Gift ideas for an autistic child

[sellmeyours]

My DS is 5 soon and then Christmas is next.

I haven't got a clue what to get him. He has no interests outside swimming and playing with muck outside

I am taking him to Peppa Pig world for his birthday and staying in a hotel (he likes rides). The hotel has a swimming pool too so he will get a swim out of it

Any ideas what else I could possibly buy him? He doesn't play with toys really. He likes baby toys that light up and play music but he also throws them across the room for sensory related needs and it sets me on edge at 3am!

Anyway, any gift ideas would be great.

The one and only other thing I've bought is an exercise ball for him to jump on

He had this huge piano thing you basically step on to make music but for some reason he isn't interested in that

He likes baby toys making music etc

If he likes playing with muck outside, maybe something to do with that? There's a lot of mud kitchen stuff about these days, and I remember spending hours as a kid moving gravel back and forth in old metal Tonka trucks. What does he like about it — feeling the materials, mixing them up, finding creepy crawlies, organising things, breaking them down into smaller bits…?

Does he like swings? We have an indoor cocoon style swing. I can post a link if it's helpful

My ds loved his ikea egg chair at that age. Other ideas-
Trampoline (small or large)
Climbing frame
Scooter
Sensory toys - fidgets, poppers, chewelry etc
Lamp projector - you can get ones that do stars and moons on the ceiling
Soft toys /balls - for throwing

Sensory tent
Giant beanbag
Peppa Pig sing and learn microphone
Moredig room projector
Bubble machine
Rotating disco ball
Lava lamp

Thank you, some fab ideas

Anything like a larva lamp or projector is really tricky as he'd be very quick to grab it and if successful, he'd throw it against a wall or something. Just due to overstimulation, so he's so excited he just has to thrash it if that makes sense obviously I'd do my best so it isn't in his reach etc

I have heard of the Ikea egg chair before, but when I googled it, it only came up as available in other countries? I will look again, thank you - if it's available I'll buy it!

He has a trampoline but despite loving to be on the move, wants to tip it over and investigate it instead of bouncing

He doesn't play with fidgets, annoyingly as they're suppose to be good for autistic children

Going to see about an indoor swing, that's brilliant idea

Got him kinetic sand before and he just throws it and puts it everywhere. He does love it but it's honestly so bloody messy

Please can I have the link? Would be great

I am wondering if you might want to look on an autism website like NeuroClastic.com to get a deeper understanding of how your ds will relate to the world. If he likes to inspect the underside of a trampoline, then let him.

How about a Meccano Junior set if he's curious about how things work or go together. Or Marble Run. Just don't expect him to follow NT instructions for playing with toys.

My ND ds would make excellent stacked constructions out of puzzle pieces rather than assembling them into the flat picture as intended. I don't think he ever played with a toy as intended by the manufacturer.

He loves investigating and has worked out every lock in the house. I always let him do whatever in the garden, included tipping the trampoline to see how it works! I think he thought you'd get a better bounce tipped upside down

My son's autism is quite profound so I think that might have a lot to do with it - I've given him things like Menacco sets before and he won't play with it (or even investigate them), he just throws them around the room and walks off. Or makes himself choke/gag on the parts... he's got a real thing for sticking small items in his mouth

He does this with every toy he's ever had that can't be thrown around

Swing

Thank you so much! Can I ask, can you hang it from a ceiling?

I have a new build house and it says to hang it from a concrete ceiling? Just wondered if my ceiling will fall down if not I will be buying today so thank you very very much

The reviews are great

My DS has low functioning (severe) ASD and learning difficulties. He loved his Busy Ball Popper for years, and his body sock has calmed him down many times.

@Piffle11 thank you, my DS has the same diagnosis roughly (profound ASD, learning difficulties and ADHD)

I have just bought those two items you sent to me really appreciate it

We screwed it into the ceiling beams (definitely not concrete)! It's a big hit here 🙂

www.cheapdisabilityaids.co.uk/

Is there anything on here?

What about the different types of bath stuff. So he can messy play in the bath and easy clean up.

www.cheapdisabilityaids.co.uk/products/crazy-soap-foam-mixed-bundle

www.cheapdisabilityaids.co.uk/pages/search-results-page?q=Gelli

Callsky Sensory Lights 10W Fiber Optic Curtain Lights for Sensory Room/Autistic Kids,APP+Twinkle+Sound Activated Light Engine,Tough and Durable (30.75) Sparkle Flash Point Cables, 50pcs2m +Remote amzn.eu/d/dnsEgGk

They're not cheap but might be good :P

Apologies if this is a totally inappropriate suggestion, but if he likes investigating locks etc, would he like a more complex version of the busy board type things that people make/ buy for small children. Our neighbour bought various locks, combination code padlocks, complex bolts etc and screamed them onto a piece of thick MDF. You could secure it to a wall so he couldn't throw it.

I've tried to attach a photo of an example that came up in a quick Websearch.

@Annoyed200722 I've added it to my list! Brilliant idea. Thank you

Not as a main present but how about these? They are balls that light up when you throw them. If he throws things he might as well have things he can throw.

www.amazon.co.uk/Set-Spiky-Bounce-Balls-6-5/dp/B0B5L5LS2Z/ref=sr_1_4?crid=D0IB9WUOH9X5&keywords=light+up+ball&qid=1667815640&s=kids&sprefix=light+up+ball%2Ctoys%2C255&sr=1-4

Maybe some old fashioned bean bags, the ones you throw, not the sitting on ones.

Does he like spinning toys?

Not really a present, but my ADHD/ASD boy liked the little neon plastic stars on his ceiling.

My DS17 sounds incredibly similar to yours OP and he has never "done" toys at all.

He is however obsessed with noisy play a sound books (I dare not admit how many he has! Would that be something he would like?

Also my DS doesn't like fidget toys either but DOES love these
www.amazon.co.uk/abeec-Giant-Jiggly-Ball-Children/dp/B08D3W34HC/ref=sr_1_15?crid=3VT8TZVM9E6WT&keywords=koosh%2Bballs&qid=1667818358&sprefix=koosh%2Caps%2C75&sr=8-15&th=1

They currently have them in B&M for the bargain price of £3:99 and even better snake/caterpillar ones for £1:99.

DS uses them as a comfort thing and they are fab for avoiding meltdowns. He actually plucks the tentacles off and fiddles with them in that way, it really calms him down.

They are bald eventually and we joke that we are going to get him a job in a chicken plucking factory! 😅

Sorry I meant Home Bargains, not B&M.

Op would K'nex be something that he'd be interested in?

I found junior meccano very frustrating, the nuts and bolts kept loosening. I moved ours on because it was a PITA.

Slide, swing, a 3 wheeled scooter to get the feeling of movement.

Ant farm
Worm farm
Sand pit
Trampoline

Maybe read the OP's posts before you comment.

Mud kitchen for the garden?
would be play with dumper trucks etc outside in the mud? Or get a big pile of stones (we had some gravel/stones sitting in our garden leftover from doing the drive and ds spent hours playing in them).