Best Gifts For Children with Special Needs by Marcela De Vivo

Knowing what to get for a child with special needs can be somewhat difficult, especially if you’re buying a gift for a child that isn’t your own. While having some knowledge of the child’s needs can be helpful, it isn’t always a necessity, and there are a variety of gifts that are ideal for children with all types of special needs.

Below, you’ll find a few of the best gifts you can get for children with special needs.

Rhino Toys Oball 3 ‘n 1

The Rhino Toys Oball 3 ‘n 1 is a soft, squishy and bendable ball that has finger holes all over its surface, making it easy to grab, toss and play with. The Oball 3 ‘n 1 is specifically designed for children with motor skill impairments because its unique surface makes it easy to grab.

It might take a child a few minutes to release the ball, but the fact that they can actually pick it up and play with it will be special for many kids with motor skills issues.

The Rhino Toys Oball 3 ‘n 1 is sold in sets of three in a single package.

Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stack & Roll Cups 

Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stack & Roll Cups are a set of ten cups that come in a variety of different translucent colors that can be stacked in different orders. The set also comes with a jingling ball that can be put inside the cups to create a sensory experience for younger children.

The best part of the set for children with special needs is that they can serve a variety of purposes. Kids can enjoy stacking them, pretend to drink from them or use them to play with small toys (like the jingling ball that comes within the set or other small items, like marbles) as long as they’re supervised by adults.

Roger Priddy “B is for Bear” Book

This large, easy-to-see picture book is ideal for younger children because it has durable pages that really can’t be torn up – at least not quickly. The book also devotes a single page to a different image, which allows children to focus all of their attention on one item – something that’s particularly important for children with learning disabilities.

The book also provides a tactile experience. For example, the letter D, which uses a picture of a dog, incorporates faux fur similar to that of a dog.

Plan Toy Solid Wood Drum 

The Plan Toy Solid Wood Drum is a relatively simple toy – not much different than one you could have found as far back as the 1950’s or 1960’s. Despite the toy’s simplicity, it’s a great way to share music with kids and the functions that go along with playing a drum.

The Plan Toy Solid Wood Drum can also be used to teach kids using the “stop-and-go” method, where either an adult or child plays the drum and stops/starts playing on command. This type of activity can be fun for many kids, and it can help them learn stop-and-go commands that are essential for tasks like crossing the street or playing outside in the yard or park.

While the gifts above will be fun and useful for most children, talking to the parents of a child with special needs when buying a gift is never a bad idea if you’re really looking for something special and beneficial.

To make your gift is really special and fun, make sure you package it in something that’s easy for young children to open like a decorative gift bag. Choose a bag that is both colorful and easy to open for the child.

Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer from California whose writing covers everything on special needs education and inclusion. As a mother of a special needs child, she encourages parents of special needs children to invest in toys that will improve their motor skills.