Picking out Christmas and holiday gifts for children  with autism can be a challenge.  Fortunately, we have lots of fun toys and games that are also educational. Here are ten of our  favorite gift ideas that also help teach social skills for all of the friends and grandparents who need some Christmas gift inspiration.

6 Social Skills Game Set

This fun set of games will help teach autistic children six social skills:

• How Others Feel- Learn empathy by understanding the perspective of another.
• Acting Out- Dealing with Showing Emotions
• Manners- Important manners for social success.
• Mountain of Emotions- Simple Strategies for emotion management.
• What Should You Do? How to make good choices.
• What Makes A Good Friend?- Simple tips for being a good friend.

The Berenstain Bears Learn to Share

A great gift for a preschooler or young child with autism is the Berenstain Bears Learn to Share game.  This game teaches that negative behaviors have negative effects and that positive behaviors have positive effects.  An added plus is the cute bears are fun to play with.

Playtime with Zeebu

Another wonderful gift for a child with autism is the Playtime with Zeebu set.  This set comes with a video and two puppets so that parents and children can roll play with the puppets different social scenarios.  Young children with beginning social skills will learn how to share, think about others’ feelings, simple ways to calm down and so much more!  This wonderful set was designed by a parent for parents and would make a wonderful gift.  There are also fun Zeebu coloring books available that help to teach calming strategies and social skills.

The Blunders Game

The Blunders Game teaches essential manners and social skills for grade school children, and works well with higher functioning children on the autism spectrum.  The nice thing about this game is that the “blunder kids” are the ones who make mistakes.  It’s a safe way to learn social skills and talk about social blunders without feeling embarrassed or ashamed.  Best of all this game is fun and would make a great gift for the whole family.

Charades

Charades is a classic game that is fun to play with children and teens on the autism spectrum.  This game is helpful for teaching nonverbal communication.  You have to watch a person closely to figure out what they are trying to communicate.  This will make a great gift that can also help children work on nonverbal social cues.

Know the Code

The Know the Code Set will help children with high functioning autism learn the unwritten social codes of school for social success.  A helpful video, instructional guide and fun card game will help family members teach kids basic social rules to help them fit in with their peers.  This is a great gift for a parent or teacher who works with children on the autism spectrum.

Feelings Listening Lotto

Children with autism often can’t tell the difference between simple emotions.  For example, they cannot tell if a person is feeling happy, sad or angry.  A gift that will help children with autism explore emotions while having fun is the Feelings Listening Lotto game.  Children will have fun as they learn about the following emotions: angry, bored, disgusted, excited, happy, pouting, sad, scarred, shocked, silly, thinking, tired, in trouble, and worried.  For very young learners a simpler way to explore emotions is the How Do You Feel puzzle.

Guess How I Feel Game

This fun game helps children with autism develop skills in self-expression and empathy, and have fun getting to know the other players around them through roll playing and drawing.

Social Skills for Small Groups Play Pack

The Social Skills for Small Groups Play Pack is a deck of cards with 15 different fun games to help your child with autism learn simple social skills.  Each game comes with instructions, and the games in this play pack can be used with children ages 3-12.  This makes a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer.  A Social Skills for Large Group Play Pack is also available.

Create a Face Pad

It’s fun to explore emotions with this large over sized pad and best of all it’s only $5.00!