It is so hard to believe that the holiday season is already upon us. This year just flew by. If you are anything like me, standing in long lines at the mall fighting for the best deals is not how you want to spend your holiday. While some people enjoy holiday shopping, for busy moms like yourself who have a million things to juggle already, it is probably more stressful than fun. Additionally, kids with Autism often have very limited interests so knowing what to buy your child can make holiday shopping even more frustrating.
I want to take the mystery out of shopping this holiday season for you. One of the number one questions that parents ask me during the holiday season is what they should get their kids. There are a few things that i have found that hold true for almost all kids with Autism.
- They respond well to toys that provide visual or tactile sensory stimulation. Because many kids with Autism lack complex play skills, they find solace in simple things that either enjoy watching or touching.
- You may have to try a dozen different things before your find something that interests your child.
- Children often get bored of things very quickly.
That’s why I put together a list of 6 stocking stuffers you can order right from this blogpost that cost less than 10 dollars. While I cannot guarantee they will work for your child, I chose them because they are the most common toys that the children I work with enjoy. Since none of the toys cost much, there is minimal risk. All of the toys selected will provide your child with some sensory input which is demonstrated to reduce stimming behaviors for some children.
References
Allen, A. P., & Smith, A. P. (2011). A review of the evidence that chewing gum affects stress, alertness and cognition. Journal of Behavioral and Neuroscience Research, 9, 1, 7–23.
Foss-Feig, J. H., Tadin, D., Schauder, K. B., & Cascio, C. J. (2013). A substantial and unexpected enhancement of motion perception in autism. Journal of Neuroscience, 33(19), 8243-8249.
Stalvey, S. and Brasell, H. (2006). Using Stress Balls to Focus the Attention of Sixth-Grade Learners. Journal of At-Risk Issues, 12, 2, 7-16
