkz Link-up

Sincerely, Christine SensoryFriends

5 Comments
Miki Patel link
12/12/2017 01:13:18 pm

I'm glad you included a gift guide for those with special needs. This is a fantastic guide.

Reply
Bohemian Babushka link
12/12/2017 03:33:27 pm

Great list! Look forward to sharing this with my granddaughter and her parents to see which should go on Santa's lista. Gracias for the suggestions and FELIZ NAVIDAD to you and your familia. BB2U

Reply
Stephanie | Adventures in Aussieland link
12/12/2017 03:57:59 pm

These are all wonderful suggestions! I've been working with children with Autism for the past 6 years and now have my own practice here in Australia. I'm going to share this post on my business page! Such an amazing list!

Reply
Alicia link
12/13/2017 06:49:43 am

This is such a great idea! It can be challenging to make sure you get the right type of gift for children who have special needs, so this is a great resource!

Reply
Full Spectrum Mama link
12/13/2017 10:21:23 am

Very thoughtful.

What a great thing to do for friends and family - and for readers.

I wonder how the list will change as Richie gets older. I know my son (16) has special interests and basically only wants that stuff...

Thanks and love,
Full Spectrum Mama

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author: Christine Goulbourne
    christine@sensoryfriends.com 

    Archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    Categories

    All
    Autism
    Inclusion
    Parent Involvement
    Positive Behavior Support
    Special Education

    RSS Feed

    Please note that Sensory Friends is a participant in the Google Adsense and Etsy Programs. These are affiliate/advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees (at no additional cost to you) by advertising and linking to their sites. 

An Important Note From Sensory Friends:

All information posted on the website is for informational purposes only.   Please confirm and review information carefully with your professional health care provider before considering a new regime or practice.  The information provided is not intended to replace medical advice offered by physicians.  Sensory Friends only wishes to provide information, resources, options and networking opportunities to its members and site visitors. 
Please note that Sensory Friends is a participant in several affiliate programs (Google Adsense, Awin Affiliates, and Etsy) these affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products or services. We may receive a commission if you purchase any of the linked products at no additional cost to you.  

© 2023 Sensory Friends

Subscribe

Join our mailing list today!
Join Now