Can you smell those chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Can you hear Michael Bublé warming up his vocal cords? Can you see the signs that any moment a rotund chimney diver is about to visit our homes and invade all our social bubbles? Yes, Christmas is here and, while this year might have a few more silent nights than before, this doesn’t change the fact that it’s time to ding dong merrily on high.
But what’s this? You thought that due to lockdown regulations, this year’s gifts would go ungifted? My gosh, now that would be one broken routine too far (and that’s not just for autistic people). So how do we quickly turn this sleigh around and get the perfect autism-friendly presents for isolating elves, safeguarding snowmen or vulnerable reindeers? Well, while usually the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear, this week a top 10 list of autistic lockdown gift ideas should more than suffice…
…And, if you don’t find what you’re looking for in these 10 gifts, why not check out my other 0% naughty, 100% nice, Christmas lists, including:
- 8 Awesome Autism Gift Ideas for Christmas
- 10 Gifts for Autistic Children, Teenagers and Adults
- 20 Autism Gifts for LESS than £20
1. Sensory Room/Nugget Furniture
Indoor living isn’t ideal for everyone, yet for the foreseeable future, we don’t have much of a choice. For autistic people who are already burntout from the constant captivity, this can be overwhelming at the best of times, which is why a safe sensory space to recharge our batteries is an excellent idea for X-Mas.
Needless to say, this isn’t as simple as wishing one into existence, so check out this full post if you’re looking to build one from the ground up. However, for those with limited time (or fairly robust capital) why not check out Nugget; a furniture company which designs sofas and settees that can be configured to look good, whether they’re playing the role of a space station, a medieval castle or an object to sit on (if you can imagine such a thing!).
2. Disney+/HBO Max
Christmas is a time to revisit the classics (and being isolated is a fairly good reason too). For this reason, a subscription to Disney’s streaming service is a universally welcomed gift this year and, with the release of Star Wars The Mandalorian, a whole upcoming slew of Marvel shows and, of course, the exclusive rights to Hamilton The Musical, there really is no better time to do so than now.
With that said, if you are a resident of the USA, then that’s a completely different story as, this Christmas day, HBOMax (another streaming service) will be releasing the hotly anticipated Wonder Woman 84. So, if you feel like you have been waiting longer than Steve Trevor to see Diana’s return, then maybe this option can tempt you from the House of Mouse.
3. A Modern Take On Chess
Did you know that chess sales are up a whopping 215% this year? While this is almost certainly due to the fantastic Queen’s Gambit on Netflix, I like to also believe it’s because people are finally starting to realise the benefits the game promotes i.e. increased perspective, elevated planning and self-confidence.
As such, why not jump on the bandwagon this year by wrapping up the gift of growth? After all, these are all skills which wouldn’t go amiss in our community and, with incredible sets on offer like the Square Off boards (which allows players to physically compete around the world), this ancient game additionally offers an intimate experience for those who may currently be apart.
4. Letterbox Flowers
I could start this gift idea by explaining how much autistic people love nature. I could demonstrate how TV presenter Chris Packham or advocate Dara McNaughtly are great examples of this. But, in truth, sometimes it’s just nice to receive flowers and, when most of us are currently locked away from the outdoors, wouldn’t it be great if the outdoors could come to us?
This is exactly why letterbox flowers from companies like Bloom & Wild, make an ideal gift this Christmas – as the bouquets (which you have no doubt already seen making the rounds on social media) offer incredible beauty straight to your doorstep. Need I say more?
5. Artful Subscription Box
Remember when lockdown first began and people thought it would be an excellent opportunity to pick up a new skill? Yeah, well it turns out that our minds don’t work so well when they are preoccupied with a pandemic, but they do still need to be stimulated to release the strain that comes with a global shutdown.
It’s perhaps because of this that art focused subscription boxes, like those from Artful, have become extremely popular over the recent months where, in place of developing and enhancing one’s mind, they bring peace and calm when it is needed most. This is perfect for autistic people who may be more anxious than most right now and who have previously shown a real knack for the art of imagery.
6. MindWare: Dig It Up Dinosaur Eggs
Listen, I know it’s cliché to assume that all autistic people love dinosaurs (I mean, I literally wrote the blog on it). However, given that my jaw dropped to the floor when I saw this next idea, it’s hard not to ignore my pre-judgements and thoroughly recommend the Mindware: Dig It Up Dinosaur Eggs.
But, ‘What are the MindWare Dig It Up Dinosaur Eggs?’ I hear you ask? Well, imagine being a dinosaur archaeologist, without any of the faff and all of the fun. That’s the experience on offer here, as this potential present presents 12 different prehistoric eggs straight to your living room (with additional excavating tools and fun fact cards to inform you of what you’re about to unearth).
7. Interactive Green Glow Tshirt
Some items on this list need no introduction and some items on the list you will already be aware of. This interactive glow in the dark t-shirt, on the other hand, is probably something you won’t have seen before – and oh how it makes you ponder how you ever went without.
This is exactly the way I felt (at least, until I received the gut punch that it’s only stocked in children’s sizes). However, for those who don’t remember a time when the internet could be ruined by a single phone call, this aged 4-14 top is a sensory salvation; featuring an easily rewriteable glow in the dark graphic and secondary USB charging option, to let your drawings shine out.
8. Any of the Incredible 2020 Autism Books
There were many incredible autism books released this year and, while you don’t have to be autistic yourself to appreciate a well-realised character, isn’t it great when you find a bit of yourself reflected in something you love?
This is certainly what you can expect if you’re on the spectrum and pick up any of the titles featured above as, whether it’s revisiting an old friend with this revision of All Cats are on the Autism Spectrum, or you are looking for something a bit more mature, with the introspective A Room Called Earth, 2020 had something for everyone (and that’s without even mentioning the fantastic coming of age that is A Kind of Spark or the saviour that is the Spectrum Girls Survival Guide).
9. Build Your Own Lie Detector
We all know that autistic people love to tell the truth, so why not help them find it, with this build your own lie detector test? Featuring a fun (albeit complicated) creation process, the kit is a great activity to release that inner builder and, once completed, it can provide all the entertainment one needs when uncovering the mystery of who ate the last cookie?
With that said though, this is one item which I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to add today – as many of the reviews for this product complain that the toy almost always labels everything a lie. For this reason, it’s probably best to give it a miss if a lying lie detector causes distress but, for everyone else, I think it’s well worth a shot (and that’s the truth!)
10. A Reminder We’re Not Alone
When all is said and done, our community will probably look back at 2020 and view it as one of the most challenging years we have had to date. However, few have had it so hard as those who have had to self-isolate due to conditions which have put them more at risk during the pandemic. That’s why, for my final recommendation today, I encourage everyone to remind their loved ones that you are there for them and that they are not alone.
Ideal ways that this can be achieved include giving a trinket which will remind them of an inside joke or even something as simple as a framed picture. However, I personally love this ‘I wish you lived closer’ mug, which, my Gosh, just hits you right in the feelings… Merry Christmas.
Carry on the Conversaton
What’s on your list to Santa? Let me know in the comments below. And, if you want more awesome autism book recommendations, then why not check out this list of the top neurodivergent reads from 2019?
As always, I can also be found on Twitter @AutismRevised, on Instagram @autisticandunapologetic and via my email: AutisticandUnapologetic@gmail.com.
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Thank you for reading and I will see you next week for more thoughts from across the spectrum.
