There’s a strong possibility that all these ‘Special Needs’
wish lists, toy lists, therapy lists are all exactly what your kiddos need for
the holidays, but few of them work for my Boy and I’m guessing some of you
might have the same problem.
So here's my take.
Here is the dream gift guide-slash-Christmas list for 2014. As written by the Momma to a 5 year old verbal, moderate-severe ASD/ADHD/ICD kid. Aka Freaking Awesome Boy. FAB. Totally FAB.
So here are my ideas for Christmas or Hanukkah or even just
an "Omigosh I'm going insane" kind of night. Which is every night
here, really.
Oh, and nothing is over $50. Because, for reals.
So there’s that.
And, without further ado and JUST in time for #CyberMonday
or #PaydayIsntTilTheFirst... Here's our list.
ENJOY!
#1
The GOOP.
$1-2
Because by all that I consider holy, this was the best discovery of my life. Now, if your kiddo is still putting everything questionable in their mouth, this is an obvious no. Mine only puts hard things in his mouth and has serious aversions to slipper foods so slippery toys are also a no for eating. So this is a win for us. Not just any win. 24-7 hands out of trouble win.
This is a fidget extraordinaire. Tips: Move it slow and it will stick, move it fast and it will click. AKA the faster you move it the easier it is to clean up. I wouldn’t recommend this for carpeted homes. Unless you could care less about your carpet. Or unless you’re desperate.
Now, I say $1 and it usually is. Unless you buy all they have, in each type, at every Dollar Tree in your city/town/county/state. Because you should. I did.
If yours doesn't have any or you'd rather go online there are plenty.
Trust me. Please.
#2
The Ekorre swing by Ikea.
$34.99
+ Shipping from Ikea. Unless you have a store nearby. In which case I
hate you. They sell these on Amazon also, but make sure that it’s not
more expensive than the Ikea $+Shipping. Cuz that’s what I did. (head
butts wall)
Because he needed a therapy swing. And those suckers cost more than a down payment on a car. Well. My car..
It's a therapy swing, trampoline, Tarzan rope, indoor climber, savior extraordinaire. This should have been item numero uno on the list.
Whatevs.
I needed my Dad to hang it for me and it took him about 15-minutes once he worked up the nerve to do it. Hardware included. Squishy, nearly indestructable pillow insert can be blown up with a hair dryer. Canvas. OMG. Get. It.
#3
The cube chair. Because he saw it when he was 1 in Gymboree and we spent months looking for it. And because he’s used it ever since. He’s 5. Math that up all ya need to.
Step stool, table, chair… whatever. My kid ruins everything. This thing is still going strong. And it’s totally perfect for a Momma to stand on to change a lightbulb if step ladders are dangerous. Which in our house they totally are. Amen.
$49.50. If you have Prime then the shipping is free. Some other sites are a few dollars cheaper but charge shipping, so since Prime is free shipping and TWO day shipping at that, it’s my winner.
Oh. And it's nearly impossible to throw. Which wins at my house.
#4
Stability ball. Or sensory ball. Or the I-know-everyone-says-to-get-it-but-I-haven’t-yet.
Do it.
$5-$25.
Let them roll over it, roll it over them, kick it, chase it. My Boy is still learning to catch a ball. And still getting bummed when he doesn’t. He never misses this one. Win.
If you pay more than that because it says ‘’sensory’’ then that’s just... yeah. I found the cheaper ones work perfectly, so I'm not ready to bump up to $40-$75. This one has lasted me 8 years, 5 of those with Boy.
I keep it out in the netted trampoline during the summer. Because he won’t use the trampoline unless there are balls in it. BOUNCY MOOOOOOSH PIIIIIIIIIIITTTT!
I use it all through the winter when he needs a squeeze or a squish or a roll. Which is all the time.
#5
The Matryoshka, aka Nesting Dolls.
$10-25
Because my Boy has a thing about containers. And lids. And bags. And hidey holes. And cups. And tea pots. And okay… anything that he can store/hide things in or pour water in. Or out of.
Bathtime much?
I need plastic ones so they can get wet. And they don’t shatter if they are thrown at you. They might crack if your Kiddo stands on them, but heck my Boy cracked my wood ones opening and closing and opening and closing and opening and closing them. Repeat. To infinity. And there are no lids to open, so the fine motor is getting worked but not frustrated. Saweet.
Wood or plastic or pink or blue, they're awesome. My Boy is getting the Robots.
Because, awesome hiding/lid on and off/pouring things.
#6
Sandpaper letters.
$5-$25.
Because my Boy really, really, really, really struggles with letters. He doesn’t like trying to write them. It’s too stinking hard. So we went the tactile-sensory input way. He loves them. And he started tracing other letters after we worked with these for awhile.
Letters on his timeout mat. Letters on the signs at stores. Letters, people.
Also make really great, non-digestible, non-advisable chewies. Meh. We outgrew that. But just a head's up, sandpaper hurts teeth. Don't get it if you've got a paper chewer.
#7
Autism t-shirts.
$8-18.
Because nothing says "Back away slowly or I will unleash my years of ASD research on your nosy self" quite like a label.
But hey, it makes life easier. People smile at you more. They hold doors open. They don't call the cops on you. Sometimes they even let you cut in line at the store. And since when isn't that exactly what I want from Santa?
We have the ones from this Etsy shop. The t's are like SILK and my kiddo who freaks out over EVERYTHING I put on him wears this like it's his favorite blankie.
More than my usual $3-5 per shirt budget, but worth it for me. The others are just cute ones I put in my "next" file. Because I love Think Geek. Because, Geek. And it's $8.45. Win
#8
Handheld water ring game.
$5-10.
Because, I have no idea. But he freaking loves it.
I've had this for 20+ years and no matter which shelf I put it on I find it back inside his swing, click, gloop, click, gloop.
Okay so the first two years he just opened it and dumped out the water, but now he gets it.
And it's the reason he doesn't have a handheld video game. This works for us. Thank you, Old School Santa.
Oh. And water. It's just water. Which is always awesome.
#9
Playmobil Ark.
$32.
Because, water.
It floats.
And it can be any water story you want it to be or anything they want it to be. I teach our best homeschool lessons in the bathtub.
He's calm. He's happy. He's looking at what I am playing with. And he's more likely to join in or take it away and finish the game. He doesn't even care that much about the animals, but this he likes. WIN.
And seriously. It floats.
And you can take it with you.
And it doesn't have those nasty black, moldy holes in the bottom that most bath toys have.
Eww.
#10
Favorite snack!
$1-$10.
Because some people seem to forget how much fun it is to open a present! Granted, some kids don't care. But my kid? He unwraps a box of Cheezits on Christmas morning and he's going to be doing the freak dance.
In a big way.
Wrap that baby up and watch them smile.
Or maybe those Cheetos Cheese Puffs. Or beef jerky. Anything I don't want him substituting real food for. Unless of course he won't eat real food if he's given the treats, in which case ignore me. Completely.
Nuts. He'll go NUTS.
For $1.
Wanna REALLY blow some minds? Get the snack pack sizes and wrap those. Full stocking for $2.50.
Bam.
So...
Merry Christmahanakwanzika.
Which in our house is really just Christmas.
With Challah.
<3
