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Back to School: Autism Edition
25
items Back to school can already be stressful, but having the right items can make your child's life a bit easier. Here are our tried and favorite items for back to school.
Sections
3
The Right Fit
Fun Lunches Made Easy
Backpack & Supplies
The Right Fit
The right fit matters for an autistic child. A label or the seams of the socks can lead to a melt-down. We've gone down that road and these are our top picks!
Great uniform shirt that is tag-less and a breathable cotton blend. Best of all, it has a place to write his/her name.
Short Sleeve Pique Polo - School Uniforms
Adjustable jeans that last! Absolutely our favorite! Also tag-less!
The Children's Place / Boys' Jeans / Boys' Clothing
Adjustable and stretch boys' shorts!
French Toast / Boys' Shorts
Seamless socks are the way to go! If you haven't tried them, they are very nice and affordable.
Jefferies Socks Big Boys' Seamless-Toe Quarter Athletic
Hook and Loop /No laces dress shoes for uniform!
Hush Puppies Unisex-Child Gavin Dress Shoe
If your child can wear less formal shoes, these are it! They look great with uniforms and they are machine washable. Not to mention, hook and loop for easy on and off.
Sperry Unisex-Child Sea Ketch Jr Washable Boat Shoe
Fun Lunches Made Easy
Safe foods, specific cups, and displaying food in the correct order….I know these far too well with my own autistic son.
This $5 dollar lunch box is great! Microwave/ dishwasher safe. 3 nice size compartments. My only regret was not getting 2 more! Also, my son has been able open and close it easily.
Bento Box - Cat & Jack
I bought this on a whim because it looked so cool, but WOW! This snack dispenser is so good. It's helped my son with his hand/finger strength, opening and closing, and being excited and willing to try different snacks along with his favorite. True ga...
GoBe Kids Original Snack Spinner
Whichever size or configuration you decide to go with, these are hands down the best lunch boxes we've had. My son has been able to open and close with no issues and they have been easy for me to wash. Additionally, the compartments hold the food in ...
Bentgo Lunch Boxes
Uncrustables are one of my son's safe foods, but they add up. This is a great tool that allows us to make our own and we can experiment with different fillings.
Uncrustable Maker
Great cups with straws that are easy to clean! It's a win-win!
Zak Cups
My son will only drink milk out of these Munchkin cups. We have been using these for years now and now use them with our 1-year-old and they are still sturdy easy-to-clean cups.
Munchkin Sippy Cups
Another great option for a water cup. We add ice to it and it keeps the water cool throughout the entire day.
Thermos Kids Water Bottle
Perfect container that keeps food very warm! Pro-Tip: Add boiling water in container then pour it out before you add the warm food. Comes in different colors and designs!
THERMOS FUNTAINER 10 Ounce Stainless Steel
Backpack & Supplies
Every kid needs just about the same typical supplies, but we like to put our own spin on it to meet specific sensory needs.
These are not only fun, but if your child is a sensory seeker, they are great to fill their olfactory needs.
Crayola Silly Scents
They'll need a ruler to measure things and make straight lines, but if they find themselves a need to fidget, these are a great option. Just make sure the teacher is okay with it.
Sensory Pop it Ruler
My sister gave our boys these Disney tags (plenty of characters to choose from) for their backpacks and they have been so durable. Highly recommend, especially if you don't want one that is full of puzzle pieces alerting strangers of autism and makin...
Disney Backpack Tags
Notebooks to fidget with but also to take notes. :)
Sensory Spiral Notebooks
This is a great accommodation for a child that struggles to sit still. This band still allows them to fidget with their feet while keeping them seated.
Chair Bands
Another great option to accommodate the child that struggles to either sit still in the chair or on the floor for circle time.
Wobble Cushions
With some of our kiddos strength being limited, a sensory pencil grip or guide can be a great tool to get the child interested in writing.
Sensory Pencil Grips
Those with oral sensory seeking needs may benefit from chewelry especially when stress levels are high, these can provide a discrete way to get oral input.
Chewelry For Kids
Visuals are a great way for a child to stay focus. If you're teacher knows how to implement these correctly, this is a great tool that will minimize melt-downs.
Token Board
My child is non-verbal and giving him a “voice” has been the best thing possible. We are utilizing LAMP because of its robust vocabulary. I highly recommend you research AAC devices/apps if you have a non-verbal child. They are never too young to sta...
LAMP Words for Life®
I personally haven't utilized this AAC app, but have friends that have used this app with their kids and they also highly recommend it. With LAMP being on the higher end, this app at a one-time $50 fee sounds like a great deal and opportunity to give...
Dynavox