The Best Gifts for Autistic Kids, According to an Autistic Editor

Let me tell you why these jammies are a great idea. First, they’re silky soft without actually being silk or satin, which can be uncomfortable. Second, the seaming is minimal. Third, they’re tagless. And finally, they don’t have elastic at the ankle or the wrist like many pajamas do.

More: The Best Gifts for New Moms

I cannot sit still at work, and my son struggles to do his homework without just a wild amount of fidgeting. This footrest provides physical stimulation that helps soothe the need to move around constantly by giving pressure to the feet.

This rest is fully adjustable, and the little nubs on the rest really get in there with deep stimulation.

Many autistic kids are avid gamers, or they will be soon. My son included. A handheld, portable game system is a great thing to have, especially in situations where kids might be uncomfortable and in need of distraction. This game device can also be hooked up to a television for bigger play, or two-person gaming.

The feeling of being hugged (and not by a person) is super calming for a wide swath of the autistic community. If I could explain it to a neurotypical person, I guess that I would liken it to sitting down after work, taking off your shoes, and relaxing on the couch. It centers you, and takes you back to somewhere around neutral.

Finding the right water bottle can be a chore. My son and I both prefer a straw model that keeps beverages at the correct temperature for extended periods of time.

This bottle has a straw, is triple-wall insulated, and has a strap with fidget pops on the exterior to give more physical input than just the beverage.

Knowing about stims is important when considering autistic gifts for kids. Stims are movements or gestures — like bouncing, hand flapping, lip biting, et cetera, that autistic people do to calm themselves. Rocking happens to be among the most common.

This rocking board leans into that (because there's nothing wrong with stimming, though you may have heard otherwise), and gives kids the ability to settle into that calm in a bigger way.

Papasans are popular in the autistic community for their hug-like feel. This one can be raised or lowered, and also has a rocking feature, making it possibly the greatest computer or desk seat for autistic people out there right now. It comes in several colors with machine-washable fabrics.

Too much sound can be overwhelming for many autistic kids and adults. And it doesn’t have to be one thing — kids may love loud music but hate the sound of cars. Or, like me, they love white noise but loathe animal sounds. These noise-canceling headphones give kids a choice.

They’re high-quality Bluetooth headphones that aren’t too tight, and really block out sound. The sound quality of the headphones is also excellent. “No speaker crackles,” according to my son.

I have never seen a more perfect sweatshirt in all of my life, and I have one from the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games that I found in a dollar basket at the thrift store. It comes in sizes toddler through adult, and you better believe I just ordered two of these bad boys for me and my son.

There's nothing simpler than a gift card. That way, no matter what their current special interest is (mine is currently Victorian-era union efforts in coal mines — ask me about it), they can get something that they want within reason. It's not a cop out at all, I promise. My son and I both love a gift card.

How cool is this 3D puzzle? It's a map of the human skull with labeling and the information about each part of the skull. Learn about mandibles and ocular bones while figuring out the puzzle.

It's the kind of science-meets-game toy that speaks to a lot of kids on the spectrum.

Every pencil I had in school looked like it was attacked by animals. The ends of my hair didn't fare much better. Nowadays there are far better solutions, like this nontoxic and cute chewing necklace. Made of silicone, this necklace can be mouthed, sanitized at night, and mouthed again.

Robes are great for kids with autism because there are no buttons or weird closures. The robes must be cotton and absorbent for most of us, and they must be washed a few times before they're worn to soften them up and get rid of the new-clothes stench.

Fleece robes are popular for kids, but if they even get slightly damp they feel like covering your entire body in a wet sock if you have sensory challenges.

Coding games are intriguing all on their own, but if you have a kid into computers and numbers? Nirvana.

Switcheroo Coding Crew is part game, part coding practice, part car toy. Screen-free coding lets kids power their cars along the tracks, finishing challenges and coding rescue missions. It's structured play that feeds the mind.

Wobble cushions with texture give kids sensory input and vestibular input by allowing them to bounce and rock while seated. This can go a long way to keeping focused on tasks like schoolwork. Letting kids stim while working increases their ability to get what they need to get done, done.

A general lack of a typical circadian rhythm is pretty common for autistic kids, and there's not been a lot of help in that area.

Many sleep soothers are too much sensory input for autistic kids and adults. This projector is designed to have just the right amount of sound and light, with a wave projector and soothing music to help kids get to sleep and stay asleep.

Bicycles and other ride-on toys can be challenging for some autistic kids. They're too high, or too tricky to maneuver. (I'm in my 30s, and I still hate them.) The Gonge floor surfer keeps kids close to the ground and completely in-charge of their locomotion. The low center of gravity is soothing, but the zooming around is fun.

Remember that circadian rhythm thing? Falling asleep isn't the only problem — waking up can be challenging as well for autistic kids. This alarm clock gradually lights up, eventually mimicking the sun. Kids get that extra bit of alert that their body needs to tell them to wake up, and start their day.

The level of satisfaction you get from this fidget toy is out of this world. It's a completely silent fidget roller toy made with smaller hands in mind. It's designed in a way as to not distract in classrooms or similar settings, but still feeds the brain the sensory input needed to focus.