- shares
- Facebook10
- Twitter0
- Pinterest6
- Yummly0
- Mix0
- Email0
Autism Awareness Month is to bring attention and raise awareness about Autism. It is found all over the world and in all age groups. Chances are, you have someone in your life that deals with Autism. So, what toys and games can you gift to them that will not only be fun and interesting, but also help with important skills and topics? We’ve put together a few toy ideas for Autism awareness to help get you started.
About Edushape Toys
Developed its first line of products in 1983 to provide pre-school teachers with the tools for creative play while educating their young students. Built on the strategy of seeing the world through the eyes of children, Edushape continues to create products that nurture imagination and spark creativity in the very young.
Throughout the years, Edushape toys have incorporated high educational values while supporting a child’s healthy social and emotional development. Edushape toys are now reaching the second generation of children whose parents remember fondly some of the very same toys from their own childhood.
Soft World Block Set
This is a set of 32 colorful building blocks of different shapes and sizes, perfect for play. They are soft, so they don’t make as much noise as traditional wood or plastic building pieces. The pieces can be used to design scenes or stir imaginations into play. Plus, they are great for motor skills as they can be used to learn how to balance a stack of items without falling over! They can easily be combined with other toys so a group of kids can play together without anyone feeling left out. I love that they come in a convenient storage and carrying case so clean up is a snap. They have several different theme sets to choose from too.
Make sure to follow Edushape on social media:
Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
About Banana Panda
Banana Panda is a brand of puzzles, games and books that delight little minds and the grownups who care about them. Our products are designed to offer family bonding and immersive independent play for babies, toddlers and growing kids alike. Diverse products, themes and play patterns offer something for every child from birth through age 7.
Suuuper Size Memory Game
I think it’s safe to say most kids love memory and matching games. This set of large and colorful matching cards is a great, hands on way to work on not just memory skills but also even work on words and animal sounds! The cards are great for small or nervous hands as they are six inches on each side. Not only can they be used as matching and memory skill work, but a parent or teacher can also use them to help other kids work on identification. And, because they are made of sturdy cardboard, they will not be torn up or ruined with curious little hands. Make sure to keep the box they come in because it was designed to store all the cards and comes with a handle to make travel easier.
Suuuper Size Animal Match Puzzle
.
This Banana Panda Animal Match Suuuper Size Puzzle is several toys in one. Ultimately it is a large floor puzzle, but not only do the kids put the pieces together like a traditional puzzle, even the pieces have smaller parts to pop into place. The pieces are made of a sturdy cardboard so they can stand up to some less than delicate use, plus they use bright colors and shapes to grab and keep their attention.
Kids that play with this floor puzzle will work on their spatial skills, learning how to identify by looking, then experimenting, what piece goes where. And they can still swap the little interchangeable pieces to make fun and creative animal environments. When playtime is over, simply put all the pieces back in the box they come in and store it until next time!
Make sure to follow Banana Panda on social media:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
About Plus-Plus USA
Plus-Plus USA is the exclusive distributor of Plus-Plus toys in the United States. Made in Denmark, Plus-Plus is a unique construction toy with one shape and endless possibilities!
BIG – BIG Picture Puzzles
This is a great gift or toy idea for kids who love to play with colors and textures. You take one of the puzzle flash cards and use the colored pieces to “build” the design by matching the pieces into the spots on the flashcard. They may build a person, hot air balloon or a plate of food! If they need help, the solution is printed on the other side.
The pieces can also be used for 3-D building, allowing the child to use their imagination and building their own designs. The pieces all fit together no matter what color they are, and the different sets are all interchangeable if you have multiple building sets to play with. Kids can also work on learning their colors and sorting them first, before using them to build. It comes with 60 colored pieces and 7 puzzle flash cards.
Plus-Plus BIG 90 PC Set
Plus-Plus is a set of 90 colorful construction pieces. They can be fit together to lay flat and design scenes or shapes, or even stood upright for 3-D fun. There are no patterns to follow but little builders can let their imaginations run wild and build to their heart’s content. It’s a great toy for little fingers and brains to work on construction, fine motor skills, and creative play.
You can use it to play games, like copy an example of something you build first. Or have them sort the pieces by colors and count them. And it’s designed to be stored in their original box they come in, so you can take them with you almost anywhere. I’m thinking like at a restaurant or when we’re waiting at a doctor’s office. These pieces will also fit with the other sets the company makes, in case you have several sets on hand.
Make sure to follow Plus-Plus USA on social media:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
My Thoughts on Toy Ideas for Autism Awareness:
If you aren’t familiar with Autism, it can be summed up as “a complex developmental disability, typically appearing during childhood and affecting a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.” There are many different levels on a scale where people diagnosed with Autism can be. And each one is unique, just as every child and person is. In my experience, some toys or games can be difficult because of complicated rules or tiny pieces; so with that in mind, we went to find toy ideas for Autism awareness month in April.
I look for games or toys that while may be recommended for a younger age range but still provide fun and entertainment, plus help enforce basic skills, to gift for kids on the spectrum. This may mean toys that don’t have a lot of noises or flashing lights, may have bright colors or fun textures, or help with skills like balance and matching. This is really no different than any other child, but simply may need to be introduced or reinforced at a later age range, that’s all.
Soft World Block Set
Take the Soft World Block Set as an example. These are building blocks with fun shapes and colors, designed to help kids build scenes and play out their imaginations. They are wonderful to help kids learn how to grasp and pick up blocks with their fingers and they are a wonderful tool to help teach balancing. Plus because they are soft, unlike traditional building toys, they don’t clatter and make a racket when they fall down. Loud unexpected noises can be a trigger for some kids with Autism. There are multiple sets made by Edushape Toys which is great if you have multiple kids or if your child really takes to them, you can provide more variety. And they all get tossed in the storage bucket when it’s clean up time! Less mess for us!
Memory Games
Puzzle and matching games are a great way to learn and have fun at the same time for any child. I like these by Banana Panda because even the older kids can still participate and benefit from playing with them. The Suuuper Size Memory Game has 24 pieces (12 matches) of illustrated and colorful animals that you place face down and let the kids find the matches.
It helps work on their recall skills, remembering where they’ve seen a piece before, as well as the “fun” of a game. The bonus with this set is you can also use them as flash cards to work on animal names or sounds. And they are pretty big pieces so they are easy to grasp and move around without tearing them up. And the same company also makes the Suuuper Size Animal Match Puzzle which has 34 total pieces. Some of these are for the puzzle itself, and the rest are “plug in” pieces to change up the animal’s living space.
At a basic level, just matching the main color scheme will help the miniature puzzles be put together without much stress. And then the smaller puzzle groups can be placed together to make up the main part. So even if they work in small sections, it’s not overwhelming. A bonus feature is these are made of that same sturdy cardboard as the matching game I mentioned so they hold up well after multiple uses.
Puzzle Games
For more hands on building and play time, rather than trying to follow rules, the BIG – BIG Picture Puzzles and the Plus-Plus BIG 90 PC Set from Plus-Plus USA are a fantastic choice. With the BIG-BIG picture puzzle set, kids are given a flashcard with a design which they then use the colored pieces to recreate in 2-D.
If they get stuck, just flip it over for the solution to get them on the right track. For the next step up, the Plus-Plus set doesn’t have designs to follow, but they can use their imagination to build either flat on a table’s surface or take it 3-D and make it stand up! Both sets use wonderfully bright colors and they fit together between the two sets. These are great for textures and colors, besides being able to use them for building and creativity.
Toy Ideas for Autism Awareness
Whether you, or your friends and loved ones have children with Autism, shopping for them doesn’t have to be difficult. Simply remember that by finding toys that will stimulate with colors, textures, and shapes may be a better choice than loud noises and lights. Plus, like with any child, toys that hold up well and clean up easy are always a bonus! The ones we’ve listed here are just a few examples of our favorites. Any would make great gifts even for children that aren’t on the spectrum but love to be creative and have fun just the same. Tell us your toy ideas for Autism awareness month in April in the comments below!
We’ve added Edushape Toys, Banana Panda, and Plus-Plus USA to our Fun Spring Gift Guide! #SpringFunOnMDR Check it out here!