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!

Best Educational Toy Winner

Space Solar Robot Kit

GobiDex®

Description

Cultivate children’s interest in exploring the universe with his STEM toys solar robot kit which can build 6 different innovative building models including Space Station, Space Explorer, Space Rover, Space Shuttle, Astronaut and Space Dog.  With a solar powered battery, the assembled models are great for indoor and outdoor use.

 

Autism Live Says:

This building set provides tons of opportunities to learn about programing, structural engineering, the physics of motion and more!  We love how versatile the kit is and how eco friendly all aspects of the models are!

Best Sensory Toy Winner

Inflatable Lounger

Mockins

Description

This easy to inflate recliner airbed feels like relaxing on a cloud bean bag chair. No pumps needed. Created for convenience, with 3 different sized pockets to hold your cell phone, water bottle, and magazine. Comes with a carrying bag and a peg to ensure it stays in one place.

Autism Live Says:

Teens love a place to lounge, we love that this lounge inflates without a pump and can be deflated for easy storage and traveling.  We also love the sensory cradling that happens while lounging, it’s a great stress reliever!

Best Card/Board Game Winner

Hasty Baker

GoChuckle

Description

Whip up some fun for the whole family with Hasty Baker the card game for kids and adults. This delicious spin on bake-off competitions gets everyone involved in collecting ingredient cards to bring their recipe to sweet fruition. Winner of the 2020 Tillywig Best Family Fun Award, this fun card game is a thrilling, delectable way to teach kids strategy.

Autism Live Says:

Hasty Baker is hilarious and competitive!  We love the aspects of critical thinking and planning, but we also just love getting to bake without the mess!

Best Puzzle Winner

3D Marble Run Wooden Puzzle

RoWood

Description

This wooden building set, inspired by Rube Goldberg Machine, will bring a highly satisfying and educational user experience. Rotate the crank and steel marbles follow 3 different paths to achieve gravity fall. Every accidental or doomed choice of path will create dozens of fun outcomes to watch.

Autism Live Says:

This puzzle will provide hours of fun putting it together and then hours more playing with it! It’s perfect for hardcore puzzle enthusiasts, builders and those who just love a good marble run.

Best Motor Play Award

Wobble Balance Board

Yes4All

Description

This Balance Board Core Trainer helps you develop core strength, stabilize muscles, improve balance and coordination- super charging hundreds of exercises like pushups, planks, mountain climbers, burpees, squats, tree pose and more.

Autism Live Says:

Strong core muscles improve writing skill, stamina, posture, and focus!  The Wobble Balance Board is easy to use and helps take a typical exercise like a simple plank and makes it fun and more productive.

 

Best Book Winner

A Wrinkle in Time

By Madeleine L’Engle

Description

A Wrinkle in Time, winner of the Newbery Medal in 1963, is the story of the adventures in space and time of Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin O’Keefe (athlete, student, and one of the most popular boys in high school). They are in search of Meg’s father, a scientist who disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government on the tesseract problem.

Autism Live Says:

This is the book we recommend reading with your child before talking with them about their diagnosis.  The word “Autism” is never mentioned in the book, yet readers will recognize that many of the main characters reflect on being “different”: what that means to them and how the world views them.  This ageless, uplifting book creates a context to talk about differences in a positive way.  This is one of our all time favorites!!   

Best Oldie but Goody Winner

Bop It!®

Hasbro®

Description

The classic game of bop it, twist it, pull it: hear the commands and react fast to stay in the game — this classic electronic game is fun for kids ages 8 and up. Play solo or with multiple players: the bop it! Electronic game unit includes solo and pass-it modes, so kids can play the game on their own or in a group.

Autism Live Says:

Bop It! Is a classic game.  It’s hours of fun, but it also helps develop reaction time and processing speed.  Play as a family and model being a good sport when losing to help teens understand that perfection is not something to be stressed out about.

Therapist Recommendation Winner

Let’s Mingle

Fun Tribe Crew

Description

Let’s Mingle Teens is a fun conversation starter game for teens, kids, and adults. Easy to play in the car, on a plane or just hanging out with the family!

Autism Live Says:

Therapists love this game as quick, fun and easy way to jumpstart conversation with teens!

Parent Recommendation Winner

Kids Against Maturity

Kids Against Maturity

Description

Dear Evolved Parents, Kids Against Maturity is the perfect parental tool to approach playtime and family time. Are you sick of the same old dated games every game night? This instant classic was made and played by parents like you. With age-appropriate toilet humor and funny innuendos for the adults, it can be enjoyed by all ages. Best results when played with 4 players or more.

Autism Live Says:

Parents, okay some parents LOVE this hilarious game and the way it brings their teens to the game play table.  It does come with a warning and advises that parents look through the deck before playing to remove any cards that cross the line for your family standards.  We like that the game has a little edge to, it’s one of the reasons why the teens are likely to want to play!

Top Toy Winner

Shashibo®

Fun in Motion Toys

Description

The patented, award-winning Shashibo fidget box features 36 rare earth magnets for an innovative design that transforms into over 70 shapes. Fits comfortably in the hand for hours of mind-challenging fun. Stimulate the senses with unlimited creative possibility! Can you master the Shape-Shifting Box?

Autism Live Says:

This addictive toy is hot, hot, hot!  Everyone loves it! You can’t put it down! The things you can do with it are endless!  This is a sure hit for the sensory seeker in your life.

 

Boredom Buster Award

Drop Mix Gaming System

Hasbro®

Description

This fast-paced music mixing game lets you create unexpected song mixes! Developed with Harmonix, creators of Rock Band and Dance Central. You can keep the music pumping with 3 ways to play: Freestyle, Clash, and Party. Includes 60 DropMix cards featuring music from top artists and popular songs.

Autism Live Says:

Perfect for music lovers and DJ/Record Producer wannabees!  We love the freedom to create and make music without having to spend hours learning an instrument.  This game will definitely chase away the Boredom Blues!

Best Art/Craft Winner

Craft-tastic® All About Me Scratch & Sticker Journal

Ann Williams

Description

Journaling has never been so much fun! Scratch off the quiz answers sprinkled throughout the 36-page, spiral-bound All About Me Scratch & Sticker Journal Kit to reveal more about you. Or, design your own fashion statement, express yourself with the cute and colorful stickers, and much more! Each page is a new adventure as you discover more about you!

Autism Live Says:

We love everything about this kit.  Journaling is a great way to reduce stress, plan goals and build self-esteem.  We love that you can customize your journal to make it uniquely your own!

Best STEM Toy Winner

Uno Project Super Starter Kit

Elegoo

Description

The most economical kit based on Arduino platform to starting programming for those beginners who are interested. This is the upgraded starter kit, with a power supply module that allows your creators to start programing without soldering.

Autism Live Says:

When our kids are interested in programing and “real-life” engineering, it can be daunting.  This kit gives them a real platform to develop their programming skills but keeps the scary tools to a minimum.

Best Speech Builder Winner

Fabula Deck For Kids

Fabula

Description

Fabula Deck for Kids is an educational tool that helps kids ignite their imagination inventing unlimited stories.  It’s super easy to use. Just answer meaningful questions and your answers will be the story!

Autism Live Says:

Fabula is renowned for their story cards for adults- we love this edition that is perfect for teens and tweens.  This is a great conversation starter and a guided method of helping them create a story that is meaningful to them.

Best Social Skills Builder Winner

Beat That!

Gutter Games

Description

Ever had the satisfaction of throwing a paper ball in the bin from across the room? Well, that feeling is what this game is all about. Bet on your skills with solo challenges, battle royales, buddy ups, and duels. Win by betting on your ability to successfully complete a series of ridiculous dexterity-based challenges. With a variety of tricky and outrageous challenges to test your skills, this board game will have you hooked in seconds.

Autism Live Says:

We think this is a great game to work on social skills. Learn about cooperation, bluffing, recognizing when others are bluffing, dealing with challenges, being a good sport and more!  Plus it’s just ridiculous good fun.

Employment Empowerment Award

What Should I Do Now?

Childswork

Description

This card game is designed to help children understand the different reactions we have to difficult situations and how our responses affect those around us.

Autism Live Says:

What a great game to help teens practice reactions to difficult situations!  Part of joining the workforce is knowing what to do in different situations. This game gives everyone a safe space to work on these skills in preparation for the real thing.

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.

VISIT www.act-today.org

TODAY and make a DONATION.