Ds turning 5- autistic. Struggling for birthday present ideas

[ChronicallyFucke]

Hoping someone might have some ideas we've not thought about.
Hes turning 5 soon, he's autistic so isn't into 'normal' 5 year old toys (he has older siblings so can compare somewhat)

He loves love loves his small Teddy cat.
Just a random teddy cat I picked up one day from charity shop. Gave it a wash and then showed him. Hes not put it down since.
I was looking at getting a toy cat that meows? Can't find something with decent reviews. I was sure furreal friends did one but amazon shows a sabretooth cat which he won't understand.

He loves animals in general too.
Hes into bumblenums from super simple songs atm too but again can't find 'toys' as such online.

Any other ideas?
No. I can't get a cat. As much as he'd love it we rent and no animals allowed.
Thank you

A trip to a cat cafe
A day out at a farm park/zoo with money for the gift shop

How would he get on with a visit to a toy shop to look? I'd go early when it's quiet. You may find he likes his cat because of the texture and right 'squishyness' and doesnt like the Furreal ones.

You may also find as he gets older that he actually doesn't like surprises or unwrapping presents, in which cases reusable gift boxes are great as you can take the toy out of the original packaging and it's more ready to play.

As for unconventional gifts, one year DD asked Santa for tape, so I got her all sorts of colours and types and it was her favourite present ever (should have known she had ASD then! Instead of waiting a decade to get diagnosed) plus 9 years on we've still got plenty of tape left around the house.

Morning :)

Have a look at the Perfect Petzz or Precious Petzz breathing cats. My boy also has a little cat he loves and my nan has one of these breathing sleeping cats he adores it he asks to go there just to sit with it on his lap and just sits like that for ages stroking it with it 'breathing'

Lego - it helps my son make sense of everything and the wee stories he makes are great. Yes it takes over the house about but he's happy.

Bumblenums - type it into Etsy :) I have a child with a 'specialist interest' and do Etsy for a lot of bits. I did a quick bumblenums search and there are crocheted ones, a t shirt, and cake toppers which look good so should be some bits for sure depending what you are after :) good luck!!

My daughter (not autistic) had a cheap kitten she really loved. My mum got her a fur real one when she was 6/7 and she hated it. The sound was wrong, it wasn't soft and it's face was ugly!

Does he like wheels or balls? Lots of autistic kids I work with like these. Things with moving parts? (The whole opening and shutting door thing). Does he have any repetitive behaviors?

Also, how about a trip to a cat Cafe where you can pet the cats?

Also other info welcome :) like/dislikes day to day etc. sometimes simple things like bath bombs can be a hit if they like coloured water or baths in general, or things which are scented if they smell things a lot etc. I do like specialist interest searching :)

So many random things on this thread that my son has loved, that have never occurred to me are related to his autism. Bath bombs (but cheap so they are not too smelly) check, magnetic stones check, @Singleandproud rejection of the furreal type toys in favour of softer ones, cat cafe.

@HAF1119 do you offer a consultancy service around Christmas time at all 😆? I'm off to look up bumblenums

@Stickycurrantbun

TALKING TOM CAT!
this is something I will definitely have to pick up!
He loves listening to himself!
Thank you

There's lots of ideas here thank you everyone
I was trying to reply to everyone but my phone is playing up so won't let me right now.

Lots of amazing ideas here! I'm glad I asked.
Thank you all once again

Do the build a bear shops do cat bears! If that makes sense.

Cat night light I saw this and thought your ds might like it.

@Singleandproud
I was thinking about taking him to smyths as our local is usually very quite
There's lots of good suggestions here
Giving us lots to think about.
I have been looking into cat cafe locally @MerryMarigold

@HAF1119 thank you for all that info
I don't think I've ever used etsy before but will definitely have a look if they've got bumblenum items! Thanks once again

His areas of interest really are animals, letters and numbers.
Hes not into cars
Or wheels or balls?
Hes got some numberblock blocks which are well played with.

I will be popping back and forth on this thread
Thanks again everyone

Also
Definitely taking him to build a bear.
I've signed up to pay your age and I'm sure we will find a cat teddy he will love ❤️

The Melissa and Doug doorbell house is excellent. Little house with four front doors and four keys (securely attached with ribbons) and a different doorbell sound for each, and different character behind each door.

https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/melissa-and-doug-doorbell-house/0000772125055.html?msclkid=9ac34492fa901ef4186a2045891b34a9&gclid=9ac34492fa901ef4186a2045891b34a9&gclsrc=3p.ds

An old typewriter if he loves letters / numbers, or an old shop till.

Mine loves his weighted blanket. So one covered in cats?

honestly I don’t think you need to buy loads of toys, just things that will make him happy. Haven’t read the full thread but have you got sandpit, water trays all that?

My ND little monster loves play dough and all other types of dough things, that magic sand too. Any skills you’re hoping to work on? Might not work for yours but a simple turn taking game? Some sweet treats?

Ds is autistic and has a cupboard full of soft toy dogs. The ones he loves are the Keel ones like this:

Dog Plush Toys Dalmatian Spaniel Lab Collie Doberman Beagle - Keel Soft Toys | eBay

They have a collar on and a name.

I did ask him last summer (he's 16yo) if he wanted to get rid of them to have more space in the cupboard and he reaction was similar to suggesting he amputated an arm.

My autistic dd ( she's 5 tomorrow) loves fuzzy stickers, and flower boards, also a bath foamer as she loves foam, crazy soap ect

If he loves animals how about an annual pass to a local zoo or wildlife park?

Other than that my ds liked collections of things! So sets of stuff.

Lego
Kinex rollercoasters he could watch going round and round
Train sets

Mainly things he could set up and plan rather than play with iyswim?

I totally would I love gift giving 🤣 the harder the better!

How about something like this? 11 Best Number Board Games for Kids of All Ages (homeschoolof1.com)

Or some magnetic letters for the fridge? Or number/letter-themed jigsaws?