An autistic child is a difficult test for parents. Despite the fact that outwardly the baby develops completely normally, he is very different from his peers. He has broken contact with loved ones and the outside world. The most severe forms of the disease are complete detachment. Such kids are very passive, as if they do not see and hear nothing that is happening around. They do not respond to pain, cold and hunger. They are often silent, but they can suddenly quote verses that were previously told to them. Autistic toys also have to be selected very carefully, as most of them will simply be ignored.
Criterias of choice
Like everyone else, special kids also love to play. It is only necessary to consider that toys for autists should be slightly different. Typically, these kids interact with toys that are designed for younger children. Today, many manufacturers have begun to produce special lines of educational stimulus material that helps special kids to learn about the world.
What to look for when choosing? Toys for autists should activate an underdeveloped sense of touch. Such kids are creative individuals, so it’s best to give them the opportunity to explore things in their own way, spending any amount of time on it. Toys for autists can be cubes with numbers and letters, musical items, books made of fabric and relief figures.
Learning to interact
The most difficult moment is social interaction. If ordinary children begin to actively communicate with each other closer to three years, then children with this disease, carefully avoid both adults and peers. Therefore, toys for autistic children should become a kind of bridge, help build relationships.
Board games are a good choice. They should be simple, but allow several children to participate in the process. Choose lotto, simple “walkers”, quizzes. Such games help to learn about victories and defeats, and also learn to cope with the corresponding emotions. When choosing games, you need to consider the age and level of autism. The stronger the disease, the easier the toys should be.
More variety
There are two extremes. On the one hand, these kids are difficult to get used to everything new and they even meet the next toy quite wary. Therefore, developing toys for autistic people are often acquired on the basis of similarity. If the child prefers their particular kind, then these interests should be taken into account, which will help in the further development of the baby and support the desire to deal with them for a longer time. But this is precisely the danger. The kid may refuse to interact with all the toys, except for friends. This will limit the possibilities for its development. Therefore, try to offer him a variety of stimulus material.
Great choice
No need to try to buy a huge amount of toys for the crumbs. And this applies to all parents. An overcrowded nursery for autistic people becomes a source of anxiety, but a few well-chosen toys will make it possible to meet current needs. To determine what will be interesting for your child, you can take it with you to the store and choose together.
Educational toys for autistic children are not only cubes and pyramids. An excellent option would be a tablet, on which you can upload animated videos or a music video. Viewing pretty much affects the kids, the characters inspire, so the children try to imitate the characters and learn to speak. Such an activity can be very fun and interesting. Musical toys allow special children to feel the world of sounds, which also contributes to their development.
Trampolines and puzzles
It should be noted that not everyone likes these toys, but they give a lot for development. Therefore, if your baby pulls his hand in the direction of a bright, inflatable house, this must be supported. Autistic children are so deeply immersed in the inner world that they interact poorly not only with others, but also with their own bodies. With the help of a trampoline, they can get acquainted with various positions of the body and its reactions to movement. And all this in the form of a fun game.
Puzzles are also affordable and very good toys for autists. Photos taken during the game allow you to notice how focused the kids are. Such activities improve concentration and patience. Of course, you need to start with simple puzzles and gradually move on to more complex ones.
Cartoon Characters
Watch what your kid is doing. If he over and over again enjoys watching the same cartoon, then he should buy a toy for him in the form of the main character. Autistic people become very attached to familiar images and hardly switch to something new. The Thomas engine, for example, is a real favorite among these kids. Try to choose only strong and high-quality products, because the guys are so attached to them that they play for years.
Puzzle games
It is very important to have on hand a set of toys that contribute to the joint activities of the child with parents. It can be any puzzles, models of the railway, building blocks or constructors. The key point is that you play with the child, and not just give and go to do their own thing.
I would also like to highlight the Lego constructor. This is a whole world that unites people of all ages. Children with autism are also attracted by the construction of interesting buildings, they easily manipulate small details and are able to fantasize well.
Do it yourself
They can not always be found in the store, but it is quite easy to do it yourself. It's about autistic sensory toys. They are created based on the tasks that you want to solve. We are talking about the development of hearing or tactile sensations, visual perception, fine or large motor skills, communication or thinking skills. These are developing rugs with rustling, ringing, peeling elements sewn on them, bells and a rough alphabet, multi-colored cards and a puppet theater.
You can choose the right toys for your baby yourself. To do this, simply determine what the problem is, and pay attention to the development of those skills that your child lacks. Typically, children with autism are deficient in almost all of these areas. Therefore, stock up on bright multi-colored cubes and a set of musical instruments. Use all stimulus materials that rustle and ring. In addition, a set of stimulus material that trains tactile sensations is important. These are soft and hard objects, rough and smooth, cold and warm.
Special toys
Today you can find information that the spinner is a toy for autists, which allows you to simultaneously calm and develop a child. Corrective educators say that this product does not have the declared characteristics at all. On the contrary, this toy seems to mesmerize and makes you immerse yourself. And the goal of studying with autistic people is to teach them how to interact. Therefore, various communicators, talking posters and photo albums are very useful. The wall schedule is also considered a useful thing, allowing you to make a plan for the next day. Vibration pillows, weighted rugs and massagers are also useful.
Instead of a conclusion
When choosing a gift, do not forget that it should be not only necessary, but also desired. If the baby unfolds the package and finds there a completely unattractive toy, which, in your opinion, is useful, then it will go to the closet. The second point is the need for interaction. Even the best gift will lose most of its usefulness if you do not deal with the crumbs. Autists play a slightly different way, you need to get used to it. They repeatedly repeat the same actions, and the adult quickly becomes bored. But try to repeat them, stay with the baby on the same wavelength, and you will quickly see that your relationship begins to improve.