Can I have some ideas for autistic children please?

[BonesyBones]

I have two autistic children. DS1 is 8yo nearly 9 but in terms of toys has a closer play age to a 5/6yo. DS2 will be 2.5yo by Christmas.

They seem to be at complete opposite ends of the scale so what worked for DS1 isn't working for DS2.

DS1 likes:
Lego
Hero mashers
Imaginext batman stuff
Reading
Wii U (Disney infinity and skylanders)
Star wars figures
Playing Basketball
Tim burton movies
Sand
Light up things
Minecraft
Soft fleecy fabrics
Music

Dislikes:
Being outdoors
Loud/scratchy/high pitched noises
Craft/drawing/writing
Wet or sticky things

He has requested a bike, but he can't ride a bike (this would be his fourth) he gets fed up trying and wants to come back indoors after 5 minutes of barely trying.
He does basketball club at school but we're not allowed to fix a hoop to the wall outside.


DS2 is close to being non-verbal (on a salt waiting list to start learning pecs) so can't say what he would like.

DS2 likes
Pirates
Spinning and things that spin (not wheels or cars though)
Puppets/shadow puppets
Lights
Drums and "banging" noises
Drawing
Sticks
Loves to be outside
Water
Numbers
Towers
Pirates
Mr Tumble
Fluffy things
Socks (as in he actually sits and plays with socks)
Spoons (see socks)
Anything he defines as treasure (which could be literally anything!)
Bubbles

DS2 dislikes:
Sticky things
Dolls/teddies
Things on his head/face/hands
Pull along toys
Shape sorters
Musical toys
Anything that's a standard toy for his age group really.
Vehicles

We had planned the Chad Valley drum kit which he will absolutely love but I'm due DC3 a week after Christmas and can't see how a drumkit and a newborn will work.

Any ideas would be wonderful, I really have no idea what to get for either of them that might be enjoyed. Things that seem obvious tend to end up in a box til the November charity shop run.

No real budget as such as long as something actually gets used/played with.

Please help!

[Undersmile]

Argh- drumkit and newborn
You're right not to go there!


How are they with putting things in their mouths? A marble run is great, if they're safe with that. (My NT 7yo still sucks all his toys but my dd with ASD loves the sound as the balls roll down, and likes building them too)
So hard if one loves outdoors, one loves indoors! New baby could go either way.
For the youngest, what about those simple Simon games, where the colours flash, and you copy the pattern? Think they'd have them at argos, toysrus etc.
Also the pop up pirate game- it's simple and fun and piratey.
DS1- lego, star wars lego, what's not to love?

[ShowMeTheElf]

If DS1 hates loud noises then a drum kit for DS2 isn't going to help harmony in the home.
DS1: minecraft cushions, cool bedding, books, light up things (thinking of those battery powered night lights in cool shapes they sell on ebay)
indoor basketball hoop for over the back of a door.
DS2: bath toys (something that spins when you pour in the water?. Pirates DVDs (adventure with scientists, that kind of thing).
Gentle percussion instruments: rainmakers, tambourine etc.
A pirate's treasure chest toy box.

[Blueisthemagicnumber]

Could you go through the Argos catalogue with ds2 and cut and stick pictures of things he likes (you do the cutting and sticking)

How about a treasure basket of different types of spoons for ds2? Go to Poundland of different sized wooden spoons?

Have you invested in sound minimising headphones for ds1? Would help him with his noise loving younger brother, and noisy nb?

Does ds1 have a scooter. Might be easier than a bike. Loads of Star Wars stuff out this Christmas with Rogue One being released. Perhaps a new Lego set?

[insan1tyscartching]

My dd with ASD also loved spoons and toothbrushes and had one or the other in her hands constantly.
Things that ds and dd liked (they are chalk and cheese too) magnadoodle Cogs and gears click clack track

[IsItGinTimeYet]

Basketball hoop on a stand?

[gigglingHyena]

For spinning do you have a bilibo, ours has been a big hit.

If you have somewhere to make a den (DSs is under his mid sleeper) then LED lights are nice. We bought these which are on a sticky backed strip, very quick to put up LED lights

Another big hit here has been a pop up tent. I opted for a camping one rather than a toy as it seemed a bit more sturdy and the kids were starting to get a bit big for the toys ones anyway. With a black sheet over it makes a decent dark space to play with various torches/glow in the dark bits. We also take it with us to various places as his "safe space".

There's usually a pack of glow sticks (poundshop) in his stocking.

Cheep disability aids website often have some nice sensory bits and pieces.

[NotCitrus]

Was thinking basketball hoop on a stand.
Ds and dn (8, 9yo) can't cope with surprises so they need to know main presents in advance. Letting them on Amazon and giving them a budget tends to be best
Marble runs great if 2.5yo won't eat marbles. Construction toys like 3D jigsaws (Ravensburger are good quality and don't fall apart). A Bop-It?

2.5yo - Duplo and a box for it? Toy piano keyboard (test first to check sound isn't too annoying). Tape measure from pound shop was great hit, also a stitch counter where you press the button and it increases the number, up to 99 - great for teaching understanding of place value.
Bubble gun, cube or large bubble wand? Water wheel toy? Sand and water table?

[FauxFox]

Have you got space for and exercise bike for DS1? Much easier than a real bike and he won't need to go outside!

What about a backpack or 'spotty bag' a la Mr Tumble for DS2 filled with small random stuff he likes? A treasure bag he can carry around?

[Frannyboo90]

Hi op my little boy has DCD with autistic behaviours and he has always struggled with tradditional toys as he just bashes them together and makes pow noises. Im getting him his own ipad mini as he loves going on our family one. It's been a hard desicion as I don't want him being too reliant on it/on it all the time, but it makes him happy. He's also obsessed with pokemon so getting some pokemon stuff. I searched sensory toys on amazon and got some cool stocking fillers - a squishy frog and click a bricks, and I found a wind up Mr bump in pound land (he has lots of bimps and knocks due to poor coordination) and a toy car that comes with stickers to decorate it! He also lovesaid chocolate xxx

[Frannyboo90]

Sorry for all the typos

[Mymouthgetsmeintrouble]

Thomas and friends rail rollers

[MrsJ0612]

Also finding it difficult for my DD who is 4, will be 5 shortly after Xmas (argh another set of presents to think about!) She doesn't really play with toys, she enjoys writing letters of the alphabet and has very recently began to do some limited imaginary play (eg playing schools/shopping) I find she is now beginning to also play with her peppa pig playsets on the odd occasion (they were bought for her 2 Christmas' ago when she was 2!)

She adores pony's and I have bought her the "Our Generation" horse so far and some more my little pony's. I've also got her a teepee that has a light show inside it, I may give his before Christmas though - thought it maybe a good place for her to go when she's having one of her meltdowns.

She has a star/moon projector in her bedroom which has 4 different coloured stars/moons and this has transformed bedtimes. I got that from amazon for £10! She also has a small bubble lamp with fish in it from B&M for £10. Her keyworker has suggested sensory toys so I am looking into that at the moment. I like the idea of a marble run but I fear she may put the marbles in her mouth :/

I've asked her numerous times what present/toy she would like for Christmas she just doesn't get it at all. Her understanding is severely delayed too which doesn't help!

So any girly/pony (she has a giant unicorn already :D ) ideas would be very appreciated!!

[Frannyboo90]

Mrs J would she enjoy my little ponys? And I'm sure melissa and Doug do a wooden horse puzzle xx

[MrsJ0612]

She has most of the my little pony horses, I've bought her the castle for Christmas - not sure how much use she will get out of it though. She doesn't tend to play with the figures. Horse puzzle maybe a good idea, will have a look for that thank you!

[Frannyboo90]

No worries Mrs J I'll keep my eye out for anything else and comment on here if I see anything :)

[Undersmile]

Ooh- insanity that cogs thing is brilliant!

Just seen on the elc site this manic martian game, like the bash 'em moles/mice at fairgrounds, which your DS2 might like. You know what, I think I want that now... it looks even better than pop-up pirate!

[Tiggles]

My DS2 (with ASD) who liked spinning things adored Gears!Gears!Gears! I think he would have been just 3 when we got them but as a younger child would have liked them if we had built them for him.
He was more into stones than sticks but I got him lots of shiny stones and gem stones which he treasured. Wouldn't have worked for DS1 (also ASD) as he put everything in his mouth. But how about a rain making stick?

[Frannyboo90]

Ooh undersmile my little boy loves those arcade bash em things so I'm going to look at that thankyou. OP a sensory company near me called astitchdifferent makes eye spy bags which are little bags stitched up with grains in and shapes with a clear plastic window so you can look through and squidge them about to see stuff x

[DandelionAndBedrock]

I know it's an outdoor thing, but would your elder boy like a scooter? You can get 3 wheeled ones which are fairly robust. At our school we have ones like [http://www.tts-group.co.uk/rabo-circle-cart/1002496.html this] where you use your hands not feet. I don't know if you could get a cheaper one somewhere.

[Fueledwithfairydustandgin]

light spinning toy
electric drums
muffled the sound of drums
we have these

[Fueledwithfairydustandgin]

sensory light tube
Loads of great pirate chests on Amazon
A new soft fleece blanket each? Dunelm have lovely snuggley bedding

[ChishandFips33]

Some fab ideas!!

Marble run (early learning centre), click clack track

Yes to a collection of spoons! Scour charity shops as there are some very different ones out there - including a telescopic long handled one but I can't remember where online I've seen it. Tongs and those larger grabbers for picking things up.

If not vehicles would a scalextric appeal?? The circular track and cause and effect of making it work

A collection of lidded tubs (face cream tubs etc) and things/treasure to put in and out

Magnetic train and wooden track - the connecting of the track/magnets may overcome the dislike of vehicles

[ChristmasSeacow]

My boy with ASD has just turned 4, so not sure I will be much use to you as he's between the ages of your boys. However, things he loves include:

led tree He loves this, it's in his room but we often have to bring downstairs

We are on our second one of these after wearing the first one out. I gave him copies of CDs rather than the originals as they get trashed and need to be replaced from time to time. He plays songs, nursery rhymes and audio books. And above all else he likes to spin the CDs manually with the door open.

We got given this recently and it's great. DS loves it nearly as much as I do

M&D number puzzle. It's too easy for him now as a puzzle but he loves rearranging the numbers into two-digit ones.

Plush toys of his favourite characters. He doesn't like much telly but loves Sarah and Duck, and likes to reenact scenes with the plushes. Before that it was Wallace and Gromit - good as not too much speech and very visual /slapdash. Something your boys might enjoy together?

he also loves his mini micro scooter, although he just looked at it for 2 years before suddenly getting the hang of it!!

Magnetiles also attract his attention from time to time, and he plays with similar things at nursery.

I am sure there are loads more things, I may be back...

[Cassimin]

8 year old adhd,asd. He loves kinetic sand, iPad, marble run, shave a sheep, labrynth.
I am looking at fischertecnic rolling action building kit for this year.

[3boys3dogshelp]

My 8 year old is NT but his list of favourite things is identical to your ds1's and the biggest hit for his birthday was a lava lamp for his bedroom.