Parents of kids with Autism and other PDDs...personal experience?

Question

Hi,I am looking for some opinions of parents with kids that have PDDs.Based on personal experience what do you find are the best activities and/or toys for an autistic child aged 2 1/2 years old?
He is already in early intervention services and I know that every child is different but I am not looking for professional opinions,just a few things parents have done with their children that they have found to be successful for them.Thanks in advance!

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to answer my question.Every bit of information helps and it is comforting to know that you are not alone in dealing with tough situations like this.

Answer 1

My 4 yr old is autistic, I babysit a 2 yr old with either SID or autism, we're still trying to get that dx'd one way or the other, and my 2 yr old has mild sensory issues. From what I've learned with doing my own therapy with them, the best toys are going to be the ones that provide sensory input. Play-doh, fingerpainting, running hands through flour when they're stressed to calm them down, playing in a bucket of dried rice and beans for stimulation, painting in whipped cream or shaving cream. Also, the old fashioned toys like wooden puzzles with knobs, shape sorters, legos, things that will provide sensory input while working on fine motor skills and body awareness. I also do a lot of songs as they respond very well to music. We do things like Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, London Bridges, If you're happy and you know it, things like that that engages them in song while making them think and respond and the same time. I use a floortime type session every day in which we work on all of these things, and also use flash cards to work on speech and memory skills, and color using different mediums, ie. markers, crayons, etc., so they learn they have to use different pressure for different things. We do oral activities as well, playing follow the leader with our faces. I make a face and they copy, I make a sound they copy. We also put cheerios on a table and have them attempt to pick them up with their tongue. There are so many things you can do, that is therapy in disguise. Oh, and swings, slides, anything that works on motion. Basically, my philosophy is, if they're struggling with an issue, that's what we target. I don't let them stay in their comfort zone all the time. I give them their routines, but when it's time to work, we do it. Right now with the one I babysit I'm working on his vestibular issues, so I'm holding his hand as he walks on a balance beam, hold him in my arms and gently swing him around like an airplane, things like that. I could go on and on! If you want any more ideas, contact me. The more fun you make it, the more he'll be likely to engage in the activity, and you can literally turn anything in the house into a learning opportunity. They have made TREMENDOUS progress since starting to do all of these things, so I know it's working.

Answer 2

I don't have an autistic child, but i have 2 friends with autistic children, also my neighbor's son is autistic. My neighbors son, 3, and my friends daughter, 9, both love cars, trains, trucks, buses, etc. Anything with wheels. The other child, 5, loves to fast foward and rewind video tapes. He can do this all day if you would let him. I think it all depends on the child. You should take him to a store 1st thing in the morning so not too many people are around and let him explore the toys and find which one he likes.

Answer 3

My five year old has Asperger's, and his absolute favorite thing in the world is Thomas the Train. He got his first set when he was 21/2. Anything Thomas he loves. There has been research done on the trains because autistic children seem to love them. Researchers say that the trains help with development of autistic children because each train has a face, and his/her face compliments his/her personality. For example, a train with an angry face may be moody, etc. So not only are they really fun, they help with perception of emotions. We love them!

Answer 4

Hi, I had two children with autism. One low-functioning the other higher. One now off spectrum, other almost off. I got rid of most of my electronic toys. I spent hours on the floor trying to get them to play with anything from blocks to the ball pounder. We also spent a great deal of time outside. I found that playing active games often got the eye contact I was seeking.

To be honest, nothing really helped that much until we put them on the GFCF diet. We had a year of 30+ hour a week intervention with little progress before the diet.

Hope that helps.

Answer 5

do no longer hassle, Sunny. that's debatable. appropriate now, you, and mothers such as you, are the canaries interior the mine shaft. @OP: on an identical time as I do easily think of that this toddler is appearing out trauma (self-injury is exceptionally tell tale), that doesn't get rid of the opportunity of mercury poisoning. little ones in care oftentimes acquire each and every available vaccine, besides as larger exposure to different steel-containing components that may do neurological injury. check out the hyperlinks that Sunny gave you, and please, look deeper than what those professionals inform you. i'm no longer announcing forget approximately them. yet please, the place this youngster's long term well being is worried, be no longer afraid to inspect each and every thing. I have no clue what the guidelines are in Virginia. yet the place I stay, maximum determination remedies are no longer a danger till an adoption is finalized, because of the fact purely then do you have finished scientific authority. preserve this little person with youngster gloves is all i can declare. undesirable little guy looks like he's lived an entire life already. :-( Sigh. ETA: I 2d Lisa's answer.

Answer 6

I am not a parent, but a very active aunt of a low funtioning autistic child. My nephew always has loved music. My sister did some reading and took the advice of some friends, went and bought him classical musical and he loves it. We also went and bought him a keyboard, he pounds on it, but he loves it.

Answer 7

i have a grandson with autism, he is 2years2months that i care for every day.he loves to watch dvds , he loves to play with airplanes, and trucks. ones that make some sort of noise.he also loved to swing. if you havce a place in your home that you could hang a swing, since it will be cold out soon. you could get one at walmart for about 15.00 dollars, its a child swing and you could hang it in the basement or laundry room , up on the rafters. also a small tampoline, which is really a round jumping exercise item for adults.