Gifts for a Child with Autism
Toys to Work on Fine and Gross Motor Skills and Sensory Development
Dec 5, 2008
Many children on the autism spectrum have a strong desire to participate in repetitive play. It is not uncommon to see a child with autism spend hours lining up miniature cars in precisely the same order or to obsess about toy trains. If a parent or family member puts some extra time into the gift-giving process, they can find items that serve a dual purpose as both a fun toy but also a therapy item.
Fine Motor Skills
Delays in fine motor skills are commonly seen in the autism population; working with an occupational therapist can help the child develop a more age-appropriate level of fine motor development. Providing additional opportunities for the child to work on these skills at home will help in the overall therapy results.
One of the best ways for a child to work on fine motor skills in a fun way is by using building blocks (Legos are a popular choice), gear sets (K’nex is one example) and puzzles. For the child who loves trains, Lego makes several train sets. A gift like this enables the parent to meet the child’s interest in a way that allows him to work on fine motor skills.
Gross Motor Skills
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder; in other words, delays are seen in multiple developmental areas. Children with autism may exhibit delays in gross motor skills and may have difficulty running, skipping and pedaling a tricycle or bicycle. Allowing the child the opportunity to work on gross motor skills in a non-therapy setting will help the child see improvements that are more noticeable in gross motor development.
An easy way to have fun and work on gross motor skills is by using balls. Children can kick balls, throw balls and catch balls. Balls can be purchased in a variety of sizes and even weights depending on the child’s development level.
Sensory Development
Nearly every individual with an autism spectrum disorder has sensory processing difficulties. Heavy work and messy play are two ways to address sensory integration concerns. A mini trampoline is a great gift for a young child on the autism spectrum; just make sure that the trampoline has a handle. The process of jumping on a trampoline is very therapeutic for the autistic child and allows the child’s sensory systems to regulate which has a calming effect.
Modeling clay or play dough provides another opportunity for a child with an autism spectrum disorder to improve his responses to sensory stimuli through play. The various textures of clay and play dough allow the child to experience new sensory sensations.
These are just a few examples of how play can be purposeful and help advance a child’s therapy plan. By incorporating playful therapy at home, the child has a better chance of advancing developmentally than those children who only receive an hour or two of therapy per week.
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