Holiday shopping for kids and teens with unique learning needs can be a challenge. Family and friends may want to find the perfect gift but don’t always know how to shop for it. That’s why we’ve put together a list of this year’s best-rated gifts and stocking stuffers for learners with unique needs.
#1 Gift Idea: Ask your learner!
Although it’s easy to go online and find resources and shopping guides like the one below, the best place to start when shopping for a child or student with unique learning needs is to ask them. If your learner struggles with generating wish lists, take them shopping and watch what sparks their interest.
Electronics
Apple Air Tag
Is your teen constantly leaving things behind? Find yourself digging through the lost and found too many times to count? Apple AirTags help keep track of and easily find the items using the “Find My” app technology. Track things down within 1 meter, and if an item gets lost, you can mark it as missing to allow other Apple users to help locate it.
Rocketbook Fusion Reusable Notebook
Every time I show my Rocketbook Fusion off to a friend or client, their reaction is pretty much the same — “how cool is that?” The 42-page notebook is fully reusable with any Pilot Fixion pen or highlighter. Just give it 15 seconds to dry, and then the wipe-and-go pages are ready to be used again. Plus, with the Rocketbook app, you can quickly launch your notes into email, text messages, or popular Cloud-based storage like DropBox or Google Drive. It’s a great way to help your learner stay organized, keep track of notes and important reminders without having tons of loose papers and reminders everywhere.
Fitbit Charge 5
Although there are hundreds of options for wearable tech and fitness monitoring devices on the market, we keep coming back to the Fitbit Charge series. It offers some of the best features (sleep monitoring, stress management technology, on-the-wrist mindfulness exercises) for learners with unique needs without a hefty price tag. Built-in GPS monitoring can also help parents feel comfortable with learners who may struggle with wandering. Hundreds of different customizations and style options also make it easy to adapt to your own learner’s preferences.
Echo Glow Smart Lamp
Part smart device. Part soft-glow lamp. Part visual timer. The Echo Glow works with any Alexa-enabled device to provide easy-to-use, customizable lighting that’s voice-enabled. Help your learner with routines using the countdown timer and soft wake-up glow or create a color-filled lighting show for your family’s next dance party.
Content Creator Kit
Does your child have fun sharing videos on YouTube and TikTok? Dream of being the next YouTube sensation? Help them up their content creation game with a content creator kit, including a smartphone tripod, green screen, and lighting tools.
iTunes or Google Play Gift Cards
If you’ve already purchased a tablet or smartphone for your child in a previous holiday season, consider a gift card to help them buy new apps, games, videos, or music for the device. Sometimes parents opt to get the latest and greatest device when, really, some new content is enough to refresh for another year.
Toys and Games
Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty
Stocking stuffers for all ages, these mini tins of thinking putty come in tons of colors, scents, and themes. Stretch it, bounce it, pop it, tear it, and sculpt it whenever your learner needs a break or an alternative to a fidget. Plus, Crazy Aaron’s putty is manufactured with the help of vocational learning centers in the Philadelphia area, providing individuals with unique learning needs and intellectual disabilities with a safe and meaningful workforce experience.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
We love party games that can be learned in under a minute and are a good fit for all types of learners. Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza is a simple party game where players flip over cards, in turn, saying the words “Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza.” When the flipped card matches the spoken word, that’s where the fun begins! Great for kids eight years and up.
DIY Fidget Kit
In 2017, FidgetLand Founder and CEO, Jason Burns appeared on Shark Tank, promoting a new style and brand of fidgets for adults and teens with autism and ADHD. Learning more about how fidgets helped his own focus and stress, Burns created a DIY Fidget Kit with easy-to-assemble components allowing learners to develop their very own fidgets.
Lego World Map
While we think Legos are a good choice for every holiday, it’s hard to go wrong with some of the new innovative sets Lego is creating for teen and adult builders. This 11,000+ piece World Map kit provides hours of creative engagement and comes together in a pretty decent piece of art. Some of our other Lego favorites this year: Adidas Originals and Ideas Typewriter.
Around the House
Extra Large Bean Bag Cocoon
Who says bean bag chairs are just for little kids? Instead, create a space for your teen or young adult to chill out and relax in style.
Adjustable Foot Hammock
Does your child still struggle with fidgety feet while doing homework or distance learning? An adjustable foot hammock that fits under your learner’s desk may help with fatigue, restless feet, and focus during long academic tasks.
This Works Deep Sleep Lotion
For kids that struggle with falling and staying asleep, the award-winning team at This Works has created an extra-calming, extra-soothing sleep lotion that also makes the perfect stocking stuffer. The reviewers who find the lavender and chamomile formula helpful swear that it’s the best way to get a good night’s sleep. Also, check out their pillow spray and bath soak.
Long Distance Friendship Lamp
Help your child feel connected to a long-distance friend, grandparent, or parent who travels for work. Touch the wi-fi-enabled device in your home, and it will illuminate the paired lamp anywhere else in the world. Add additional lights to have a group illumination and stay connected to loved ones wherever they are.
Educational
The Real-Life Executive Functioning Workbook
A must-have tool for parents & educators! Written by Chris Hanson & Amy Sippl of Life Skills Advocate, the Real-Life Executive Functioning Workbook (coupon code LSA20 for 20% off at checkout) helps you target and address the specific REAL-WORLD executive functioning challenges at their CORE that are getting in the way of your learners’ confidence, capacity to acquire new life skills, motivation, relationships, academic performance, and overall quality of life.
The Neurodivergent-Friendly Cookbook
Discover the joy of cooking with The Neurodivergent-Friendly Cookbook, a unique culinary guide designed specifically for neurodivergent individuals. This cookbook simplifies the cooking process, offering easy-to-follow recipes, sensory-friendly cooking tips, and strategies to navigate the kitchen confidently. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cook, this book is an essential tool to foster independence, build culinary skills, and enjoy the process of creating delicious meals. Perfect for anyone who finds traditional cookbooks overwhelming, The Neurodivergent-Friendly Cookbook makes cooking accessible, enjoyable, and tailored to diverse learning needs.
The DBT Skills Workbook for Teens
Help your teen manage the holiday stressors and start the New Year off on a positive note with the DBT Skills Workbook for Teens. The exercises in this Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) workbook have been shown to help teens cope with anxiety, stress and navigate social relationships.
CBT 123
Challenge your young teen to engage with thoughts, feelings, and emotions in this fun-to-play card game. Built on the principles of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), learners select cards and create silly scenarios to describe emotions and feelings in different social situations. If card games are your teen’s ticket, we also love The Mindfulness Game, and You Know.
Habit Tracker
Help your learner start the new year with fresh habits using this spiral-bound notebook to select routines to improve and then log results. The colorful wheel design becomes a visual reminder to your learner of goal-setting and turning a new behavior into a daily habit.
Looking for More Educational Gift Ideas?
Rather spend money on something likely to help your teen or young adult learn something new or achieve more at school? Then, check out our Ultimate Executive Functioning School Supply List, a shopping guide dedicated to the best tools for planning, organization, time management, and other executive functioning skills.