2018 Holiday Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Children with Special Needs

With the holidays upon us, shoppers everywhere are hitting the stores searching for the gift that’s just right for their loved one. But what about those shopping for a child with a disability?

Whether family or friends, anyone who has shopped for a child that has special needs knows that a little extra thought and time may be required. While every child’s skills and ability levels are unique, some factors that may affect their level of play include:

• Cognitive Delays – affect a child’s intellectual functioning and awareness
• Hearing / Visual Impairment – decreased ability to see or hear to a degree that causes issues
• Motor Delays – including coordination of muscle groups, difficulty holding onto small objects, trouble walking, and other limitations in mobility
• Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Delays – often cause issues interacting with others, self-managing positive and/or negative emotions, and interpreting social cues
• Speech and Language Delays – displayed in limited vocabulary or lack of complex sentences; can be combined with difficulty understanding words or concepts

As you can imagine, a toy that may be considered age-appropriate for some may not be suitable for a child living with intellectual or behavior disabilities. Just like you wouldn’t give a thousand-piece puzzle to a toddler, it’s important to choose appropriate, safe, and exciting gifts for children with any disability.

This holiday guide includes top gift recommendations by the specialists on staff at Damar, who work 24-7 to support and encourage children with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities – helping them live more independent, happy and successful lives.

Sometimes gift giving can take a little extra effort. However, the time spent asking for recommendations, brainstorming fresh ideas, and reading through reviews will pay off. After all, the joy of watching a child open a gift picked out specifically for them is priceless.

Still not finding what you’re looking for? Ask Damar experts for their specific suggestions. Happy shopping!