Everyone is unique, and people with ADD/ADHD and Autism are unique and different in their own way. If you have anyone in your life who has ADD/ADHD, or Autism, this holiday season give them a gift that will make a positive impact on their life.
MyAutismTeam is a social network for parents of children with autism that has more than 20,000 members, who were interviewed on the topic of what seems to be the most appropriate gift for their children.
Here are some top gift and toy ideas picked by actual parents of children on the autism spectrum:
iPad
60 minutes reported that iPad can help children on the spectrum with many of their apps – as they assist them with learning and communicating, which is often a challenge. Also, the sensory experience of the touch screen can help hold the attention of many autistic children and keep them engaged for longer periods.
Legos
Surveyed parents said that classic gifts for autistic children are Lego building sets – from high-tech to low-tech – especially for older children. The bright colors and tactile experience of playing with Legos is a big draw, and they can use the blocks to express themselves creatively and experience the tactile sensation.
Educational Toys, Games, and DVDs
Since children with autism tend to learn more visually or by touch, as they sometimes struggle with instructions given in the traditional school settings, giving them interactive educational materials can help them learn while keeping them entertained.
According to surveyed parents, toys, games, and DVDs, from popular brands like Leapster or Leap Pad, make a great gift for children on the spectrum.
Puzzles
Puzzles are a favorite toy of many children with autism, since connecting pieces provides a satisfying tactile sensation, and kids enjoy the bright colors that come into picture as the puzzle progresses.
Books
Most children love children’s books; children with autism particularly enjoy predictive patterns, repetition and rhymes, such as found in classics like “Good Night Moon”, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”, and Dr. Seuss.
Children with autism spectrum disorder can have an astonishing ability to remember details. According to surveyed parents, older children may enjoy books that focus on specific subjects, full of detailed information that allows them to become engaged in the story, especially history and science.
As for the children with ADHD, a “must” seems to be the Mandala Coloring Book (there’s a vast selection of different designs and for different age groups). The colorful and intricate designs draw the kids in, and can be very calming, especially after a particularly frustrating day.
Sensory Toys
Many children with autism struggle to process sensory information. Some are sensitive to touch, while others are sensitive to sounds or lights, and as a result, gifts that appeal to the senses, like Plushies and flashlights, make popular gifts.
Gift Cards
When in doubt, turning to gift cards is be a great idea, say parents of children with autism, as a good way to give both the gift of flexibility and the gift of respite from a socially awkward moment and avoid the embarrassing “I don’t like it!”
Quality Time
Finally, while we all love receiving gifts, what better gift to give a child than a good old-fashioned family time. Whether it’s one-on-one or playing with the whole family, a simple, cost effective and much desired gift for children with autism is spending quality time, with lots of patience and empathy. This can be baking, doing arts & crafts, or another activity that you know your child or someone else close to you on the spectrum would enjoy.
The main thing is to play to the strengths of the child. Whether it’s fantasy and pretend game, something that especially children with ADHD enjoy, or another activity, the key is to find a safe outlet for them to express some of the issues they may be working on at home or at school, and positively impact their emotional, social, and intellectual development.
At Vision Development Center of Lancaster, we are passionate about offering therapy program based on the needs of the individual with ADD/ADHD, and uses lenses, prisms, flippers, and red and green tools to help correct the visual system to work hand in hand with the brain.
If your child or someone you know is suffering from a visual dysfunction or has been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, or a learning disability, don’t wait until it gets worse – let the journey to better health and quality of life begin today.
Call our office at (717) 656-0534 to make an appointment with our expert vision therapists for a professional evaluation and vision therapy, or click here to take our free symptoms survey: https://helpaddvisiontherapy.com/symptoms-survey/