What to get ds for his birthday?

[keepingupwiththejoneses]

DS3 will be 5 in 3 weeks, has significant asd, sld and poss adhd. He is non verbal, still wears nappies and extremely big for his age (wearing age 8-9 clothes). I have no clue what to get him for his birthday! He already has a bike, a scooter, garages, a tv/dvd player and various other small toys, which he does play with. I have a budget of around £80, all ideas welcome.
He loves animals and dinosaurs and loves sensory items.

[smileANDwave2000]

a big trampoline for the garden 10ft inc enclosure from asda slightly more at £99 but brill for sensory and balance and helps them sleep as knackers them out summers here well not today it seems but great all that fresh air

[keepingupwiththejoneses]

Should have said got one of those too, dm bought it last year as ds2 and ds3's birthdays are only 3 weeks apart. Thanks for repling though.

[TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission]

a day out to the farm if that's doable, take lots of pics and make up a book of the visit?

[keepingupwiththejoneses]

That sound really good, we were thinking of going to the zoo rather than a farm as we have done that to death! I love the idea of making him a book, he has just stated going to the library with schol and really like books. Thank you

[Becaroooo]

Would second a trip of some sort....he has loads of toys by the sound of it (like my 2!!)

We are taking my ds12 on a trip to london for the weekend later in the year for his b day (he will be 8).

It doesnt cost any more than a present and party would tbh....

[silverfrog]

we bought dd a doll's house - and used it for modelling situations with her, and working out different rooms/furniture etc (never miss an opportunity )

the toy kitchen gets played with a lot too - some good role play/modelling can be done there, as well as talking about foods/taking turns etc. we have a had a couple of surprising moments when eg dd1 has asked to try lettuce because it is in all the pretend sandwiches that dd2 makes (she didn't like it, but she did try it!)

I know mine are girls, and yours are boys, but I found the social aspects of these toys really good

[Bluesunbeam]

I recently bought ds a trampoline tent - like a big top! absolutely fab as he can bounce come rain or shine. It goes over the netting and poles - from amazon and cost £70.

[Toppy]

perhaps a bit OTT but a second hand iTouch (go for around £80 on ebay) ?

I have an iPad which has been amazing for DS who is only 3 and is a whizz on it. He loves looking at photos of the family and LOVES videos of himself and his little sister as well as all the amazing apps out there that encourage speech and receptive language.
It has really engaged him, gives me a break when he is having down time with it and works even better when I sit down and talk things through with him
As much as I love the iPad sometimes I wish it was smaller for DS to sit with and was 'his'

[silverfrog]

oh, second theitouch.

dd1 used one from about the age of 4 or so, and got on great with it. she now has an ipad through school: woudl agree with toppy that sometimes smaller is easier, but my first itouch went missing, never to be seen again, when dh & I were distracted by the world cup England/Germany match last year. dd1 had the ipod, to give us a bit of peace - and I have no idea where she put it! have searched and searched the playroom, but to no avail. really quite bizarre.

[Becaroooo]

My son loves his ikea wooden kitchen...plays with it every day! Only cost £80.

[LegoLady95]

Does he like things that light up, and have buttons to press? My DS1 (severe ASD and LD, non-verbal) seems to love V-tech toys. He is currently obsessed with the alphabet and loves this toy he had for xmas VTech Phonics desk. It has the voice of Justin from Something Special too. We have an Ipad but he is not that interested, DS2 (2.5) loves it though!

[staryeyed]

My Ds1 is very similar to your Ds. Things he has liked are moon in my room moon sand, marble runs, a guitar, a Walkman, colour doodle, a foam mirror, what I bought for his 6th birthday was quadrilla marble run which is quite good but falls down quite easily.

Ooo- second the alphabet desks- he has loved that for years.

[keepingupwiththejoneses]

Thanks all I like the idea of the alphabet desk and will have a look at the itouches on ebay as he loves looking a pictures and watching films.