Showing posts with label Parenting Children with Special Needs Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parenting Children with Special Needs Series. Show all posts

January 15, 2019

Signs That Your Early Reader May Have Hyperlexia

How to know if your early reader is hyperlexic, including a definition for what hyperlexia is and what the signs of hyperlexia are.
When J first started reading just before he turned two, I was shocked. He couldn't honestly be reading, could he?

So I started spelling random words before him and he would read them back to me time and time again.

I remember thinking, wow, this kid is really something special. 

And he is, but as he grew older and other issues started appearing, I started seeing a gap between his amazing ability to read and his speech.

I searched and searched, to no avail. I simply could not figure out what was going on.

Did he have sensory processing disorder?

Did he have autism?

Was he just gifted and really sensitive?

Years later I would learn that J has hyperlexia and it was exactly what I was looking for in my original searches.

So what is hyperlexia and its signs? And how is it different from early reading?

Signs of hyperlexia - how to tell if your early reader is hyperlexic

Hyperlexia or Early Reader?

Hyperlexia is a precocious self-taught ability to read at an early age, usually before the age of five, accompanied by intense fascinations with letters and numbers, as well as significant difficulties in oral language. So a child with hyperlexia usually has speech problems and difficulties with comprehension.

In contrast, an early reader develops normally and are considered neurotypical with no issues with speech and/or comprehension. These kids can be classified as hyperlexia type I, as proposed by Dr. Treffert. Although not everyone agrees on this classification system.

Signs of Hyperlexia

Here are some of the signs of hyperlexia, above and beyond the self-taught ability to read at an early age:

1. Intense fascinations with letters, numbers, maps, and logos

These fascinations can almost be OCD-like in nature. Often these kids don't want to play with anything other than whatever they are fascinated with. You can read more about these intense fascinations here.

For instance, Kara shared in our hyperlexia support group that her son "began carrying a letter W magnet around with him everywhere around 18 months. It was his security item!" We had similar experiences as J would play and carry around letters everywhere he went. His security item was an English/Spanish ABC flashcards book that he carried everywhere (until it was beyond recognizable)!

2. Significant difficulties with verbal language

Kids with hyperlexia struggle with verbal language, both understanding it and speaking it themselves. Hyperlexic children struggle understanding "WH" questions and often appear to be selective listeners. They rarely initiate conversations, which was a huge telltale sign for us, and their speech is often echolalic in nature. They also struggle understanding abstract language and are literal thinkers. You can read more about the conversation skills of kids with hyperlexia here.

3. Develop normally, but regress around 18-24 months

Unfortunately for me, my memory is fuzzy around this time period because I was so pregnant with K at the time, but I do know that J's fascination with letters became evident around 19 months. I don't recall him really regressing, but after speaking with other families, they did notice a period of regression with their children during this time. For instance, Chelsey shared in our hyperlexia support group that her son "regressed at 18 months and lost all of his words, except for numbers, by 2 years of age."

4. Awkward social skills

Hyperlexic kids are awkward socially, which isn't surprising since most of these kids also receive an autism diagnosis alongside the hyperlexia label. J has always bonded better with adults instead of other kids and after discussions with other families, they have noticed a similar pattern with their kids. Their difficulties with verbal language likely contributes to the social skills difficulties, which I have definitely noticed with my son when he interacts with his classmates.

RELATED: WHAT IS HYPERLEXIA? THE THREE TYPES OF HYPERLEXIA & THEIR SIGNS

What to Do if You Suspect Your Child May Have Hyperlexia

If you think your child may have hyperlexia, then start by reading everything you can about hyperlexia and ask for a referral to a speech pathologist and/or psychologist. Here are some other helpful resources that you may be interested in:



This post is part of a monthly series called Parenting Children with Special Needs. This month's topic is recognizing signs and you can find the other posts regarding this topic below.

Seeing the Signs of Childhood Trauma | STEAM Powered Family

Signs of hyperlexia - how to tell if your early reader is hyperlexic
Continue reading "Signs That Your Early Reader May Have Hyperlexia"

July 26, 2017

2 Things Every Hyperlexia Parent Should Know

Are you a parent of a hyperlexic child? I share two pieces of advice that every parent of a child with hyperlexia should know.
I can still recall the rush of emotions I felt as I was handed one sheet of paper with the words autism, hyperlexia, and hypernumeracy on it. While relieved that we finally had some answers, I was even more perplexed because I didn't know what hyperlexia and hypernumeracy were.

It would be the first things I googled when I got home.

Then I stumbled upon picture after picture of children playing happily with their letter toys, spelling words that most kids wouldn't be able to spell until the age of ten or more.

Pictures that could easily have been of my own son.

Then tears streamed down my face because finally we knew what was going on with J and that was comforting to me.

Because for months (heck, make it years!), I read and compared different diagnostic labels and realized that none of them fit J quite right. He had characteristics of SPD and autism, but neither seemed like an accurate depiction of J's giftedness when it came to words and numbers. We now know he has diagnoses of all of these, so it makes sense why I was so utterly confused about where he fit, especially when coupled with the fact that I had never heard of hyperlexia prior to his assessment.

It still makes me mad that I never stumbled across the word hyperlexia during those early days of researching. I wonder how many other mothers or fathers are or have been in that same situation. It is part of the reason why I begin opening up about my son's hyperlexia in the first place.

I didn't want another mother or father to be stuck like we were. I wanted them to be able to easily find information on hyperlexia, even if they accidentally stumbled upon it via Instagram or a quick google search.

But like most parents with a fresh diagnosis, whether it is hyperlexia or autism, the next question is usually what now?

What is it I can do with this new knowledge to help my child?

Well, I quickly learned that there are two things that will make you a successful parent to a hyperlexic child. Two simple strategies that will work every single time with your child. Two ideas that you mustn't forget when it comes to helping your child.

Advice for parents of hyperlexic children from And Next Comes L

Best Advice for Hyperlexia Parents

If I could personally talk to every single parent after getting a hyperlexia diagnosis, then I would tell them the following two things.

1. Write it out

One of the first things I read about hyperlexia was this hyperlexia pamphlet. On it, it had the phrase, "when it doubt, write it out." And that is so so important to remember because, to the hyperlexic mind, if it isn't written down, it may not exist.

You need to take advantage of the fact that your child can read.

Make checklists, ask them questions by writing it down on a piece of paper, give them written cue cards to help with social situations, label the house with post-it notes...whatever method you choose, just write it down.

2. Use their obsessions or special interests

Most hyperlexic kids start out with an intense fascination with letters and words, but then move to different interests like planets, space, periodic table of elements, maps, or signs, just to name a few. I have noticed, many times, that some parents have been told, by professionals nonetheless, that they should try to discourage or redirect the child away from their obsessions.

That is just bad advice, in my opinion.

Unless that special interest is causing harm to the child, why discourage it?

How would I feel if someone had discouraged my love for music or Mary Higgins Clark books as a child?

It would feel as if someone was trying to fix me or change me.

And that is a horrible feeling isn't it?

In my experience, those special interests are the key to engaging and connecting with your child. 

It is the reason why I taught myself how to play Pokemon Trading Card Game when J first because interested in Pokemon. It is why he, and I in my purse or coat pocket, carried around multiple calculators everywhere we went. It is why I bought him books of challenging mazes and boxes after boxes of chalk. It is why I use math to connect with my son.

Use those intense interests to encourage life skills, such as potty training or getting dressed, and social skills because trust me, it will make everything easier for your child and you.

Other Ideas You'll Love

This post is part of a monthly series called Parenting Children with Special Needs. This month's topic is best advice and tips and you can find the other posts regarding this topic below.
Continue reading "2 Things Every Hyperlexia Parent Should Know"

June 23, 2017

50 Self-Care Activities You Can Do Together With Kids

A huge pst of self-care activities for moms to do together with their kids. Includes a free printable pst!

Self-care is something I really struggle with.

I find it difficult to put my needs ahead of others. 

See, I'm a giver and a carer.

So I hate acknowledging that I need help and therefore, never ask for it. Giving control over to someone else, when I know I can do it eventually, is hard for me. I guess in a way it feels like failing, even though I know I am not.

Perhaps I am too much of a perfectionist.

Or maybe it's the fact that I am usually just too darn tired to give myself the attention and care I require.

After all, raising kids is hard and exhausting. So I end up not having the energy to even consider my own needs.

However, I have been trying to be better at giving myself the self-care I need. It's important to do so. I am a much better person, and a much better parent, when I do. 

But finding time away to give myself the self-care I need is impossible. There's not too many people I trust to look after my kids for any length of time. That's why I'm focusing on finding self-care activities to do with my kids.

These activities are for you to do together with your kids to help both of you feel recharged because let's face it, most parents struggle to find time alone to do these things themselves. So why not include the kids!

By including them, I am helping them learn self-care skills themselves. I am helping them, and me, fill our coping skills toolbox and teaching them valuable self-regulation skills.

50 self-care activities you can do together with your kids from And Next Comes L

50 Self-Care Activities You Can Do With Kids

This list of ideas is designed to make you laugh, relax, breathe, and generally just have fun with your kids. They are activities that you can do together to make you both feel recharged. They will reset your day and help you and your child feel refreshed!

1. Have a dance party

2. Play a game (our current favorites are Ticket to Ride, Hogwarts Battle, and Dragonwood)

3. Unplug and read a book (we are currently reading through the Harry Potter books)

4. Exercise

5. Go for a bike ride

6. Go for a walk or a hike

7. Cuddle up and watch a movie

8. Paint your nails

9. Diffuse essential oils

10. Draw, paint, or craft

11. Journal

12. Write a collaborative story

13. Bake or cook a meal

14. Order take out or go out for supper

15. Drink warm beverages

16. Do some Mad libs

17. Just play!

18. Watch music videos on YouTube

19. Go swimming

20. Go to the library and pick out books

21. Tell jokes

22. Meditate

23. Do yoga

24. Blow bubbles

25. Garden

26. Go on a picnic

27. Swing at the park

28. Go out for ice cream

29. Give each other back or foot massages

30. Call or FaceTime with family or friends

31. Watch funny videos on YouTube

32. Listen to music

33. Take a nap

34. Learn something new (instrument, language, hobby, etc.)

35. Listen to an audiobook

36. Write poetry

37. Skip rocks on a pond

38. Make an inspiration collage

39. Go fishing

40. Go berry picking

41. Explore a new museum, park, or area of your town or city

42. Scrapbook

43. Take silly pictures together

44. Write things you like about yourself and your child on a list and have them to do the same

45. Plan a trip to somewhere you've never been before

46. Do a puzzle

47. Brush and/or braid each other's hair

48. Lay in a hammock and cuddle, read a book, and/or talk

49. Build a fort and play a game or read a book inside it

50. Go to a pet store and watch the fish swim around

Download the Free Printable Cheat Sheet

To get a copy of the printable cheat sheet, cpck the pnk below:

>> Click here to download the free printable

Other Ideas You'll Love

This post is part of a monthly series called Parenting Children with Special Needs. This month's topic is self-care and you can find the other posts regarding this topic below.

7 Practical Self Care Activities for Stressed Out Special Needs Parents | My Home Truths

Self-Care for Foster and Adoptive Famipes | The Chaos and The Clutter 

What Happens When You Ignore Self Care | This Outnumbered Mama

Why You Should Keep a Journal as a Part of Your Self Care Routine | Kori at Home

Continue reading "50 Self-Care Activities You Can Do Together With Kids"

May 24, 2017

How to Teach Kids the Social Skill of Think it or Say it?

Tips on how to teach social skills to your kids so they'll know when to think it and when to say it.
One of my favorite things about my son J is his brutal honesty. He always tells us exactly what he is thinking, which is a great. We know we can count on him to tell the truth when needed. And we always know when he does or does not like something.

But sometimes, his comments can be inappropriate or hurtful.

Like when he said, "that guy has a really big tummy" while passing the receipt checking employee on the way out of Canadian Tire.

Or that a loved one has a big butt right to her face.

Or the time he made a comment about a little person, one I'm sure that person has heard many times before.

He has absolutely no filter, like many kids on the spectrum. Okay, like most kids in general. So we are constantly working on teaching him when to think it or when to say it, especially when out in public. Here are some of the ways that we have been working on teaching kids the social skill of think it or say it.

How to teach kids how to filter thoughts so that they know when to think it and when to say it from And Next Comes L

My Favorite Ways to Teach Kids When to Think it and When to Say it

When it comes to teaching the social skills of think it or say it, books have always been the best method for us. My hyperlexic son obviously loves to read and it is his strength so naturally we use it to work on other skills.

However, with regards to working on think it or say it?, I like to use a lot of books that use thought bubbles and speech balloons to reinforce this particular skill. We also love to use these types of books to work on comprehension so you can already find a list of picture books to start with there. You can also read comic books and graphic novels to further help with teaching this social skill.

The other thing we like to do is model language that is helpful for teaching the difference between thinking it and saying it. 

When it comes to teaching social skills to hyperlexic kids, it is best to teach them directly and give them the scripts and phrases they need to be successful. For instance, in the privacy of our own home or in the car, I will frequently ask J to share what he is thinking about and encourage him to use phrases like "I am thinking about..." or "I wonder if..." Then we will discuss whether it should remain an inside thought (something to keep to himself) or an outside thought (one that he can share with others by saying it to others). This practice will help him become more proficient at filtering out what he can say and what he cannot say to someone else.

Free Printable Resources to Work on this Social Skill

Here are some wonderful free resources to work on this social skill.

1. Think it or Say It Cut & Paste Sorting Worksheet - Practice makes perfect, right? Help your child practice the difference between things we can say and things we can think with this handy worksheet.

2. Thinking & Talking Bubble Visual Posters - You could print these off as small cue cards to keep handy with you while out and about or hang them up as posters to reinforce the important difference between when to think it and when to say it.

3. Brain Social Filter & Thinking and Talking Printables - There are two great printables available here to help kids work on when to think something or when to say it instead. Just scroll through the list until you find the printables called "Brain Social Filter" and "Thinking and Talking Bubbles."

4. Comic Book Templates - Drawing and writing your own comic is a great way to reinforce this skill as it encourages your child to think about whether a character would be saying or thinking something in particular. I personally love these free templates. I also really love these social emotional comic strips, although they are not free.

Social Skills Video to Teach Kids When to Think it and When to Say it

Video modeling is especially helpful for kids with autism so I highly recommend watching the following social skills video with your child. You could also pair it with the printable resources found above to further discuss the distinction between when to think it and when to say it.


Other Ideas You'll Love

This post is part of a monthly series called Parenting Children with Special Needs. This month's topic is managing public situations and you can find the other posts regarding this topic below.

Dear Mom at the Park | This Outnumbered Mama

How to teach kids how to filter thoughts so that they know when to think it and when to say it from And Next Comes L
Continue reading "How to Teach Kids the Social Skill of Think it or Say it?"

March 23, 2017

15 Mealtime Strategies for Kids with Hyperlexia and/or Autism

Practical tips and strategies to help support your hyperlexic and/or autistic children during mealtimes.
Food sensitivities are quite common in children with hyperlexia due to their sensory issues or feeding issues associated with their autism. As a result, they may appear to be picky eaters, preferring to eat only certain types of food.

Furthermore, sensory issues may make it difficult for them to stay seated for the duration of the meal. Or poor fine motor skills and lack of understanding hidden social rules may contribute to these kids preferring to eat with their fingers than mastering utensils to eat.

These 15 mealtime strategies for kids with hyperlexia and/or autism should hopefully inspire you with some new ideas to try if your child is struggling during mealtimes. These strategies, as well as hundreds of others, can also be found in my Beyond the Letters book.

Mealtime strategies for kids with hyperlexia and/or autism from And Next Comes L

Mealtime Strategies for Kids with Hyperlexia and/or Autism

It is important to note that the strategies below are ones that we have personally tried and/or had success with at some point. They work for our family, but may not work for yours, but hopefully it can give you some new ideas to consider.

1. Let your children help with the meal planning, preparation, and/or cooking. They are more likely to eat what they picked out for lunch or supper if they are involved in the process.

2. Let your child assemble their meals with build your own supper ideas such as make your own pizza night or build your own salad night.

3. Teach them the hidden rules of mealtimes so that they can learn what is and isn't expected of them during mealtimes.

4. Keep food items separate to encourage kids to explore foods and textures at their own pace. Divided plates work great for this, but offering pasta sauce on the side, for example, can help kids to not get overwhelmed by combining sensory textures.

5. Use a wiggle cushion or fidgets to help fidgety kids stay seated during mealtimes. Or use tape to put their favorite letter on the seat of the chair and encourage your child to sit right on their chosen letter!

6. Use their interests to encourage new seating arrangements, trying new foods, etc. You can read our experience here about how we used numbers and games to encourage J to sit in a new spot at the kitchen table.

7. Offer utensils at every meal, even if they don't end up using them. Gently encourage them to try using them too. See tip #12 about investing in alphabet cutlery too as a way to entice them to use utensils.

8. Model how to use utensils to cut food and transfer food into your mouth.

9. Write social stories about current mealtime struggles from how to use utensils, trying new foods, not eating with your hands, cleaning up, washing up before eating, etc.

10. Sneak foods they don't like into other items on the menu that they do like. I personally love to add things like hemp seeds, nuts, avocados, etc. to smoothies. Or I add extra veggies and puree them into pasta sauce.

11. Make letter and/or number shaped foods. Or if they are into planets, then make planets! Basically, use their interests to entice them to eat their meals. Thank goodness for cookie cutters in basically any shape possible!

12. Invest in some fun bowls, plates, cutlery, place mats, cups, or napkins that reflect their current interests. Ideas include: ABC plates, planet place mats, etc. Something similar to these alphabet dishes will work awesome!

13. Make checklists of foods to eat during meals. Kids with hyperlexia respond well to written checklists and can check off things they eat as they go! This strategy works really well for lunch boxes too! Better yet, invest in a lunch box with a chalkboard. Here's a pro tip: put the most important foods to eat first because guaranteed your child will eat things in the order they see them on the checklist.


14. Use a visual schedule to guide kids through the routine of mealtime from washing up, eating, cleaning up, and helping with dishes.

15. Write out what is expected of them. Kids with hyperlexia thrive with written visual instructions so don't be afraid to write down explicitly what is expected of them like "use a fork to eat your pasta" or "stay seated while eating."

BONUS STRATEGIES: Find more practical strategies like this in the book Beyond the Letters.


Other Ideas You'll Love

This post is part of a monthly series called Parenting Children with Special Needs. This month's topic is mealtime and you can find the other posts regarding this topic below.

Nutrition for Childhood Trauma | The Chaos and The Clutter 
Mealtime strategies for kids with hyperlexia and/or autism from And Next Comes L
Continue reading "15 Mealtime Strategies for Kids with Hyperlexia and/or Autism"

November 23, 2016

115+ Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids with Hyperlexia

A huge list of stocking stuffer ideas for kids with hyperlexia, including alphabet themed and number themed stocking stuffers.
Do you know how many times I have googled alphabet themed stocking stuffer ideas for kids or number themed stocking stuffer ideas for kids over the years? So many times.

Only I ended up disappointed because there never seems to be such a gift list.

I can easily find lots of great lists of general stocking stuffer ideas, but nothing perfect for hyperlexic kids, like my son. Although, if I must admit, he is super easy to buy for because his interests are so strong! However, sometimes I struggle to find one or two more items for his Christmas stocking.

This stocking stuffer gift list for kids with hyperlexia includes ideas related to some of their favorite topics: letters, numbers, outer space, geography, and periodic tables! Obviously, this gift list isn't exclusive for kids with hyperlexia and can be useful if you have a child without hyperlexia who is interested in these same topics.

I've included items from various price points, to fit every budget, and lots of these items could be picked up from the dollar store or bargain bins if you'd like to keep them under a certain price point. I also tried to include ideas that would cover a variety of ages, not just young kids with hyperlexia. But everything on this list should appeal to your kids with hyperlexia!

Christmas stocking stuffer ideas for kids with hyperlexia - alphabet, numbers, geography, space, & periodic table gift ideas from And Next Comes L
This post contains affiliate links.

Alphabet & Letter Themed Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids with Hyperlexia

For most kids with hyperlexia, their fascination with letters and the written word is the first thing parents notice. You likely have most of these ABC related objects in your house, but in case you need a few more (ha!), then try these alphabet themed stocking stuffer ideas.

Alphabet themed stocking stuffer ideas for kids from And Next Comes L

  1. Alphabet books: I Spy Letters Books
  2. Book of word searches
  3. Alphabet magnets: Plastic | Wooden
  4. Days of the week underwear: Boys briefs | Girls panties
  5. Alphabet puzzles: Melissa & Doug Alphabet Express Jumbo Jigsaw Floor Puzzle | Melissa & Doug Upper & Lower Case Alphabet Letters Wooden Puzzle
  6. ABC Singing Toothbrush
  7. Magnetic Poetry Kit for Kids - lots of versions available, including other languages
  8. Foam letters
  9. Alphabet stickers
  10. Alphabet dice
  11. Bananagrams (pictured)
  12. Boggle
  13. Alphabet snacks: Alphabet gummies | Alphabet pretzels | Letter of the day cookies
  14. Chewy Tubes P and Q
  15. Alphabet themed reusable snack bags (pictured)
  16. Alphabet stamps
  17. Alphabet socks
  18. Alphabet t-shirt
  19. Alphabet Go Fish Matching Game
  20. Spot It Alphabet
  21. Wikki Stix Alphabet Fun Cards
  22. Flashcards, especially for other languages
  23. Scrabble Slam
  24. A-Z Letter Links
  25. Alphabet beads
  26. Alphabet placemat
  27. Dictionary or thesaurus
  28. Alphabet board games, especially small travel size games: Hangman Take Anywhere Game
  29. Alphabet tableware &/or cutlery
  30. Alphabet Magnatab (pictured; lots of versions available)
  31. Thinkfun Pathwords Jr Puzzle
  32. Alphabet blocks
  33. Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow! Water-Reveal Activity Pads Set - Alphabet (pictured)
  34. Alphabet workbook
  35. Alphabet pajamas
  36. Bookmarks
  37. Crossword puzzle books
  38. Quiddler Card Game

Number & Math Themed Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids with Hyperlexia

It's no secret that we love math around here! My son lives and breathes numbers and math. Here are some amazing number and math themed stocking stuffer ideas.

Math themed stocking stuffer ideas for kids from And Next Comes L

  1. Number or math books: I Spy Numbers (more suggestions: Books for Kids Who Love Big Numbers & Math)
  2. Sudoku books
  3. Dot-to-dot books
  4. Mark-My-Time Digital Bookmark
  5. Number magnets
  6. Number puzzles: Melissa & Doug Self-Correcting Wooden Number Puzzles With Storage Box | Melissa & Doug See-Inside Numbers Wooden Peg Puzzle
  7. Number stickers
  8. Watch
  9. IcoSoKu Brainteaser Puzzle
  10. Pedometer
  11. Sliding number puzzle
  12. Number snacks
  13. Calendar
  14. UNO
  15. Skip Bo
  16. Math related flashcards, such as math, money, addition, etc.
  17. Dice games
  18. Learning Resources Fraction Tower Cubes Equivalency Set (pictured)
  19. Number stamps
  20. Number snacks: Dick & Jane Bilingual Educational Snacks with Numbers
  21. Number t-shirt
  22. Sumoku (pictured)
  23. Learning Resources I See 10! Game
  24. Measuring tape or ruler
  25. Number/math placemat
  26. Numbers/math board games, especially small travel size games: Geospace Math Spin Magnetic Spin Game (pictured)
  27. Number/math tableware &/or cutlery
  28. Number Magnatab
  29. Stopwatch
  30. Mobi the Numeric Tile Game
  31. Abacus
  32. Color by numbers or paint by numbers books
  33. Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow! Water-Reveal Activity Pads Set - Numbers
  34. Math workbooks
  35. Foam numbers
  36. Tenzi Dice Game
  37. Braindice
  38. Dominoes
  39. Educational Insights Math Trekker (pictured)
  40. Digital Thermometer with Indoor/Outdoor Temperature

Map & Geography Themed Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids with Hyperlexia

Many kids with hyperlexia love maps, just as much as they love letters or numbers or logos. Here are some great geography themed stocking stuffer ideas to try.

Geography themed stocking stuffer ideas for kids from And Next Comes L

  1. Geography books or atlas: Maps
  2. Map puzzles: Mudpuppy North America 42 PC Puzzle (pictured)
  3. GeoBingo Games
  4. GeoCards World - Educational Geography Card Game (pictured)
  5. Geography tableware &/or cutlery
  6. All About the States: Search-a-Word Puzzles
  7. Geography stickers
  8. Peaceable Kingdom Sticker Fun! World Map Reusable Sticker Tote (pictured)
  9. Globe stress ball
  10. Travel/road maps
  11. Inflatable globe
  12. World map poster or wall decal
  13. Scrambled States Game
  14. ALEX Toys Rub a Dub USA Map in the Tub (pictured)
  15. Scrunch World Map
  16. Flag Frenzy Card Game

Periodic Table Themed Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids with Hyperlexia

Many kids with hyperlexia end up obsessed with the periodic table. It's such a perfect combination of letters and numbers, so it's not surprising that it's appealing to these kids. My son hasn't gotten into the periodic table, but I know many hyperlexic kids who have. These stocking stuffer ideas are perfect for them.

Periodic table themed stocking stuffer ideas for kids from And Next Comes L

  1. Periodic table books
  2. ETA hand2mind Periodic Table Connecting Color Tiles (pictured)
  3. Periodic table placemat
  4. Periodic table jigsaw puzzle (pictured)
  5. Periodic table poster (pictured)
  6. Periodic table t-shirt
  7. Uncle Goose Periodic Table Blocks (pictured; a bit expensive for a stocking stuffer, but definitely cool!)

Space Themed Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids with Hyperlexia

Most kids with hyperlexia, or at least the ones that I know of, have a fascination with outer space and planets. J went through a period of time where he was extremely interested in planets as well. Here are some great space themed stocking stuffer ideas.

Space themed stocking stuffer ideas for kids from And Next Comes L

  1. Books about planets & space: National Geographic Kids First Big Book of Space | There's No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System
  2. Planets placemat
  3. Glow-in-the-dark stars
  4. Space puzzles: Crocodile Creek Space Puzzle & Poster (pictured) | Melissa & Doug Solar System Floor Puzzle
  5. Space stickers (pictured)
  6. Planet plates (kind of expensive, so might be a better gift idea than stocking stuffer)
  7. Planet bowls (kind of expensive, so might be a better gift idea than stocking stuffer)
  8. Space t-shirt
  9. Space socks
  10. ZooBooKoo Cube Book, Planets (pictured)
  11. Space poster
  12. Learning Resources Inflatable Solar System (a bit expensive for a stocking stuffer, but the kids will love it!)
  13. 3D Planets in a Tube (pictured)
  14. Safari Ltd Safariology The Solar System
  15. Safari Ltd Space TOOB
  16. Space themed pajamas


Other Ideas You'll Love

Gift Ideas for Kids who Love to Doodle, Write, & Draw

 50+ ABC Gift Ideas for Kids

 Books for Kids who Love Big Numbers & Math

This post is part of a monthly series called Parenting Children with Special Needs. This month's topic is best gifts and you can find the other posts regarding this topic below.

Nutcracker Themed Gift Ideas for Kids | Every Star is Different
Best Gifts for the Autism Mom | This Outnumbered Mama
Great Gifts for Children with Anxiety | Raising Lifelong Learners

Christmas stocking stuffer ideas for kids with hyperlexia - alphabet, numbers, geography, space, & periodic table gift ideas from And Next Comes L
Continue reading "115+ Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids with Hyperlexia"
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