What did you get your 17 year old for their birthday? Need ideas.

[Lovemusic33]

Dd is 17 in a few weeks, I have seen so many 17 year olds getting cars or driving lessons for their birthdays but dd has dyspraxia and Aspergers and isn’t keen on learning to drive (maybe one day but not now) so I am stumped as to what to get her, there’s only one thing she wants but I refuse to buy it as it’s another pet and we already have quite a few. She’s not very girls, doesn’t wear make up or jewellery, has plenty of clothes and isn’t into brands. She’s just had an expensive Christmas present (ipad) and she doesn’t want a new phone. We usually go out for a meal but obviously we can’t do that either this year. Any ideas? She loves animals and gaming.

if she likes animals, would she be interested in something like horse riding? You could look at a block of lessons, and a lot of stables would be happy to let her stay after the lesson to help untack the horse.

Maybe a gaming chair ? Or a gaming computer? My ds always wanted these an he got them around the same age.
Also what about asking for her a little job in the local pet shop just at a weekends she might love that. Also saves you the new pet mither if she has loads to look after lol xx

She loves horses but won’t ride one 🤣, her sister rides and I have tried several times to get dd1 to have a go but she’s too anxious and would rather stroke them from the ground.

She would love a job in a pet shop but we don’t have one near by (in our tier), she was looking to do work experience in a reptile shop but that’s been cancelled due to covid. She has asked for a gecko for her birthday but she already has a snake, a hamster and some insects, we don’t have space for anymore until the hamster passes (she’s pretty old) 🤣.

She would love a zoo experience but of course everything is now shut and who knows when they will open.

Aww no that's so rubbish for her !
But main thing is that eventually the pet shops and zoos will (hopefully) reopen so she can do them things. I'd just book her somethin for summer time so she has something to look forward to that was a gift and maybe order her fav takeaway and films for her birthday night with new pjs and goodies. Like a little sleep over party ! Xx

That hamster is going to hold on forever now you've said that though lol ! Mine can now open her cage and wonders around my house, driving me insane at 3am setting all the kids toys off !! Xx

It would depend on the stable, but it might be worth asking if she could have a day (it could become a regular thing if she enjoyed it) of helping to brush down the horses, feed them, learn to tack them up, untack them, lead them to the field etc if she would enjoy something like that?
Or you could look at booking a zoo experience for late summer (hopefully we will have some semblance of normality then, and if not, it would be rebooked/refunded)

What does she game on? My DS is hopefully getting a new Xbox for his 17th in a few months. If she's a PC gamer does she want any upgrades?

🤣🤣 the hamster is 2 years old, she went bald a while ago and I thought she had reached the end but now she is back to her fluffy self and loving life.

She games on the switch and ds, she has asked for a wii and a game boy colour but I’m not sure I want her spending even more time glued to gaming.

We will do take away for her birthday, maybe she would like a oodie to lounge around in 🤔, she doesn’t wear pj’s.

Weighted blanket , avocado tool, extra long phone charging cable. Not 'big' presents but all things my teenage dc liked

A hoodie and some wacky socks/slippers! I got my ds a gaming chair for Christmas just gone that works with the switch ( younger son ) was from smyths an xrocker it was called

And it's fine mine lost her eye first week on dec lol cost a fortune at vets ! They will outlive us at this rate x

She had a weighted blanket for Christmas and it was a big hit. It’s so hard having a birthday just after Christmas, she never really asks for anything (other than animals).

I have ordered her a charm bracelet and a couple charms but I know she probably won’t ever wear it, she has mentioned wanting one before, she loves collecting things and she can collect animal charms rather than real animals 🤣.

I don’t think she has room for a gaming chair as her rooms pretty small.

That's a genius idea. What about an adult animal colouring book. Their so good and would keep her away from gaming so much also. Hope you sort it op x

Driving lessons.

one of mine got a car.

The other (asd but won't get a diagnosis- his choice-lots in family) got a post it note saying 'I owe you 1 car'. When he is ready it will be there

She would like to drive one day but I’m not sure if it will be possible, possibly in a automatic, she has some mobility issues too and is having physio to straighten her legs so we are kind of holding back on the driving for a bit.

Yep I say driving lessons too.

A Nintendo switch lite with animal crossing. I got this for dd18 for xmas and was so worried but she absolutely loves it, finds it relaxing and has been very good about using it and then putting it down to revise.

Apple pen and a subscription to a decent drawing app for her iPad?

@june2007

Yep I say driving lessons too.

People obviously haven’t read my OP or my replies 🤣

An iPad case and/or screen protector

DSLR camera. Very good hobby for my borderline ASD son.

@TenCornMaidens

DSLR camera. Very good hobby for my borderline ASD son.

She has a DSLR, I agree it’s a great hobby especially for making her relax, she has kind of lost interest a little lately but usually it’s something we do together.

Laptop.
It would have been driving lessons but we were still in lockdown and needed a new PC for online college.

What type of animals is she into? Plenty of Zoos and safari parks run keeper for the day experiences? You could do one nearby or further away?

Two I know people have done (and loved their experiences)...

Cotswold Wildlife Park run animal encounters and keeper for the day. There's a travelodge at nearby Burford.

Or if she likes taking photos of animals, Woburn Safari Park do a half day taking photos of wild cats.

If you live up North, I'm sure there's similar there.

Obviously she won't be able to do it for a while, but I bought my daughter theatre tickets for her birthday, but I'm not taking her until the summer.

My son was 17 before Christmas, he's ASD/ADHD. He liked his wireless phone charger, phone power pack. He also got a proper switch controller, Xbox credit, switch credit. I always give him a sweetie hamper (I make it myself with his favourite sweets/chocolate). New teddy fleece bedding (he loves it as it's so soft). Another success is the POP funko figures, he can display them in his room.

Just eat vouchers are a good gift especially if you would normally go out for a meal!