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

What about one of those sit on diggers that you see in playground sandpits?

An indoor trampoline? My son loved anything he could bounce on . We bought a mini trampoline from a sports shop. He also loved looking in mirrors which kept him entertained for ages. Also press button books.

Check the trustpilot reviews on cheap disability aids before ever ordering from them. They are known to not send orders out.

My autistic 9 year old loves his gonge carousel. We've had it for years, its very well made. Creatimber balance board was also very popular when he was younger. There's indoor doorway swings too.

Oh, he'd probably like gelibath too.

Wobbel or balance board? My sensory-seeking DS loves his.

Would swim toys be any use to you? If he swims OK then these might be fun in the shallow end under supervision?

I feel for you, my Ds didn't know how to play either so it was a challenge to get him things he would get meaningful use out of.

We had the Melissa & Doug latches board, similar to that Montessori one but a lot simpler. I used to cut pictures out of his CBeebies comics and put them behind the doors as an extra activity from counting the animals or naming them.

What about a yoto player for music? With the case on them, they can survive a fair amount of abuse.

My DS is autistic and I’m buying him a weighed blanket. It was recommended by a friend who also has bought one for her ND child. They absolutely love it.
I usually find my DS easier to buy for than my NT DD as he has phases of intense interests. He doesn’t play with things but likes to collect and display them.
Also, maybe a disco light that can be used in a dark room when he’s dysregulated?
A cosy onesie which is super soft could be another idea.

There are disco lights that you can fix to the wall (so he can’t throw it), they work by remote control. It’d just mean that you maybe have to keep hold of that instead of it staying in his bedroom if he has a tendency to put things in his mouth.

A family I knew bought this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bonobo-Gym-Playground-Climbing-Swinging/dp/B07575W8PP/ref=ascdff_B07575W8PP/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=535035132926&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2490038709465354310&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006527&hvtargid=pla-570231524370&psc=1 for their youngster.

Do you have an option to borrow OT equipment through your local library? (I’ve no idea if the UK does this) It’s a great way to try out things before buying them and finding out too late that you’ve wasted £££

I got this for my kids (two with a severe diagnosis) they love it, it was a large Santa present a few years ago. It took over my entire living room until it could go outside but was fun
https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/outdoor/bouncy-castles/bouncy-castle-with-slide/p/164775?utmsource=google&utmmmedium=organic&utmcampaign=surfacessacrossgoogle&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6sW2upuf-wIVDOztCh3-3gryEAQYCCABEgIJuPDD_BwE

Other things I've bought over the years are toys relating to their favourite movies/tv shows (usually soft toys as they throw a lot too)
Toy kitchen
Role play toys- food/doctors set/dentist set/tea set
Air hockey table (small)
Simple board games to encourage play and motor skills
Ride on cars
Books
Puzzles
Bath toys and lights
Drums
Keyboard
Ukulele and other noisy items like this from smyths lol

Dd was/is higher functioning. I remember buying her a bug kit at that age, plus binoculars, we also had a construction kit (not meccano

A Toniebox and Tonies?

If he likes Peppa Pig, which I am guessing he does, would Peppa related gifts be acceptable? Am thinking things like Peppa pyjamas, books, bubble bath etc. As stocking fillers type thing.

www.tts-group.co.uk/giant-balance-spinning-top/FTOP.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAmaibBhCAARIsAKUlaKQBMO9QYKDInYNhmr9bw3_2GaXlZ8pAI8AUmlIkt1ABj6n0uqZCKx8aAv2yEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

My dd is 9 and loves this spinning top, she’s had it a few years. She spins in it, chills out in it and hides under it. It’s not cheap but it’s really robust.

she also has this outdoor swing which she loves.
www.argos.co.uk/product/8845171
it has a maximum weight of 90kg, swings and spins. It’s not the cheapest swing out there but it’s ideal for dd as her balance isn’t great.

@Annoyed200722 ’s. Lard is more complex so may be better but this board is always popular with the children I work with

practical things for swimming - nice hooded towel, pool toys (if your pool allows them), a onesie to put on after swimming.
wellies for digging around in the mud!
lava lamp for his bedroom

www.amazon.co.uk/Bilibo-Rocking-and-Spinning-Toy/dp/B000G0IE84

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/kids-peanut-ball//R-p-300471?mc=8404940&utm_term=8404940-2387275&&iv=iv_p_1_g_65714699031_c_316342674665_w_pla-309168562543_n_g_d_m_v__l__t__r_x_pla_y_15177021_f_online_o_8404940-2387275_z_GB_i_en_j_309168562543_s__e__h_1006886_ii__vi&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgribBhDkARIsAASA5bsmIOzRmwMS46-uZv1s0ARsN-nnZE6u8-8DMvfKR7LaX7-zQsa3SacaAucKEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Two of my sons favourite things

And this

www.tts-group.co.uk/whizzy-dizzy/EY07414.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAgribBhDkARIsAASA5bsqo4VDSqMCo_4b2A7lXQrmicLjwXLdvEl16ciSf_d40_bbkBrRMPEaArgUEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#

He also loves this

www.amazon.co.uk/SmartMax-Start-Plus-SMX310-PCS/dp/B015QBOD4Q/ref=asc_df_B015QBOD4Q/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310764975243&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17141831516020520238&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006886&hvtargid=pla-452313101169&psc=1 very robust magnetic toy. He's had it since 2 and never still plays with it at 7. I am very worried about magnets but this is extremely robust.

My autistic, non-verbal nephew likes this.
sensoryhugs.co.uk/product/sensory-calming-koala-4lb/

What about an inflatable for when you go to the pool? Either a tyre ring type to sit in or an animal shaped on to sit/lie on?

How about a little pop up tent to cocoon in, if he's into that. It could double as a sensory room. You could fill it with soft, fluffy pillows and blankets. And a torch.