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Shopping with Autism or Behavioural Problems

Last updated: 4th July 2018

Shopping with or for a kid with additional needs can sometimes be traumatic. Whether you’re dealing with a full-on tantrum in the middle of the supermarket, or trying to get a wheelchair round a cute little craft shop, or finding clothes that meet your child’s very specific requirements, an activity that should be fun can quickly become a nightmare. There are lots of things you can (and should!) do to make your life a little easier.

Check out our accessibility information – here you’ll find out how to check in advance if you can get a wheelchair around the places you want to go to.
Shop online. You can buy just about anything you need from the comfort of your home. This means that shopping trips can instead become opportunities to enjoy time with your child, to develop their social, maths or literacy skills. When you’re shopping online, you have some specific rights to protect you.

The National Autistic Society has some great advice about shopping strategies.

Top 10 gifts for kids with autism

Last updated: 22nd December 2021

Top 10 Toys to help kids with autism learn and play

From the four corners of the internet, Sky Badger has hunted out these fabulous gems just for you. So if you have a child with autism and you're looking to find gadgets and cool stuff to help them at school or play, then you've come to the right place!

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1. STRETCHY APPLE & WORMS

STRETCHY APPLE & WORMS

10/10

A must have. What a fun fiddle thing! Excellent to pop in your bag when you need to relieve your child's stress or anxiety levels.

£5.75

2. My Communication Keyring

communicaiton keyring, communication, asd, als,

8/10

A really useful way to help communication. 23 laminated symbols that can be attached to clothing or a bag with a really useful stretchy chain, all symbols are interchangeable and can be replaced.

£4.75

3. Boing Pro

8/10

Rubbery light-filled ball, every time it's squeezed it changes colour. A very groovy fiddle thing indeed!

£12.99

4. Sensory LED Light up Drawing/writing Board

Sensory LED Light up Drawing/writing Board

9/10

This is an exceptional drawing board. A serious bit of sensory kit. A little on the big present side of things but a great investment.

Colour changing/flashing and static light settings all at the press of the remote control. Accessories included: Pack of 8 pens, Cleaning Cloth, Hanging chain, Remote control and Power cable.

£45.97

5. Fidget Pencils

Fidget Pencil

9/10

Some ideas you wish you'd thought of first...this is one of them! These colourful pencils come with four different tops, such as a nut and bolt, and are great at occupying busy fingers and allow our kids to focus their minds.

£9.50

6. 1000 Glow In The Dark Stars

1000 Glow In The Dark Stars

9/10

Magical.1000 glow in the dark star and cosmic shape stickers. These will cover any room with indiscreet glowing stars that when exposed to light for a few minutes will glow for up to an hour. These stars make falling asleep a glorious time to fill up those perfect bed time memories for you and your little one.

£4.99

7. Large Puffer "Furb" Ball

Large Puffer "Furb" Ball

9/10

This cool balloon thingy has lovely bright colours and a soft rubber feel, making it an excellent toy for kids to fiddle with and it stimulates their senses.

£7.95

8. Worry Eater Flamm

Worry Eater Flamm

8/10

This exceedingly groovy plush characters are more than toys. They are ideal for helping our little ones articulate specific anxieties and ask for help to overcome them. Children can write down or draw a specific fear or worry on a piece of paper, place it in one of these furry little characters and zip up the mouth. Lots of different 'monsters' are available in loads of different sizes...from 5' to keyring size!

£19.98

9. Glow Disco Duck

Glow Disco Duck

8/10

This very well might take the edge ff stressful bath times. No ordinary bath toy, float Disco Duck in your bath water and watch him burst into life! This quirky rubber ducks looks are deceiving as once he comes into contact with water, Disco Duck glows from within with a fabulous colour changing light show. Colours phase gently into one another before moving into a funky flash disco mode before returning back to its more relaxing mode. Also he glows in the dark so don't get a shock!

£5.95

10. Jointed Monster

Jointed Monster

9/10

And finally..These wooden monsters have movable heads and feet and are chunky to fidget with...what fun!

Size: 55mm x 30mm x 120mm high

£10.25

Browse loads of other sensory toy suppliers here...

Use our directory to find lots of companies who supply sensory toys and kit.

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Sky Badger can also help you with...

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Education

Find extra help at school, information about Education, Health, Care Plans (EHCP), apps & programmes, tech and IT for supporting learning and sensory activities.

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Useful technology & kit

Find sensory toys, useful technology, trikes and bikes, wheelchairs & mobility.

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Finances

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Legal stuff

Find out about disability rights, educational and medical law and how to find a specialist advocate or lawyer.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Medical stuff

Find information about your child's medical condition, medicines that they take and mental health support.

Not sure where to turn?

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Contact our helpdesk

Do you need specific help for your disabled or special needs child? Click here to tell us more about what you're looking for and our helpdesk team will do their very best to find you what you need. All of our advice is confidential and we will not share your details or personal information with anyone.

Contact the helpdesk

Top 10 Chew Toys for Kids

Last updated: 13th October 2018

10 of the coolest and chewiest chew toys

For lots of kids especially those with autism and other disabilities, chewing can be incredibly calming and self soothing. So if you have a child with autism, or special needs who loves to chew then you've come to the right place!

silly sentences

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1. Chewigem Starter Kit – Glow in the Dark

1. Chewigem Starter Kit – Glow – Glow in the Dark (child sized bangle)

9/10

An excellent starter kit by Chewigem. You can also get it in rainbow colours but we love the glow in the dark set. This one includes a button pendant, a child tread bangle, a hexichew and some top tips in their ‘Chewing diary’ booklet. This is a must have. Separately this box's contents would cost about £40 so you can't beat it for value for money either!

£24.99

2. Brick Stick

Brick Stick

8/10

An excellently stylish chew toy. The green one is a fairly tough chew and the purple version is a softer chew.

£21.25

3. A 'Super' Chew

autism chewing

8/10

For the chew focussed superfan. This red chew also comes with a breakaway clasp to the neck cord for safety.

£9.97

4. Berries

Berries

9/10

Very chunky chewy beads 28mm in diameter in some funky colours. Each bead is covered in nubs for an extra yummy sensation. Ideal for fidgets and sensory seekers. They feel nice and heavy and will handle the most serious of chewers.

£15.95

5. Chewigem Tread Bangles

1. Chewigem Tread Bangles

7/10

Chewigem Tread Bangles come in a wide range of fashionable styles and textures. They're suitable for children aged 3-14. Suitable for moderate to aggressive chewers. With a different bangle to match every outfit...what are you waiting for?

£8.99

6. eBoot 5 Pieces Silicone Chewable Pencil Toppers

eBoot 5 Pieces Silicone Chewable Pencil Toppers

9/10

A handy way to take your child's chew toys into school by smuggling them in on the top of pencils. These chew toys come in a range of colours and can be used with or without pencils (obviously!) They come as a set of 5 and may help your child's sensory processing, increase their focus, and improve their communication at home and at school.

£7.99

7. Chewbuddy Autism Chew Toy Blue

Chewbuddy Autism Chew Toy Blue

9/10

The excellently cute chewbuddy is a proper must have. The round "head" gives a bi-lateral biting surface with ridges for additional interest, the "legs" have raised dimples for sensory feedback. Even better, the entire toy is sketchy and bendy so makes a great all round sensory toy.

£7.49

8. Skull

skull

8/10

A fabulously groovy design to satisfy the coolest and discerning of chewers. One side has bumps for extra sensation. Suitable for mild to moderate chewers.

£13.45

9. P's & Q's Chewy Tube

P's & Q's Chewy Tube

9/10

A good all round chew to with a wide range of pointy bits to reach the back of the moth and loops to really get your teeth into. You can now chew you P's and Q's as well as minding them!

£14.35

10. ARK's Z-Vibe Chewy Animal Wand

ARK's Z-Vibe Chewy Animal Wand

10/10

This is our favourite chew toy. It has a smooth vibrating wand that provides gentle sensory feedback to the lips, gums, tongue, jaw and inside the cheek area.

The interchangeable chewy animal tops are very cute and can be used to practice biting, chewing and jaw grading and stability. Each top has a variety of shapes and textures for oral stimulation and sensory input. Available with either soft or firm tops. A fabulous chewy based addition to your child's chew box.

£55.14

Browse loads of other chewy and sensory toy suppliers here...

Use our directory to find lots of companies who supply sensory toys and kit.

home donate

Sky Badger can also help you with...

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Education

Find extra help at school, information about Education, Health, Care Plans (EHCP), apps & programmes, tech and IT for supporting learning and sensory activities.

disabled holidays uk

Holidays & Free time

Find holidays, sports, free cinema tickets, theatre, clubs, art, dance, music, days out, make a wish charities and more.

gwvmbgpp-pq-steinar-la-engeland

Useful technology & kit

Find sensory toys, useful technology, trikes and bikes, wheelchairs & mobility.

disabled grants

Finances

Find grants, governemnt benefits and help with your utility and council tax bills.

oqmzwnd3thu-helloquence

Legal stuff

Find out about disability rights, educational and medical law and how to find a specialist advocate or lawyer.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Medical stuff

Find information about your child's medical condition, medicines that they take and mental health support.

Not sure where to turn?

istock_000021104923large

Contact our helpdesk

Do you need specific help for your disabled or special needs child? Click here to tell us more about what you're looking for and our helpdesk team will do their very best to find you what you need. All of our advice is confidential and we will not share your details or personal information with anyone.

Contact the helpdesk

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