Autistic souvenier???

[BNukem]

Going to the world in a couple months, my neighbor has a 12 yr old non-verbal autistic daughter. I always bring her back something, but I'm trying to think of something other than clothes or a ball. Any ideas ???

 

[Luv Bunnies]

It depends on what kinds of toys the child likes, and what her abilities/habits are. If she puts things in her mouth, be careful of toys with small parts that could detach. Also, if she's sensitive to sound, she might not like a toy that makes noise. On the other hand, some autistic kids like toys that light up and make noise. Some love toys with moveable parts, other get easily frustrated by them. Does she like any particular characters or movies? A stuffed animal or a book might be a good gift. Otherwise, maybe check with her mom and ask what kinds of things she especially likes.

 

[Kellykins1218]

My boys (both autistic) love the toys they sell at night that have a character at the top and lights that spin around. They also love snow globes (make sure you get the plastic kind & not glass)

 

[kehlyrsmom]

Both of our children are autistic and we travel to the world quite frequently. My daughter is 12 1/2 and she likes kind of different things such as the marble eggs you find in Animal Kingdom, she is really into dragons so we have a couple of those she has gotten in China at Epcot. My son is really into stuffed animals he is age 10 though almost 11 in a couple of weeks, my duaghter still likes stuffed animals though not as much as he does.

Maybe you can even bring back one of the autographed pictures of one of her favorite characters.

 

[kirstenb1]

Our dd has been fascinated with kitchen magnets for years. Each trip, she'd pick out new ones.

 

[ratlenhum]

It depends on your child. My 10 year old with autism is happy with small plushes of his favorite characters at the time, any of the spinny light up things they sell at night and more than anything he loves pressed pennies. He likes to put them in and out of the holder, sort them in about 10 different ways (don't ask me the reason for the different sorts, havent figured them all out yet) or he's happy with a tshirt. We get it a size or 2 bigger and he loves sleeping in his big comfy shirt with shorts or sweats.

It depends on where the child's interests lie. You could also look for something that can be fun but therapeutic. For example, years back when my son was having trouble drinking out of an open cup we bought him cups with different characters. We let him choose which one to try with that day and he was excited about working on the skill instead of getting frustrated with it.

I think it's so nice of you to think of your neighbor. I would check with the parents and ask if she has a favorite character and what kinds of things she likes. Maybe she likes playing dress up and you can find some cute little necklaces/bracelets with the princesses or something. A few years ago I got a bunch of that stuff reasonably priced for my niece.

 

[BNukem]

Thanks for all the ideas. She is pretty severe so I don't think the pennies or dress up will work for her, but I am loving the idea of the spinning light up toys because even if she can't work it, one of us can and she can watch. Also love the plush character idea.
Thanks so much for the help, I knew I came to the right place for answers !!!

 

[peemagg]

If she puts things in her mouth, maybe some of the baby Disney items. I know that there are lots of toys in World of Disney that are for babies. Maybe something over there would be appropriate if she is a "chewer".

 

[ladyjubilee]

I'd echo the spinny toys.....but would be a bit more specific if the child is severe. Be sure the spinny toy is easy to activate. My son has the R2-D2 (we're on the second one since another child broke his first one). We tried a few of the others while were down there and he couldn't activate several. One some the buttons were just a bit tricky.

I would also echo the marble eggs. My son loves marble eggs--for some reason they are just the "right" weight.

This year my son has his own money. We promised him for days that he could pick anything he wanted and he could buy it. After 5 days with no response, suddenly on the 6th day at AK he found "the" toy---a Snitch squishy.

There's also the Duffy story book.

 

[minkydog]

My boys (both autistic) love the toys they sell at night that have a character at the top and lights that spin around. They also love snow globes (make sure you get the plastic kind & not glass)

My son is severely mentally handicapped and autistic and he loves loves LOVES those light up spinning toys! We stock up on them when they go on sale so he can have new toys now and then. He wouldn't know what to do with a snowglobe--probably ignore that. Christian likes to hold the light up toys. He mouths them and they're big enough not to get stuck in his mouth or gag him.

About plush toys...don't take it personally if she doesn't go for it right away. It always takes Christian some time to get used to a new stuffed toy. Sometimes months it will sit there and he will seem to ignore it. Then one day he'll pick it up and hug it and play with it. One of his toys, a large white bear, sat in his room for 3 years before he noticed it. Now it's one of his faves and he spends a lot of time hugging and kissing White Bear. In fact, White Bears head is permanently matted from all the love!

 

[maganda]

DD has a toy that they sell in some of the shops and also from the street carts at night. It's a black handheld blacklight that lights up a multicolored string on a loop. When you turn it on the string loops against the blacklight. It looks like it's shooting straight out. It's tough to describe but very cool looking and I saw them again When we were there last month. DS has autism and he loves to watch it spin and change colors.

 

[lanejudy]

My DD8 also absolutely loves the light-up spinny toys and she is very much into plush as well. She's just now starting to be interested in princesses but small pieces are not an option for us either; there are some "baby-doll" princesses and clothes if she likes princesses but can't have the small parts for dress-up - look in the toddler section. It doesn't sound like you are leaning towards a snowglobe, but be forewarned if you do get one make sure you pack it in your checked baggage - they will confiscate it if it's in your carry-on (unless it's a very small one).

Good luck and enjoy your vacation!

 

[nyrebecca]

My son loves the spinning light up toys. He also has one that is like a snowglobe on a stick for lack of better words, you push the button and it lights up and the snow swirls around as well. He had the light up string but he is so rough that it kept getting tangled.

I hope you find the right thing for her!

 

[acebatonfan]

I ended up getting Dsis11 (autistic) some stuffed animals and vynlmations (she likes playing with plastic people and also collects the vynlmations) when I was down there.

It might be a good idea to talk about it with her mother. You can find almost everything under the sun in Disney, so trying to find something she might like won't be that hard.

 

[of2dbeach]

My son is 19 and Autistic. He loves stuffed animals of all sorts especially the beanie babie type that he can clip to his belt loop or back pack. He also likes to look at his sisters Autograph books and name the characters . i like the magnets but thats just me. I also get the antenna things and put a magnet on them seeing each time I put them on my SUV someone steals them ! . he also likes post cards too.. just more ideas. he is mostly non verbal

 

[anne thomas]

Minnie Mouse spinner! My son who severely autistic nonverbal just had to have this, her polka dot skirt spins around and he had to have Lightning McQueen spinner both found at CR also loved the bubble making gun and that was on the cart in Frontierland by Mickey shaped pretzels.Hope this helps

 

[BNukem]

Love the Minnie mouse spinner idea....again, thanks for the ideas !!!!

 

[ppony]

My boys (both autistic) love the toys they sell at night that have a character at the top and lights that spin around.

OMG! We keep those manufacturers in business! I can't tell you how many of those we burn through!! Some don't make it a day. Some, like his C3PO spinner have made it months...altough with only one light left on it. OH, and the batteries! Holy cow! Why are those little ones cost so much?! He's hard on those toys but spinning and lights are what he's about. His room looks like a disco at night!

To the OP, like others have said, find out what kind of things that child likes. Many of our kids on the spctrum have some "thing" they tune into. KIND of you to do such a thing!