If you are a teacher, parent, caregiver, or family member of an autistic child in the middle of holiday gift shopping, you may wonder what are some good gifts for autistic children. Shopping for them can be tricky, as many have restricted interests, sensory- or other challenges.
STAGES® Learning, the premier developer of learning tools for autistic children, aims specifically to meet the needs of autistic children, and their research-based products have become a staple in home and school programs around the world.
Here are just some of their beautiful and affordable toys and tools that may just be what you are looking for this holiday season…
1. Sensory Toys
Sensory toys can be a fun and incredibly helpful way to manage sensory stimulation and help autistic children stay calm and collected. Here are a few sensory products by Stages Learning that may not only provide fun but have a calming effect on sensory-sensitive children also.
SNUGS
The adorable inflatable Snugs are designed to provide a calming hug and support to children as they relax, read, play, and explore. The Snugs can improve gross motor and motor planning skills, balance, and promote imagination. Plus, it provides just the right amount of pressure to calm anxious, stressed, or sensory-overloaded children. Just a few minutes in the Snug can help to settle and calm most children.
SENSORY BUILDER KIT
The sensory toys included in this lockable plastic tote will provide hours of fun for your child, and better yet, it is sharable and portable. Easily bring this kit to school, travel, church, or anywhere else you need to keep hands and minds busy.
SENSORY BUILDER BLOCKS - 50 BLOCK SET
These durable, lightweight blocks provide children with hours of creative and imaginative play. The blocks come in a custom-designed canvas bag for easy clean-up, storage, and portability. Blocks have stood the test of time and have earned an irreplaceable role in early childhood education. Blocks ask children to draw upon and expand problem-solving abilities, tap into spatial sense and motor abilities, lay a foundation for mathematics and story-telling, and more.
SENSORY BUILDER: BUBBLE POP-IT FIDGET TOYS
The Sensory Builder: The Bubble Pop-It sensory toys are quieter than bubble wrap but equally as satisfying! Just press the bubbles down and they make a soft "popping" sound similar to bubble wrap; then flip it over and begin fidgeting again! Made from safe, non-toxic silicone. Great for travel or anywhere!
SENSORY BUILDER: SQUISHY MOCHI KAWAII ANIMALS
The Squishy Mochi set is a selection of cute squishy mini figures that are super soft and pliable and perfect as a fidget or calming toy. Made of thermoplastic rubber (TPR), these mochi toys are also easy to clean – simply remove any lint or dirt with water, soap, and a little baking soda and they are as good as new. The perfect present for birthdays, stocking stuffers, party favors, prizes, and rewards!
2. Books
Books are a fun way to spend time with your child, especially when accompanied by fun manipulatives. Make learning about animals fun with these play animal sets.
PLAY BUILDER ANIMALS
The Play Builder Animals sets bring together learning and fun with 3 sets themed around Farm Animals, Pets, and Wild Animals. Each set features 4-5 animals as well as a Fun Facts book with facts about each animal paired with a real-life image. Supports hours of imaginative and educational play!
3. Toys to Improve Motor Skills
Stringing beads or building a robot factory are great ways to combine creativity with practicing fine motor skills. Your kids will love them!
STRINGING BEADS- WOODEN TRAY
Beads are the perfect tool for teaching pre-math patterning, fine motor skills, and creativity. The 24 custom-designed stringing beads come in six colors and four different shapes for color and shape recognition as well as patterning. The bead shapes were custom designed to help develop fine motor skills as each shape requires different grasping techniques. The set is packaged in a sturdy wooden tray with a lid for handy storage and transport.
ROBOT FACTORY BUILDING SET
Build and rebuild your robot factory with this colorful set! Robots spin and bounce around. This building set helps to develop skills such as counting, sorting, matching, patterning, fine motor, eye-hand coordination, and more.
4. Puzzles
What better way to learn about how to positively interact with others, have healthy habits, or be a community helper than by solving a puzzle together?
POSITIVE INTERACTIONS PUZZLE
Each side of this beautifully photographed solid wood cube puzzle features a different picture of positive interactions between children and adults—6 different puzzles for the price of one!
The Real Life Learning Positive Interactions Cube Puzzle includes 6 full-color fun facts cards. One side of each card provides a solution guide for the completed puzzle, and the other side lists fun and educational facts related to the picture. Working with the Positive Interactions Cube Puzzle and Fun Facts Cards is a great activity to build vocabulary and reinforce great social skills, and healthy family interactions, in a fun and engaging way!
HEALTHY HABITS PUZZLE
Each side of this beautifully photographed solid wood cube puzzle is part of a different picture depicting kids participating in healthy daily habits—6 different puzzles for the price of one!
The Real Life Learning Healthy Habits Cube Puzzle includes 6 full-color fun facts cards. One side of each card provides a solution guide for the completed puzzle, and the other side lists fun and educational facts related to the picture. The pictures on this cube puzzle, along with the included fun facts cards, offer a great avenue to discuss and reinforce healthy daily habits in a fun and engaging way!
COMMUNITY HELPERS PUZZLE
Winner of Creative Child Magazine's Puzzle of the Year Award, each side of this beautifully photographed solid wood cube puzzle is part of a different picture depicting common and familiar community helper jobs—6 different puzzles for the price of one!
The Real Life Learning Community Helpers Cube Puzzle includes 6 full-color fun facts cards. One side of each card provides a solution guide for the completed puzzle, and the other side lists fun and educational facts related to the picture. The pictures on this cube puzzle, along with the included fun facts cards, offer a great avenue to discuss what kids want to be when they grow up, or the different people they may meet in their community!
These are just some of the collection of great products you can find on Stages Learning’s website. We hope you will take a look around and find the perfect gift for your child. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to answer your questions and support your family’s needs in any way we can.
