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Original poster

What to buy 4 year old Autistic girl for her birthday?

30 replies

Thereyougo10 · 31/05/2022 23:09

Just that really. God daughter who is autistic is turning 4 this weekend and I would love to get her something educative (she's showing much interest in numbers) but fun for her birthday. Ideas welcomed. Thanks.

OP posts:
toastedbagiel · 31/05/2022 23:11

Autistic 4 year olds, just like NT 4 year olds, don't all have the same interests. If you are not sure what she likes ask her parents? There isn't a blanket 'autism' present.

Original poster
Thereyougo10 · 31/05/2022 23:18

Aware that there isn't a blanket autistic present. Just wondered if there were specific toys geared at autistic children. I asked her mother but she suggested I should surprise her and that they'd appreciate anything.

OP posts:
ladydimitrescu · 31/05/2022 23:23

The same thing you'd buy a NT 4 year old girl - go by her interests.
This won't go well.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

4 year olds
Brokenfurnitureandroses · 31/05/2022 23:24

Buy her whatever you think Any 4 year old girl would like. My 4 year old boy likes magnatiles, play doh, colours/colouring books and fire engines. There are sensory toys that children with and without autism tend to like too, sometimes they can help autistic children to regulate. There’s an Irish website www.sensationalkids.ie that sells toys and resources for autistic children, you might get ideas there.

toastedbagiel · 31/05/2022 23:25

Just wondered if there were specific toys geared at autistic children.

Autistic children bare just children. Toys are just toys.

Babdoc · 31/05/2022 23:28

In my experience, autistics don’t like surprises as much as NT children, it upsets their love of the routine and predictable.
Why not ask the child what things she likes? Autistics often have obsessive interests in a specific topic such as dinosaurs, or trains or whatever.
My own autistic DD loved Thomas the tank engine, so books and diecast models of him and his fellow engines were always acceptable presents.

Hawkmoth · 31/05/2022 23:28

A calculator, number blocks and a squared notebook. With glitter pens.

Helpmymum · 31/05/2022 23:29

Number blocks themed toy?

Original poster
Thereyougo10 · 31/05/2022 23:30

Thanks all. English is not my first language so didn't mean to come off as implying that autistic children have different interests from NT children. Merely wondered if there were particular toys that are specifically made for them, i.e what brokenfurnitureandroses suggested. Thanks.

OP posts:
rnsaslkih · 31/05/2022 23:31

Lego like this

www.lego.com/en-gb/product/around-the-world-11015

Original poster
Thereyougo10 · 31/05/2022 23:34

@Babdoc thanks. My god daughter is non verbal so far, so hard to ask. I have just noticed that she gets very excited with anything involving numbers. She has a board where she practices writing and all she writes are numbers or draws mostly stick figures and tries to count how many she's drawn. I will have a look at some number blocks or bigger Duplo blocks.

OP posts:
rodham · 31/05/2022 23:35

Look at the bus stop game by Orchard games.

Pretty irrelevant that she's autistic though. My 11yo with autism likes all the same stuff as her NT friends.

Superslide · 31/05/2022 23:41

As a parent if autistic children, I'm not offended by your question. You mean well and are asking because you care.

If numbers are her thing then stick with number related items. My child lived the number 5 so we bought large wooden numbers for her and she lived carrying it around and also liked to spot the number 5 when out and about.

Number blocks is a good plan and maybe an EYFS number workbook.

Superslide · 31/05/2022 23:41

Loved...

lovelychops · 31/05/2022 23:50

Is she interested in sensory toys? My son has some numbers which are good for sensory play. I can't describe them properly... but they are squishy and all different colours. He loves lining them up in order. Hope this makes a bit of sense?!

toastedbagiel · 31/05/2022 23:53

As a parent if autistic children, I'm not offended by your question. You mean well and are asking because you care.

Just to clarify, I'm not offended. Just pointing out that it's hard enough being treated differently as an autistic person without people looking for specific 'autism' presents. It's ok to buy a 4 year old something they are interested in without it being specify to their disability.

longcoffeebreak · 31/05/2022 23:56

I have a son with autism and he certainly did/does have different interests to an NT child!!

It is common for some children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to have very limited play skills. This can mean that a child plays with only a few toys, plays in a repetitive way or doesn’t play with toys the way most kids do.
For example, there may be several toys in a child’s room, but she only chooses to play with cars, or she may become fixated and do the same activities over and over again—like pushing blocks off the table. She may also focus on the wheel of the car or just drop it on the ground rather than rolling it across the floor.

Definitely go with the special interest or a sensory toy...

Oizys · 01/06/2022 00:04

My son to be 4 yr old son is autistic and loves numbers

try looking at the numberblocks math link cubes (or just math link cubes)

number blocks counting toy

dice are another good one. I’m getting normal ones and also special gaming ones that go up to 12

we have lots of number tracing books

something like this? My son would love this!
www.scandiborn.co.uk/products/bigjigs-toys-number-tray?variant=39604731248711&currency=GBP&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google+shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-daUBhCIARIsALbkjSYwPRnZ9vpbnM3uyN2OZi27WXD0Rh3i0IvO-h_OmToHW7shldHWFB0aAuntEALw_wcB

i think it’s fine that you asked and mentioned the autism helps people direct you to toys they have experience of their children loving. My BIL just buys my autistic son toys he thinks a child of X would want / be interested based on his experience with NT children which doesn’t take in account my sons interests or consider his autism when choosing gifts so they’re usually loud (which is an issue for his sensory needs) and completely unsuitable because he’s not interested in action man type toys or football goals

Original poster
Thereyougo10 · 01/06/2022 00:05

Thanks all. This is very helpful. So many great ideas, I might actually have difficulties choosing now.

Apologies if anyone has found my question offensive. That was certainly not my intention. I will look at all suggestions including sensory toys which I hadn't considered.

OP posts:
ForestFae · 01/06/2022 00:08

My daughter likes these plastic numbers and letters we got off Amazon or eBay. They’re different colours and she enjoys sorting them by colour and or ordering the numbers.

I don’t think it’s an offensive question to ask as autistic kids often play in a different way to non autistic kids, but all kids do have different interests anyway so get her something she likes.

confusedlots · 01/06/2022 00:11

If she likes numbers, my kids liked the numberblocks program on tv at that age, and there are some toys you can get associated with that.