Each year Autism Live curates a list of top toys and gifts in a wide range of categories and developmental levels to help you find the perfect gift to delight the children, teens and adults in your life who are on the Autism Spectrum. This year we have chosen toys in various price ranges to help you make the perfect holiday selection. We hope there is something to delight everyone on your list! When choosing baby toys use caution to select age/skill appropriate toys that don’t have a choking hazard.
Top Toy Winner
Sort and Discover Activity Wagon
VTech
Description
12+ Months
A wagon full of wonders! Each side contains activities like shape sorting, gear spinners, activity keys, mazes, peek-a-boo doors and more. Pile in favorite toys, snacks and items for little adventurers to take with them as they roll out and explore. Pushing or pulling the wagon rewards kiddos with cheerful music and sound effects to enhance playtime.
Autism Live Says:
What spectacular toy with loads of fun activities. Your little one will work on fine motor, cause and effect, gross motor, as well as sorting, shapes and numbers. We love that play can be seated or on the move!
Therapist Recommendation Toy Winner
Sensory and Learning My Play Mat
Regalo
Description
0+ Months
Perfect for large or small spaces this mat can be adjusted to covers spaces up to 77-inches wide and 71-inches long. Design includes raised symbols including letters as well as numbers for learning. Reversible, perfect for learning or style. Folds down to a compact size of easy storage.
Autism Live Says:
We love this portable mat filled with soft and fun things for baby to look at. This mat encourages crawling, ocular motor skills, gross motor skills and much more. Plus we love the muted tones making it the ideal addition to any room.
STEM Toy Winner
Happy Hammer Grasping and Reaching Toy
Smart Steps
Description
9+ Months
The Happy Hammer designed by Smart Steps is perfect developing little one’s cause and effect skills, grasping and holding ability, and auditory cues. Lights and sounds are activated when the Happy Hammer is hit on either side. The interactive sounds are great for developing auditory cues.
Autism Live Says:
This is a great first hammer for the little future engineer in your life! We love the sounds it makes and the way it lights up to reward play!
Speech Builder Toy Winner
Get Ready For Phonics™
LeapFrog®
Description
18+ months
Send the lights around the pictures to explore 44 different English word sounds! Help boost kids’ expanding vocabulary with over 100 words, playful phrases and colorful pictures. Explore connections between words and sounds by pressing the light-up buttons in four games and activities. Discover animals, objects and the sounds they make on 10 colorful, easy-turn pages.
Autism Live Says:
There are soooo many things to learn using this fabulous toy. We love how it breaks down the individual sounds which help with both expressive and receptive speech skills.
Social Skills Builder Toy Winner
Cutie Paws Puppy Carrier™
VTech®
Description
12 + Months
This jam-packed puppy carrier includes buttons that introduce colors, numbers, shapes and pet phrases to help boost language skills. Role-play accessories such as a comb, treats, water bottle and more encourage responsible pet care in an adorable way. The snuggly plush puppy fits perfectly in the carrier or can be taken out, held and hugged for sweet play. Convenient storage slots teach cleanup skills while keeping accessories in one place.
Autism Live Says:
We love the social skills and perspective taking skills having a pet provide. But we love practicing all of those skills on a super fun plushy first!
Sensory Toy Winner
RainMaker Baby Rattle
PLAY
Description
6+ Months
Turn this rain maker over, shake it or roll it around for clear and soothing sound of rain sounds.
The rain maker can help baby practice visual awareness and auditory sensory by watching the colorful beads move through the translucent rattle. The easy-to-grip toy provides early education for learning and discovering colors, sounds and movements. Great fun and entertaining for your baby.
Autism Live Says:
We love all the different types of sensory input from this well made toy. Little hands will enjoy the exploration of all the sights and sounds available on this clever toy. We also enjoyed it’s ability to soothe everyone’s nerves.
Parents Recommendation Toy Winner
Rock Around Wobble Disk and Dome
Simplay3
Description
2+ Years
A rocking toy with a bowl shaped seat and molded-in grip handles to help toddlers and young children develop coordination and balance. There are two sides of paly! Flip upside down to become an engaging climbing and jumping play structure. Encourage green time instead of screen time with products that let kids get physical.
Autism Live Says:
We love the versatility of this toy. On one side it is a big wobble seat they can spin, turn it over and you have a great climbing toy. We also love that it can be used inside or out making it a great toy for our kids to connect to their muscles and grow stronger.
Oldie but Goodie Toy Winner
Popcorn Popper
Fisher-Price
Description
12+ Months
It’s the classic toddler push toy with colorful balls that pop around inside! Push the toy along for exciting ball-popping sounds and action. Play encourages baby to walk with fun popping sounds and action. Helps strengthen gross motor skills and introduces baby to cause and effect.
Autism Live Says:
We love this classic toy! It is perfect for encouraging walking, with a built-in reinforcer when baby goes for a stroll. It’s one of those toys that is tried and true. Everyone will be happy to see it and hear it pop-pop-pop!
Motor Play Toy Winner
Crawligator Tummy Time
Crawligator
Description
4+ months
With high quality caster wheels this toy rolls across a hard floor surfaces to develp gross motor skills while allowing the arms and legs to reach, push and kick. The ergonomic design enhances the comfort and positioning of the child encouraging them to enjoy more time on their tummy while stimulating sensory and cognitive development and hand-eye coordination.
Autism Live Says:
This is a great toy for fostering the muscles required to crawl. We love the way it supports the child so they can get the benefits of crawling while building the core strength to be able to crawl on their own.
Kids Choice Toy Winner
Beetbox Crawl Ball
Skip Hop
Description
6+ Months
Get baby moving and grooving to the “beet” with this adorable crawl ball. Just switch it on and keep the ball rolling for fun motion-activated beatbox riffs and rattle sounds to encourage crawling adventures. Encourages crawling and musical creativity with 3 motion-activated beatbox-style songs which play when the ball is turned on and rolled.
Autism Live Says:
What a fun toy to encourage fine motor skills, crawling, and walking. We love the “beats” and the way the toy quietly makes vegetables fun!!
Empowering Employment Skills Toy Winner
Laugh and Learn Sit and Steer
Fisher-Price
Description
6 + Months
This electric car-themed baby to toddler activity center and learning toy has 360 degrees of crawl-around fun & pretend play. There are 3 Smart Stages levels to grow along with your baby with 150+ songs, sounds & phrases that teach the alphabet, counting 1-10, shapes, colors and more
The light-up dashboard, 9-button keypad, turning “steering” wheel and horn that activate fun lights, music and sounds all make the fun feel real!
Autism Live Says:
We love how realistic the play is with this fabulous toy. They can shift gears, check their mirrors, honk, and much more. Is it every too young to start teaching good driving skills? We don’t think so!
Educational Toy Winner
Touch and Learn Dinosaur Book
Leapfrog
Description
2+ Years
Dig into the prehistoric world of dinosaurs by touching the pictures on 14 interactive pages.
Explore different creatures and hear about where they lived, what they ate and how to pronounce their big names. Make exciting discoveries and then switch to Find-It mode to answer questions by touching the correct picture. Rock and roar along with three songs, hearing all the dinosaurs’ names.
Autism Live Says:
We love the interaction of this toy! The learning never ends because the fun never ends. This is perfect for the dinosaur lover in your life. They will have hour and hour of fun learning all about these prehistoric beasts.
Best Card/Board Game Winner
K's Kids Fish and Count Learning Game
Melissa & Doug
Description
12+ months
Squeaker handle features a fishing line, with bait! and self-stick pad for catching fish.
Includes 8 shaped sea creatures to match, sort, sequence, and catch. Reversible “pond” has shapes on one side, numbers on the other. Develops these skills: sensory, fine motor, gross motor, logical, creative, emotional, and self-esteem.
Autism Live Says:
We love the squeaking fish and the focus babies use to “catch” them. This game is sure to be a hit with your toddler.
Boredom Buster Toy Winner
Motor Skills Box
Discovery Toys®
Description
19+ Months
This multi-function cube is designed with a variety of multi-sensory learning opportunities, featuring a reversible top and over 7 different motor activities to explore. Your child will delight in progressing in motor skill, auditory discrimination, cognitive development, and musical creation. Your child can progress from simple sliding & spinning to grasping & shaking to stacking & shape sorting to resisting tension & fine motor coordination.
Autism Live Says:
We love all the wonderful creative things you can do with this toy and all the amazing skills you can build just from playing with it. It is power packed with fun and skill building!
Best Video Game Winner
Baby Games: Piano and Baby Phone
RV AppStudios
Description
9+ Months
Entertain your baby for hours with “Baby Games – Piano, Baby Phone, First Words”, a fun, simple, colorful, and FREE educational phone game designed with kids and toddlers in mind! Learning is fun with Baby Games, and there are plenty of mini-games and educational activities here to keep babies interested.
Autism Live Says:
This is a great app to have on your phone and to play interactively with your toddler. They will learn the basics of cause and effect on electronic devices while learning all kinds of educationally enriched lessons.
Best Puzzle Winner
Let's Begin Dinosaurs
Crocodile Creek
Description
2+ Years
Crocodile Creek Let’s Begin puzzles are perfect for a toddler’s very first learning experience! Each puzzle set is cleverly packaged in a sturdy canister with a rope handle and a puzzle piece on the outside to show puzzle quality on the inside. All puzzles pieces have colored edging on front side that will help them complete the puzzle but will also allow them to learn their first colors.
Autism Live Says:
This is a great first puzzle for every child. Easy, colorful, and well packaged, the pieces are meant to be long lasting. We love that it only takes 2 pieces to create a dinosaur!
Best Book Winner
Tummy Time Flip Book
Discovery Toys®
Description
0+ Months
Kickstart baby’s visual development with this unique multi-format collection of engaging black, white and red images. It can be hung, laid flat, or folded in a triangle shape within baby’s visual range. The different textured fabrics, crinkly pages, and bonus mirror will also aid in baby’s auditory & tactile development and self-awareness.
Autism Live Says:
We love the many ways you can use this book to engage your baby visually. It can be in a triangle to encourage tummy time and lifting of the head. It can lay flat and hang in the car! It can go pretty much anywhere you need to go.
Best Art/Craft Winner
Super Jumbo Bath Crayons
HoneySticks®
Description
1+ year
Honeysticks is the only brand tested to the highest safety standards for little Ones aged 1 Year+. Fragrance free, non-irritating ingredients for delicate young skin make these the perfect first bath crayons for toddlers. Honeysticks Super Jumbo Bath Crayons perfect for the littlest hands to hold and use. Won’t disintegrate in water or snap easily like others.
Autism Live Says:
We love the purity of these natural crayons handmake in New Zealand. We also love the creativity that can safely be unleashed during bath time!
Don’t forget to check out all the fabulous toy and gift winners in other categories.
You might find exactly what you are looking for there!
We at AUTISM Live
wish you the
Happiest of Holidays!
After all of your shopping is done, if you find that you have more to give, please join us in making a donation of any size to Autism Care Today (ACT). This wonderful organization gives grants to families for things like iPads, insurance co-pays, sensory equipment, GPS devices and more. Your donation could make another family’s holiday wishes come true.