Katrina Carefoot blogs at ficklefeline.ca. She is an Autism advocate, and is documenting her Autistic son Max's journey for a book she is writing on how to achieve a best outcome through early intervention and intensive therapy.
Toys For Kids with Autism: Top 10 Mom and Kid-Approved Picks
As the mother of a five-year-old son with autism, I have lost count of the number of times I have stood in the middle of a toy store and had no idea what to buy him for Christmas or his birthday -- never mind making recommendations for grandparents! After a few missteps and false starts, I have figured out what regular, non-therapeutic toys will engage a child with autism. These are my son’s top 10 favourites.
By KATRINA CAREFOOT
-
Laugh & Learn™ Dance & Play Puppy
One of the things that Max has always responded to is music; so essentially, any toy that includes it will likely please him to some extent. The Dance & Play Puppy made Max downright giggle. He loves the movements that correspond with the songs and how the Puppy actually dances. The Puppy guides the child through motions (Let’s clap!) which fosters language development and following directions, a skill that is difficult for many kids with autism. It’s also the only "doll-type" of toy that Max has ever developed a real attachment to.
Fisher Price, $50 (at Toys 'R' Us)Fisher Price/ Katrina Carefoot -
Spinning Gears ‘n’ Cogs
This gear toy is the best I have found. It is sturdy, so Max is able to change the gears without knocking them out of place, plus it is engaging with lights, music, and sound effects. Not only does it help with developing fine motor skills, but joint attention, requesting skills, turn taking and problem solving as well. Max likes it so much that I often wake up to the sound of him playing with it in his room.
Mastermind Toys, $40Mastermind/ Katrina Carefoot -
Melissa & Doug Alphabet Train Floor Puzzle
This puzzle is appropriate for many different skill levels. While Max knows his alphabet, he still needs help sorting all of the pieces. This gives me the opportunity to ask him to differentiate between letters and animals, take turns, make choices, and figure out how to put the puzzle pieces together. You will need a fair amount of space to complete this puzzle – it’s over 10 feet long.
Mastermind Toys, $18Mastermind/ Katrina Carefoot -
Jump Start Trampoline
Many children with autism need ways to self-moderate. Max used to rock back and forth while bouncing his head on our couch or against a wall. When we first got this trampoline, Max just sat on it and bounced on his bottom. Now he holds onto the handles and jumps full throttle. The music is also very engaging and, thankfully, has a volume button.
Mastermind Toys,$70Mastermind/ Katrina Carefoot -
MARBLEWORKS® Deluxe Set
Max loves this toy because he can follow the trail of the marble down the different tubes and chutes (a fantastic way to work on joint attention). We ended up buying a couple of sets so that we could create more elaborate configurations. It is also a terrific toy for working on turn taking, requesting, and labeling colours. Discovery Toys, (price varies)Discovery Toys/ Katrina Carefoot -
Little People® Wheelies™ Stand ’n Play™ Rampway
Toys with wheels, lights and sounds are often favourites of kids with autism. This toy remains popular with Max because he loves watching the cars zoom down the spiral ramps. Because there are two ramps, kids can take turns or race each other -- making it a game. You can also work on joint attention, requesting skills, and labeling skills.
Fisher Price, $55, (at Toys 'R' Us)Fisher Price/ Katrina Carefoot -
Red Flyer Wagon
Max loves to ride in his wagon. We use it to go to the park, the grocery store, and on rainy days, we have even used it inside. Because a lot of children with autism don’t understand safety and tend to bolt, this also provides a way to keep Max safe when we are out. It even has room for his little sister, though they sometimes fight over who gets to sit up front.
Chapters/Indigo, $200Indigo/ Katrina Carefoot -
Movie Motion Projector Jr.
This toy comes in different versions -- we have SpongeBob, Dora and Kai-Lan. It is basically an animated movie projector with sound. Max has used this projector to help him fall asleep at night. The ‘Action Control Crank’ lets you change the speed of the movie. Being able to turn the crank has helped Max with his fine motor skills – and understanding cause and effect. If he turns the crank forward, the movie plays regularly, and if he turns it backwards, the movie plays in reverse. Plus, he can slow it down to really enjoy his favourite scenes.
Toys 'R' Us, $25Toys 'R' Us/ Katrina Carefoot -
Ball Pit
Most kids, whether they have autism or not, love ball pits. We made our own ball pit for Max by using a play pen and filling it with ball pit balls. He loves jumping in and out of it, but also enjoys sitting in it, completely covered. This provides him with sensory input and helps him relax. Plus, all of the kids that come over to our house think that Max has the best toys ever!Balls @ Toys 'R' Us, $15 / Pit DIY - use crib, kiddy pool, empty appliance box.Toys 'R' Us/ Katrina Carefoot -
Educo Funny Face Bead Frame
Max has never found a bead frame toy that he didn’t like. They come in all shapes and sizes, but this one is by far Max’s favourite. Moving the beads is very soothing and relaxing for him. We break up his routine by inserting ourselves into his space and moving beads with him. At first this bothered him and he objected, but now he is OK with it. Mastermind Toys, $70For more gift inspiration, check out our HOLIDAILY sectionRead More: Social Media 'A Lifeline' For Moms of Kids With Special Needs Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew Wish We'd Known: Things No One Told Us About Kids With ADHDMastermind/ Katrina Carefoot
Chime in