Birthday gift ideas for 3 year old with high functioning autism

[Confusedaboutstatements]

Hi, DS will be 3 soon. And I don't know what to get him for his birthday, half of the toys I buy for him never get played with. He isn't diagnosed yet but it's looking fairly certain. His older brother has ASD and they are very similar.

He loves fire engines and fireman Sam but already has an assortment of fire engine. He likes the gruffalo book, spiderman but has no interest in the figures. He also likes the number 2 and circles :)

I was thinking maybe a fire engine bed but it doesn't really feel like a fun present, although DS would love it.

He can talk a bit but both receptive and expressive speech are delayed. He wouldn't understand if I asked him what he has done today for example and couldn't answer. He is hyper mobile and clumsy so things like bikes are out. Doesn't really like books apart from the gruffalo and has a short attention span. Won't take turns. Very limited interest on role play, he has a play kitchen and various dressing up clothes that stay untouched. He will play with fireman Sam figures though occasionally.

Does anyone have any ideas I haven't thought of?

Thankyou.

[PatriciaKrenwinkel]

A tent? A pop up one?

A magnet board with magnetic numbers (or just lots of twos!)

[Smartiepants79]

It is a fun present if he will love it!
I would get the bed, he is still not really old enough to register (or care) that its not a traditional birthday present.

[Ahhhcantthinkofagoodname]

My DS is 3 and has ASD, he really loves the marble run we got him for Xmas. Could your DS' interst in circles extend to spherical marbles? :-)
www.amazon.co.uk/Galt-America-A0560E-Super-Marble/dp/B00000IVXP?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Confusedaboutstatements]

Thankyou for the replies

He has a fire station tent that doesn't get played with. But the magnetic board with lots if 2s is a great idea! I'm definitely going to do that!

The bed is fun if he will love it isn't it! I was just doubting it as DSis was saying that a bed isn't a birthday present. But it isn't just an ordinary bed and I do think he would adore it.

The marble run in theory is a great idea but his motor skills aren't great and I can see him getting frustrated. How hard are they to manipulate?

I might give the duplo fire stuff as a suggestion for DSis to get for him. He likes the Lego fire range, he has tried to play with it at my older sons social group youth club but it was a bit fiddly for him but duplo sounds great.

I'll have a look at the other suggestions now on amazon.

[Confusedaboutstatements]

It's so hard to think what would get played with. Although he is a lot like my older DS he is different as in my elder son was all about the figures, absolutely loved them, still does but no interest from younger DS at all unless fireman Sam.

Does anyone have any experience of the Joseph fire engine bed? Anyone know if the quality is ok?

[Ahhhcantthinkofagoodname]

My DS is def underdeveloped with regard to motor skills. He needs help building marble run but loves dropping the marbles down and watching them, he can easily manage that despite being a bit clumsy...

[ComradePlexiglass]

Has he got a fireman's hat/costume already?

[oramum]

I would second the trampoline idea. my dd is a sensory seeker and is obsessed with movement, the trampoline keeps her occupied for hours. its also been great for physio (repeated jumping) and heping to improve her balance.

[Confusedaboutstatements]

We already have a trampoline older DS loves it.

I have ordered marble run I hope he likes it. He doesn't really like adult help but it will be great for teaching him to tolerate it. I'm going to get him the bed too as he will love it and I will find lots of magnetic 2s and maybe get him a numtums DVD if there is such a thing.

He has a fireman costume but he will only tolerate wearing it for a short amount of time.

One of his aunties have got him a scooter, hopefully that will be a hit. Will have to stay in the garden though I think as he doesn't wait at road just runs into them so I don't want him to have extra speed :D

[PatriciaKrenwinkel]

What about a Sound Machine from Amazon - there's sci fi ones, emergency vehicles, pirate, farting - guess which my lot prefer? Just small buttons to press.

Bike helmet and horn to go with the scooter?

[tacal]

does he like soft toys? what about a number jack number two soft toy? My ds still loves his numberjack toys and has asked for a 6 for his next birthday ( he will be 6).

I think the bed is a great present!

[sammythemummy]

My daughter also likes Spider-Man so maybe a Spider-man costume?

Happy birthday to him

[AgnesDiPesto]

If you don't mind shopping on ebay DS favourite things at that age were all cause and effect toddler toys eg those wooden toys where you put a ball or car down ramps, marble runs, a huge ebay supersize car garage with ramps to put big cars down and a lift etc, and a playskool ball popper toy which seems to be called grow and explore busy ball popper and although marketed at babies is great fun (even his older brothers liked it) and usually gets a reaction from the most passive child. I also used to hunt tkmaxx for cheap Melissa and Doug toys for 'therapy'. The toy that has lasted longest is early learning centre flexitrax. Again you may have to source it on ebay, we must have had ours 8 years and survived three boys, thankfully you can still buy new cars for it although some of the tracks are only available second hand (it's more fun to have big track with lots bridges etc). DS didn't notice if things were from ebay in fact he refused to open a present until he was 6 and we just left them around to play with.

[Lookslikerain]

Maybe too late now, but my DS was 4 recently and loved this penguin run. Be warned, it's very annoying, with an awful, constant squeak. And it eats batteries. Not the best quality (we're on our second one) but not too expensive. DS loves the never-ending motion and finds it hilarious. I could hit with a hammer.

We also bought him one of these lights (well, may not have been this exact one but same kind of thing). Kind if like a disco ball and projects loads of circles onto the ceiling. It's like party time, all the time in our kitchen. I often wonder what the people on the passing busses think. Probably just that I'm some sad, old raver, partying in the middle of the day!

Last one. We've also got a finger puppet set for the gruffalo/gruffalo's child. It comes in a zip-up tree, with all the puppets inside, and a big gruffalo. Good for acting out his favourite book? Think it was new from ebay.