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Unwrap joy with 100+ gift ideas for kids with CVI
Our gift guide is for kids with CVI of all ages and stages! Find out-of-the-box ideas, educational gifts, mementos for music lovers, and much more.
When deciding what is best for your child, take a whole-child approach. What does your child enjoy? What motivates your child? What upsets your child? What provides calm?
To help get you started with gift-giving, we created a guide with over 100 ideas—all informed by parents and caregivers from our CVI Now community. This guide is meant to offer inspiration and by no means is exhaustive or definitive, just a place to find some ideas.
And be sure to check out the CVI parent’s guide to the holidays to learn more about why holidays and celebrations are challenging for many with CVI and eight questions to consider to help approach gift-giving for your child with CVI.
CVI parents/caregivers, how have you made the holidays accessible for your child? What gifts are on your list? Join the CVI Now Parents Group to be a part of the conversation.
100+ gift ideas to support your loved one with CVI
For the sensory seeker
Weston’s Favorites
Weston loves his Squeaky Sneakers which fit over his SMO’s (supramalleolar orthoses). He compensates for his vision by relying on his hearing, so these sneakers are a big win. He also benefits from bright Traffic Cones to navigate playing outdoors. As a sensory seeker, Weston loves his fur rug and his Saucer Swing. He loves the sound that Boomwhackers make when he throws them on our black driveway. He also enjoys throwing his brightly colored indoor/outdoor Stepping Stones and listening to them boom! This year, Weston’s big gift is an experience at the Special Olympics.
A few ideas for those with CVI who seek sensory input (swinging, vibration, tactile, pressure, fidgets) to support their learning and regulation.
- Indoor Swing
- Vibrating Tactile Pillow
- Sensory Chair
- Body Sock
- Portable Sound Machine with Vibration
- Vibration Mat
- Massager
- Rocker
- Wiggles Seat Cushion
- Fidgets: Keyboard fidget, Tangles, Dimpl/Pop Its
- Squeaky Sneakers
For the music lover
Savannah’s Favorites
There is no denying that Savannah loves music as her entire body lights up to the sound of different instruments. Her favorite is Tabletop Chimes. They are shiny, create motion, and are easily accessible for her fine motor difficulties. When she is hard at work in her stander, Savannah enjoys playing Meowsic or a Keyboard. This year, Savannah will be receiving a switch-adapted Polaroid camera and a switch-adapted CD player so that she can listen to Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version). Both items can be adapted by Adpatabliities. We also added the Glo Pals Sensory Jar to her wish list, as she enjoys lights and sensory toys.
Many with CVI and their parents/caregivers report that there is a serious love for listening to and making music, and we include a few options for different instruments and music-listening toys and systems.
For light and motion
Henry’s Favorites
Henry has a passion for riding trains and buses, so the best gifts are connected to this love. A few favorites: MBTA train toy models and MBTA t-shirts and sweatshirts. For his birthday, a fellow CVI friend got him this train toy with music, lights, and movement. The DRIVEN toy vehicle line is great to go back to again and again. Fidgets and sensory toys are always a win because he can get into them immediately, like keyboard fidgets. We got him the Pop It! Pro last year, and while the light-up game goes a bit too fast for him, he really likes engaging with it. The best gift is a train ride to get his favorite dairy-free ice cream.
Some with CVI are drawn to light and motion to support visual attention and recognition. Light-up items may offer needed visual sensory input, and items with motion may help a child with CVI track the item, but the motion might also offer some type of vibration.
- Light up Wand
- Glo Pals Sensory Jar
- Bubble Tube
- Fiber Optic Light
- Pop Tubes
- Night Light for Kids, Star Night Light Projector
- Tornado Lamp
- Jelly Fish Lava Lamp
- Mini Drone
- Plasma Glow
- Glo Pals
- Train Toy with Music, Lights, and Movement
For the setup
Ideas for items to help adapt and create an accessible environment in the home and for learning, for example adding tactile elements to appliances, bring learning to accessible visual fields, ways to add light or color, and supports for the sensory environment.
- Inflatable Sand Tray for Sensory Exploration
- Mat for Toys
- Led Lights
- Bump Dots
- Slant Board
- Magnet Board
- Velcro
- Noise Canceling Headphones
- Chew Jewelry
- Clip-on Light
- Portable Light Box
- Black Silicon Mats
- Textured Tape and Painters Tape
For play, exploration, and games
Omer’s Favorites
When Omer was younger, he liked to play with the LED Hoover Soccer Ball, something that could be used on the floor or a tabletop surface. He also enjoyed Lightahead® Artificial Mini Aquarium, a light-up aquarium with fake fish. Games are a good family activity and Omer enjoys playing Yahtzee and UNO with his family. This year, Omer wants to experience different adventures such as climbing a wall, dancing, or racing in a racecar throughout Meta Quest virtual reality.
Ideas to support sensory exploration and play, along with game night ideas.
Play and exploration
- Whirly Squigs and Squigs
- Magnetic Tiles Building Blocks
- Sensory Mat or Sensory Board
- Tactile Baby Light-Up Sensory Toy
- Mardi Gras Beads
- Brio Trains
- Slinky
- Sequin Pillow
- Scooter Board
- Dot Art
- No Spill Painting Cups
- Wide Grip Paint Brushes
- Cleaning Set
- Stainless Steel Pots and Pans and Cookware Set
- Play Animals
- Makeup Set and Hair Styling Kit
- Farmer’s Market Color Sorting Set
- Bath Color Fizzy or Bath Bombs
- Hot Wheels HW Braille Racer Twin Mill
Games
- Simon
- Pop It! Pro
- UNO Braille Card Game
- Connect 4 and Connect 4 Shots (an option to support those working on fine motor)
- Beeping Balls
- I Know the Answer! Game Buzzers
- Tactile Dice, Large Dice, Braille/color Dice
- Bop It
- Musical Bingo
For literacy and math development
The path to literacy and numeracy is rooted in the unique needs of your child with CVI. Below are just a few ideas for some fun and accessible items that may support literacy and math concepts at home.
- Braille Shapes
- Braille Blocks with Raised Letters
- LEGO® Braille Bricks
- Abacus
- Math Blocks
- Sound Book
- Transparent Letters (for a lightbox)
- Quiet Book
- Create a Story Box
- Texture Books
- Textured Trace Cards
- Foam Magnetic Letters
- Sight Word Magnets
For cause and effect
Cause and effect toys can be engaging for some with CVI, where pressing a moment or giving some type of input causes the toy to do something (light up, move, make a sound).
- Linkimals
- LED Hoover Soccer Ball
- Sensory Light Station
- Mozart Music Cube
- Spin a Letter
- Light up Memory Game
- Light Bright Touch
- Slide and Sing Elmo Plush
- Light Colored Puck Lights
- Musical Twinkle Star
- Soothing Song Fox
For outside-the-box-but-really-helpful gifts
Some of the most thoughtful gifts can be the ones that help keep other items running or a gift card to help you stock up on much-needed items.
- Battery Pack for Echo Dot
- Batteries
- Gift Cards/ExperienceCards (for tablet apps, online store, a favorite place or ride, favorite food, etc.)
- Favorite Snacks
- Wipes
- Pajamas
- Slippers
- Hair Accessories
- Toothbrush
For adapted play
Some with CVI also have motor complexities (up to 70% of kids with Cerebral Palsy have CVI). Below are ideas to make interaction and play accessible.
- Adpatabliities Switch-activated, variety of age-appropriate toys
- Functional Hand: A functional grip assist for those with fine motor challenges
- Eazy Hold: A universal cuff/handle
- Zip Gloves: A warm glove that zips from both sides.
- Wheelchair Poncho: If your child is in a wheelchair, this is a must to keep them warm this winter. CVI parent tip: Order a little big so that it covers your child like a warm blanket.
- Weighted blanket: To give your child that extra sensory input.
- Noise Canceling Headphones: For the times when the auditory environment is too loud.
- Billy Footwear: Easy Zipper sneakers for those with SMOs, AFOs, or with fine motor challenges.
- X Box Adapted Gaming Remote: A remote designed to meet the needs of gamers with limited mobility to make gaming more accessible.
- Ablenet Big Red Switch: A large red target to support fine motor difficulties that can be used to activate switch-adapted toys.
For more ideas, read the Perkins’ gift guide for children who are blind or have low vision, and check our guide to what CVI parents never leave the house without.
