It’s the holiday season and everyone is out shopping for family! If you’re looking for age appropriate toys for children with Autism, then check out this age-by-age list:
0-18 months
Goals of Play:
- Manipulate and explore a variety of toys
- Show variation in play
- Demonstrate generalization by playing with toys in a variety of environments
- Engage in movement play (gross motor play)
- Cause-and-effect play
Toy Ideas:
- Blocks (Duplo blocks or Large Lego)
- Cause and Effect Toys
- Car Ramps
- Pop-up Toys
- Push-and-Pull Toys
- Simple puzzles (individual/non-adjoining pieces)
18-30 months
Goals of Play:
- Toys with multiple parts (learning to look for pieces and assemble)
- Using toys for their actual functions (i.e building blocks rather than just dumping them out of a container)
- Play with everyday items in creative ways (i.e. pretends a marker is a magic wand)
- Gross motor play on play structures/playground equipment
Toy Ideas:
- Doll houses/dolls (i.e. Little People sets)
- Tea party set
- Pretend Food
- Smaller blocks/Lego/K’nex blocks
- Potato Head
- Train set
- More complicated puzzles (such as those with adjoining pieces)
30-48 months
Goals of Play:
- Spontaneous engagement in pretend or imaginary play
- Arts and Crafts activities
- Drawing and writing in pre-academic activity books
- Social play becomes a focus
Toy Ideas:
- Dress up clothes
- Play Kitchen
- Board games or other games that encourage turn-taking
- Arts and Crafts materials- paint, markers, glitter, glue, dot markers
- Pre-academic workbooks (can be found online or in a variety of bookstores)
Resources:
Sundberg, M. L. (2008) Verbal behavior milestones assessment and placement program: The VB-MAPP. Concord, CA: AVB Press.
