The holiday season is upon us and with that comes gift-giving. This blog is highlights great autism friendly gifts. With so many types of toys out there it can be overwhelming to think of presents to gift to your little loved ones. We’ve put together our top 5 gift ideas that were specifically picked out for the population we serve at Blue Bird Day!  Check it out below! 

• The Spinagain is a great gift idea for any kiddo on your list. It encourages hand-eye coordination, develops cause-and-effect learning, and motor dexterity. The vivid textures inspire tactile exploration, vibrant colors reinforce visual-recognition skills, and your little one can practice counting the discs while stacking and spinning.
• A fun twist on a classic children’s activity! These rock crayons will keep your young artist engaged in functional play while strengthening the tripod grip muscles and improving fine motor coordination. 
• These adorable safari animals are the perfect toy to throw in your diaper or overnight bag. They are small and portable, making them a great option to keep kids entertained at restaurants, during car rides, waiting rooms at the doctor, etc.  Bonus: Each tube comes with a spinning globe top and educational facts inside. The Wild TOOB will help children learn the animals of Africa while having fun playing with them. 
• Messy play is the best! This Cool Sand is moldable, sticks only to itself and not to you or your clothes, and doesn’t dry out when molding, slicing and shaping it, leaving it shapeable for years! We love this gift because it promotes group and individual play, stimulates creative skills, and is a wonderful way to prompt tactile sensory play! 
•  A fun take on classic building blocks, these sensory press and plays offer countless opportunities for functional, relational, and symbolic play!  

Written by Leah R, MSW, LCSW. Leah is the social work department head at Blue Bird Day. She supervises the other social workers at our North Center and West Loop location. She loves working with pediatric clients and their families.