Toys and Gifts for Autistic Children

Another year, another slew of unwanted and unwelcome gifts. And that's just for those of us without autism. For autistics, presents bought without foresight can be hazardous and distressing as well as annoying. Hit the right note though, and a gift could make the whole family very happy.

The first thing to note is that age guides can not be relied on. Autism is a disorder in which development can be very uneven, and frequently a sense of danger is slow to develop. So a child who is adept at using electronics may still chew the cables and get electrocuted. If in doubt, ask the parents or carers if you are concerned that a toy may not be safe. According to figures reported on the Rospa website, toys are involved in over 40000 accidents a year in the UK. (Source: Home Accident Surveillance System, 1998, published by the Department for Trade and Industry). There are no figures for the number of accidents that involved autistic children.

As a general rule, avoid giving objects which smash if you drop them. This would be a good rule of thumb when buying for all children, but so much more so if the child has frequent tantrums.

Tearing can be another problem which will affect your purchases. Some autistics enjoy ripping paper, perhaps for the sound or feel of it, or the sight of it fluttering. When we give presents, we encourage children to rip open the wrapping paper. If that present is a book, the child has to be able to distinguish between pretty paper he is allowed to tear, and similar pretty paper he is not. Rather than solving this by depriving him of books altogether you can buy much stiffer board books. Even better than these are plastic bath books, which have an entirely different sound and texture as well as being much harder to destroy. Unfortunately the choice of this kind of book is usually quite limited.

Some autistics are fastidiously tidy, but others may have a great deal of difficulty in keeping organised. If the child in question likes to empty cupboards and drawers then keeping things in order can be an ongoing battle. If this is the case then you can help to save the sanity of the entire family by buying toys that come as all one piece. A hundred-piece farm set will take a hundred times longer to clear up than a single large tractor. Another reason you may need to avoid toys with many parts is that a small number of autistics engage in pica, which means eating non-foods. Although this will usually mean a specific type of non-food, it could also extend to small plastic toys.

Another thing to note is that too many toys at once can be overwhelming. If you look at the way TEACCH classrooms are set up, they are often very bare. This may seem austere, but in fact it can be helpful for autistic children to only have to concentrate on one thing at a time. The same thing applies to toys, and again buying one large gift is probably preferable to many small ones. Alternatively you do not have to give something in the form of an object at all. Many zoos, wildlife trusts or museums will offer membership or tickets, a present that requires no tidying up. Make sure that the recipient would enjoy a visit to the place, and that it isn't too noisy or crowded.

Not everyone on the autistic spectrum has a special interest, but many do. These interests can give you useful pointers, so go with them and try to give presents that are related in some way. Technical objects tend to be popular: calculators, CD players, video recorders and computers. However it would be a gross oversimplification to say these things interest all autistics, so if you don't know of any special interests the best way to find out is to ask.

For the low-functioning autistic, whatever you choose to give, someone may have to demonstrate its use. Toys which work at the push of a button can be successful choices.

Some autistics are hypersensitive to sounds and certain textures. Don't be offended if a jumper you buy is never worn. It may feel soft and warm to you, but the recipient could feel like he is wearing a brillo pad. Musical toys can be equally torturous if the child is sensitive to loud noise or certain frequencies. If this is the case then don't buy one for a sibling either.

You may be wondering if there is anything safe or suitable to give an autistic child! The good news is that very few on the autistic spectrum will share all of the problems outlined above. For some children there will be other difficulties that I haven't foreseen. The important point is that it's always best to ask. That way, with luck, the celebrations will be safe and enjoyable for all concerned.