Autism Christmas gifts: Best gifts for autistic kids

Whether your child is constantly in motion or obsessed with tech, we’ve got the ultimate gift round up for autistic kids in 2022. Scroll for the best gifts for kiddos on the spectrum this holiday season!

 

If your child loves chewing or biting…

Ark Therapeutic makes the best chewable stim toys for autistic kids! Autism parents say they’re nearly indestructible, and last longer than other chewies. Ark has a ton of different styles and colors available for every kind of biter, so you’re sure to find something your child will love. We’ve listed just a few of our favorites here, so be sure to check out Ark’s extensive collection of safe chewable accessories.

 

A chewable pencil topper

 

 

Perfect for: Student stimmers who bite their pencils, kids who need a discrete way to chew.

 

A biteable dinosaur necklace

 

 

Perfect for: Biters of any age who need a cool way to chew wherever they go.

 

A chewy variety pack

 

Perfect for: Testing out different options if you’re not sure what chewy your child will like, or if you have multiple kids who like to chew/bite.

 

If your child seeks sensory play…

 

Of course the old standbys, like kinetic sand, slime, play dough, floam, and water beads (which are fun, but can be extremely dangerous) are great for filling your child’s sensory needs. But if you’re looking to switch up your child’s sensory diet a notch, try adding these cool gadgets to your shopping list.

 

A colorful liquid motion bubbler fidget

 

 

Perfect for: Kids who are mesmerized with liquid or visual sensory input. Parents who don’t want a mess!

 

The original Busy Board

 

 

Perfect for: Learning fine motor skills and keeping fidgety hands focused.

 

 

Light up tiles that your child can control with music, remote, or touch

Perfect for: Affordable interactive light play, kids that are into light and color.

 

Colorful liquid tiles your child can squish with their feet (or hands!)

 

 

Perfect for: Floor play, cause/effect play, and kids who love squishy/liquid things.

 

If your child is always moving…

 

If you’ve got a movement-seeking kiddo, it’s handy to have ways they can get out their energy at home. Here are our top picks for your little mover and shaker. (Sorry not sorry if your living room turns into a parkour course!)

 

An indoor/outdoor trampoline for little ones

 

 

Perfect for: Getting out all that rainy-day energy. Parents who are too tired to go to the park will appreciate the convenience of this kid-favorite.

 

The sensory swing professionals use

 

 

Perfect for: High quality fun and relaxation (with a lifetime product guarantee)! Kids can pretend to fly or just chill out in this durable, OT therapist and parent-approved swing.

 

 

An outdoor trampoline for big-ish kids

Perfect for: Vestibular (motion) seekers who aren’t quite ready for a full-size trampoline yet.

 

Durable hills your child can hop on

 

 

Perfect for: Kiddos who love to hop, skip, and run. Energetic kids can jump and run from hill to hill while working on motor skills and concentration.

 

A crash pad that doubles as comfy seating

 

Perfect for: Budding acrobats that love running, jumping, crashing, and falling. Also a great spot for naps, reading, or watching a movie.

 

If your child needs help feeling calm…

Big feelings, dysregulation, and meltdowns are super hard when your child’s body and brain are still developing. Nervousness, jitters, and anxiety are sometimes a concern, too. If your autistic child struggles with regulating on their own, or has trouble focusing, help them out with these soothing gift options!

 

A weighted blanket for big kids/adults

 

 

Perfect for: Bigger kids and adults with restless bodies or those who enjoy compression/pressure.

 

A weighted blanket in fun colors for littles

Perfect for: Smaller kids who enjoy compression or things “falling” on them.

 

A sensory body sock for play or relaxation

 

 

Perfect for: Playful or calming full-body compression.

 

 

A weighted stuffed animal your child can take on the go

 

 

Perfect for: Naptime, school, on the go — anywhere your child needs help focusing or regulating.

 

 

If your child likes climbing…

The urge to climb is a natural part of your child’s development, and a lot of autistic kids enjoy the sensation as a form of sensory input. But it can be tricky if your child doesn’t have a safe way to climb. Get your adventurous kiddo off the furniture and onto their very own climbing toy — then breathe. It’s all gonna be okay.

 

An indoor/outdoor climbing toy that doubles as a hiding spot

 

Perfect for: Kids that need a place to play and rest, but have limited play space.

 

An outdoor climbing toy that’s fit for a playground

 

 

Perfect for: Energetic, fearless kids who can’t get enough of heights. (Psst. Some parents report this works just fine in the house, too — but please use caution and follow proper set up instructions!)

 

A Montessori style climbing triangle that’s built to last

 

 

Perfect for: Strong climbers in need of something heavy-duty, bigger kids who need a way to climb indoors.

 

 

If your child can’t stop rockin’…

For those who love rockin’, rollin’, wigglin’, tumbling, spinning, or just balancing in general! We’ve got a line up of cool toys that will satisfy your child’s vestibular (movement) seeking, while also working on their sense of balance and gross motor skills.

 

A rocking, rolling, balancing board that really pops

 

 

Perfect for: Cool, adventurous kids that love to teeter and totter.

 

A wobbly, spinny, tilting tortoise shell

 

Perfect for: Smaller kids working on gross motor skills and balance.

 

A cozy Montessori rocker that doubles as a climbing toy

 

 

Perfect for: Children who love lounging, rocking, and climbing — with parents who like multipurpose toys!

 

If your child is into tech…

Does your child learn and communicate better through videos, pictures, and technology? Do you feel like your child is on the phone or tablet too much, and you want to make screen time more meaningful? These robot companions are built for your tech-loving kid, with different purposes, price points, and designs. Say goodbye to “mom guilt” and hello to the perfect gift.

 

A loveable robo puppy

Perfect for: Kids who want a pet, but aren’t mature enough yet for a real animal. Kids who feel lonely and need a loyal friend.

 

An educational robot that teaches languages, math, and more

 

Perfect for: Curious kids who need a challenge, or tech-loving kids who need a little extra academic help.

 

A playful, rugged robot that can be loaded up with your child’s favorite characters

 

 

Perfect for: Kids who play (and love) hard. Parents who want their child’s screen time to be more meaningful and purposeful.

 

A robot buddy that teaches your child social and emotional skills

 

 

Perfect for: Kiddos who have a hard time making friends or expressing how they feel, but find ease in technology.

 

If your child is all about sorting/stacking/building…

Whether your child is a budding architect or a master stacker, building, stacking, and sorting toys are a tried-and-true favorite of many children with autism. Sorting and stacking helps kids develop coordination skills, it’s relaxing, and it’s great for fine motor skills, too. Find our top picks for stackers, sorters, and builders below.

 

An adorable color sorting set that’s (not) for the birds

 

 

Perfect for: Sorters who need a simple starter set. Kiddos can line Mommy, Daddy, and Baby birds up, sort them by color or size, count them, and create patterns.

 

A colorful sorting set for little animal lovers

 

 

Perfect for: Kids who love no-stress, straight-forward sorting. Organize by animal or color with nifty tongs that help with motor skills and coordination. Line ’em up for extra fun. (P.S. They also have a dinosaur set!)

 

A parent-approved stacking toy that’s not boring

 

 

Perfect for: Little stackers/sorters who are a bit more advanced. (Parenting hack: this stacker is so colorful and relaxing, you’ll want to borrow it from your kid.)

 

A challenging set of zen stacking stones

 

 

Perfect for: Bigger kids who enjoy stacking but want to look cool doing it. (AKA “I’m not a baby anymore!”)

 

The original magnetic building tiles

 

 

Perfect for: Budding architects with creative minds who are ready to take over the world (or just the living room). So irresistible, everyone in the house will want to play with them, too!

 

 

Montessori blocks that look like stained glass

 

 

Perfect for: Builders and stackers who are drawn to light, color, and creativity. (These are so mesmerizing, we’re putting them on our Christmas list.)

 

The ultimate gift: taking interest in your child’s special interests

Whether your child is into art, anatomy, collecting figurines, photography, or knows everything about trains, you can’t go wrong with connecting their Christmas gifts to their special interests. The general consensus among autistic people is that special interest-related gifts are the best gifts they’ve ever gotten! And a gift related to something they already like reduces stress for people with autism who are uncomfortable with surprises.

 

For more gift-giving tips for neurodivergent kids and teens, check out these tips.

 

A note about transparency and product selection…

Beaming Health won’t be compensated when you purchase items from this gift guide. We chose these products because we really think they’re awesome! After compiling all these parent and kid approved items, we reached out to the companies on the list to ask if they’d give us a discount code for you. We just wanted you to be able to save money and get an awesome gift for your child!

 

Note: Items are organized by regular price (before any discounts) from lowest to highest within each category, so you can easily find something that works for your budget.