Gift Guide: Educational Toys That Make Great Presents for Kids with ADHD

If your child with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) gets frustrated trying to follow complex instructions, she can’t go wrong with Interlox (#CommissionsEarned), an easy, fun, and educational building system for kids of all ages. The simple square pieces can clip together in hundreds of different combinations, so your child can let her imagination run free building robots, planes, houses, and more. A good gift for kids of many ages.

Children with sensory integration issues will love this kinetic sand (#CommissionsEarned) that lets them make whatever they want — without tough cleanup! The sand sticks to itself, so children can use their imaginations to build castles, sculptures, or anything they can dream up. Plus, the soft, squishy texture is a great form of stress relief — when your child is overwhelmed or overstimulated during the holiday season, he can turn to Kinetic Sand to calm himself down.

The Perplexus Rookie (#CommissionsEarned) teaches preschool and kindergarten children how to plan ahead, and how their actions affect the world around them — both great skills for burgeoning ADHD minds!

[Free Download: The Ultimate Gift Guide for Kids with ADHD]

Does your kid struggle to keep still — during class, long car rides, or while watching TV? This fun fidget — developed by hand therapists — will keep his hands occupied during slow times, so his brain can stay focused on what matters. Plus, it improves finger dexterity and exercises joints, keeping your child’s hands flexible and strong.

Some parents (like Kay Marner, an ADDitude blogger) have had luck using a weighted blanket to calm down their kids with ADHD, but blankets can’t go everywhere your kid goes. Instead, try this stylish weighted fleece vest (#CommissionsEarned) — your child can get the reassuring “hug” feeling whenever they need it, without drawing attention to themselves.

For the hyperactive, high-energy child with ADHD, this scooter board (#CommissionsEarned) is great way to burn off excess energy — even when they’re cooped up indoors. Kids can race each other, pull each other around, or just scoot to their heart’s content (without scratching your floor!)

Tweens and early teens will love this fun series — and the accompanying movies! — that follow an ordinary kid with ADHD and dyslexia as he discovers he’s the son of a Greek god. Check out all the books in paperback here (#CommissionsEarned) here.

[Gift Guide: ADHD-Friendly Presents to Build Your Child’s Brain]

If your child with ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder struggles with social skills, this fun game (#CommissionsEarned) is a pressure-free way to teach them key facial expressions and nonverbal cues. The game is easy to learn, especially for younger children, and the funny faces will keep any child laughing for years to come.

If your child struggles with writing assignments — planning out the story or properly stringing together the beginning, middle, and end — Rory’s Story Cubes (#CommissionsEarned) will help them learn these skills in a no-pressure fun environment. Simply roll the dice to help kids with ADHD or LD work on their creativity or written expression.

If video games are your kid’s cup of tea, it can’t hurt to sneak some educational value in them! Minecraft is a fun game that incorporates planning skills and time management — both important skills to develop in ADHD brains!  Check out ways you can incorporate those skills inside and outside the game here.

Teach your kids responsibility with this fun and visually appealing chart (#CommissionsEarned) from Melissa & Doug that comes with plenty of responsibilities for your kids to master. Some are standard chores like making the bed, but others — like keeping hands to yourself or remembering to say please and thank you — will help impulsive kids with ADHD keep themselves under control (and feel good doing so!)

If your hypersensitive kid freaks out at the thought of getting tickled by tags, try getting her a few of these comfortable tagless t-shirts. CustomInk lets you design the shirt however you want, so you can make it perfectly match your child’s unique flair by featuring her own artwork!

If Monopoly puts your child to sleep, try Hisss (#CommissionsEarned) instead. Kids with short attention spans will love the fast pace, and young children will get a kick out of the bright colors and goofy snakes. Plus, as an added bonus, the game helps teach spatial reasoning and logic skills, to keep your child’s ADD brain working during the holiday season.

Your child with ADHD loves their toys — but you don’t love the mess they make while playing with them. The ZipBin (#CommissionsEarned) is a foldout playmat that folds up into a convenient box to hold all the toys once your child is done playing. If your child struggles with organization or cleaning up after herself, the ZipBin is a dream come true — a fun toy and a smart organization system, all in one!

This classic book series (#CommissionsEarned) teaches kids ages 10 and up that ADHD isn’t anything to be ashamed of — and that kids just like them can be the heroes of their own stories. Your child will laugh at Joey’s crazy antics, but will also find solace in seeing a likeable protagonist struggle with impulse control, paying attention, and social skills.

Are other children terrified to loan pencils to your child, knowing they’ll come back with the erasers chewed to smithereens? Try getting your child a few sets of these Chew Stixx pencil toppers (#CommissionsEarned), which come in fun shapes and colors and fit any number 2 pencil. Your child will spice up his pencil collection, reduce anxiety, and find it easier to pay attention — without ruining pencils.

Help your child develop her balance and fine motor skills with this fun game for young elementary school kids. Roll the dice, strike a pose, and see how long you can hold it! Sturdy Birdy encourages patience in impulsive kids with ADHD, and can also help children on the autism spectrum improve coordination — all in one fun-filled, fast-paced game!

NOTE: Please note that all names, models, prices, links, and specifications were accurate and items were in stock at the time of this article's last update on November 15, 2022.

#CommissionsEarned As an Amazon Associate, ADDitude earns a commission from qualifying purchases made by ADDitude readers on the affiliate links we share. However, all products linked in the ADDitude Store have been independently selected by our editors and/or recommended by our readers. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication