The best gifts for my autistic children this Christmas

Finding great presents isn’t always easy. I like to shop around and get some good ideas before I pick the perfect gift. I also like to get ideas online so I thought I would share my ideas for this Christmas and what I plan to get my two autistic children. I will also include some bits we got for the boys birthday’s recently which have gone down well. Hopefully you will get some inspiration and please share your ideas in the comments too.

Christmas gifts for an autistic child

When my eldest was younger I really struggled to know what to get him. He is non-verbal and struggles with communication , I found it really hard to find things he liked. That’s why I put together my posts about finding motivating items and sensory toys which may also provide a bit of gift inspiration.

Many autistic children have special interests and if that’s the case go with it. If a child loves puzzles, LEGO or books then that’s the gift to get. If you are a puzzle fan you will probably be very happy to get several different puzzles.

Also don’t get hung up on getting a big Christmas gift, if your child will be happy with a book then that is the perfect gift. It is not about how much you spend.

Top Ten Christmas Gifts for my kids

1. Snail and the Whale plush

We are huge Julia Donaldson fans and cannot wait for this year’s TV film which will be Snail on the Whale. We already have the book so getting the plush toy will be a great gift for us. I will create a Snail and the Whale theme to our Christmas Eve Box, we did this with Zog last year. I will also include some extras like Snail and the Whale sticker and activity books.

2. The Smeds and the Smoos

As Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler fans their new book has to be on our Christmas list. The Smeds and the Smoos is a delightful story, a bit Romeo & Juliet but with cute aliens and a happy ending.

3. 3D Minion Puzzle

My boys love Minions and my eldest is also a fan of puzzles. Ravensburger do several 3D puzzles in the Despicable Me series. My son loves the one we already have so we will be giving him another one for Christmas. It is actually much easier than I thought thanks to the handy numbers on the back of the pieces.

4. Secret Life of Pets 2 DVD

My youngest loves the Secret Life of Pets and we saw the Secret Life of Pets 2 at the Cinema over the summer. Getting the DVD of our favourite new film is always a great stocking filler.

5. Ten Little Aliens

Our other favourite books are the Ten Little Series by Mike Brownlow and Simon Rickerty. The new 10 Little Aliens made a fantastic birthday present for my son. It has been so popular I had to include it here for anyone that doesn’t already have it. Perfect Christmas gift for little ones.

6. LEGO

LEGO is the perfect gift for my 6 year old. He loves to build and the LEGO visuals are perfect for him. For his birthday he got quite a few LEGO sets but this LEGO city Pizza Van and Scooter was his favourite.

7. Seekers Scavenger Hunt

I recently reviewed Seekers Scavenger Hunt, it is a fantastic game which we got on really well with. I will be getting the kids a new add on sets as stocking fillers this Christmas. You can see my full Seekers Scavenger hunt review here.

8. My First Calendar

Danilo very kindly gifted us a Peppa Pig My First Calendar. You can also get a Paw Patrol or PJ Masks version. This has been brilliant for us every day we update what the day / date is and the weather. It is a great gift that will be useful, educational and enjoyed. Winning all round.

9. Number / Alphabet puzzle

We have a few wooden 3D alphabet and number puzzles which both boys really enjoy. The kids love this crocodile one that lives at Granny’s house. I have found these are often for sale at Christmas Markets so will be on the lookout for another one when we go to our local markets this year.

10. Season Pass / Day out

For an expensive gift we like to get something that will last. We often get a season pass to local attractions that we can then use over the year. One of our favourites is on our doorstep Avon Valley Country Park. Getting a pass means we can just nip in to use the soft play or go for the whole day whenever suits.

Gifts for the person who has everything

There are only so many toiletries sets or socks you can get for those people who already have everything. This year I want to get them something nice they will enjoy but that will also support companies employing autistic adults. Two that come to mind are Harry Specters Chocolates and Meet the Pods who I interviewed earlier this year.

Buying from Affiliate Links

I just wanted to highlight the benefit of buying through affiliate links or using affiliate codes. This post along with others includes affiliate links to the products I am recommending. If you click on those links and then make a purchase I may receive a small commission, this can be on the recommended product or any others in your basket. You are not charged any more so the only difference for you is clicking on an affiliate link rather than going to the site directly. However for sites like mine the commission received goes towards the cost of maintaining this website and for my time so it is very much appreciated. If you have blogs that have helped you or charities you want to support see if they have affiliate links or codes you can use when doing your online shopping this Christmas and spread the love.

Still need some inspiration? You may want to take a look at the other products I have reviewed for some ideas or my Christmas Gifts for 2020 post. Please do share your ideas for Christmas gifts in the comments.