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Original poster

13yo (ASD) birthday ideas....struggling!

36 replies

delanical · 30/09/2023 17:35

My autistic son is turning 13 soon (for context he goes to an autism school and after quite a tough few years in mainstream, he's doing really well, has friends etc but is quite isolated out of school and dislikes busy / noisy environments but is a total sensory / thrill seeker)
He's also entering that teenage stage where everything is rubbish and he doesn't want to do anything. He hates sports. Does gaming constantly anyway and has everything he needs.

Previous birthdays have been trips to HP studios, theme park etc and he's now got all the electronics he could possibly ever need. He doesn't want a party.

I know he'll be upset if there's no fuss / a treat day out / a surprise but he doesn't want anything and I can't think of anything he'd like / need or want to do......

I'm stuck. At this rate all he'll have is a balloon and a cake like a toddler!

Please - if you have a 13 year old, what did you buy them and how did you celebrate?!!

OP posts:
muminherts · 30/09/2023 17:37

Just a thought but an air experience eg flight simulator or visit to one of the air museums where they often have them. Eg they do at imperial war museum Duxford?

muminherts · 30/09/2023 17:38

Big zip wire course also a hit with my similar ds

handmademitlove · 30/09/2023 17:41

Indoor skydiving was a hit with my sensory seeking ASD 14yr old :-)

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13 year olds Events & celebrations SEN
Original poster
delanical · 30/09/2023 17:41

muminherts · 30/09/2023 17:38

Big zip wire course also a hit with my similar ds

Weirdly he's always hated go ape type places but I do think he'd love that big new zip wire place in north wales - it's just too far from us.

OP posts:
Original poster
delanical · 30/09/2023 17:42

handmademitlove · 30/09/2023 17:41

Indoor skydiving was a hit with my sensory seeking ASD 14yr old :-)

I was just looking at that but I can't find one anywhere near here! I think he'd love it but he'd refuse to travel more than an hour for anything.

(We're South West)

OP posts:
muminherts · 30/09/2023 17:44

Crazy idea maybe but longleat centerparcs weekend with that bungy leap experience you can do at CP?

muminherts · 30/09/2023 17:44

Oh just had another idea - my ds loved off road trek on horseback on wild terrain

muminherts · 30/09/2023 17:46

I typed into Google “flight similator south west england” and quite a few places came up

josephineSW · 30/09/2023 17:47

delanical · 30/09/2023 17:35

My autistic son is turning 13 soon (for context he goes to an autism school and after quite a tough few years in mainstream, he's doing really well, has friends etc but is quite isolated out of school and dislikes busy / noisy environments but is a total sensory / thrill seeker)
He's also entering that teenage stage where everything is rubbish and he doesn't want to do anything. He hates sports. Does gaming constantly anyway and has everything he needs.

Previous birthdays have been trips to HP studios, theme park etc and he's now got all the electronics he could possibly ever need. He doesn't want a party.

I know he'll be upset if there's no fuss / a treat day out / a surprise but he doesn't want anything and I can't think of anything he'd like / need or want to do......

I'm stuck. At this rate all he'll have is a balloon and a cake like a toddler!

Please - if you have a 13 year old, what did you buy them and how did you celebrate?!!

Boardgame cafe if there's one near?

NotFastButFurious · 30/09/2023 17:49

If he’s happy with a cake and a day gaming in his room then leave him to enjoy it! It’s his birthday not yours.

Puffalicious · 30/09/2023 17:50

Trip to a theme park? Not sure where is near you. My 11 Yr old DS with autism is a HUGE thrill seeker, and likes nothing better than the wildest rides at a theme park.

Scary experience? Again, he loves these. Do you have an outdoor/ jumper scare type thing or Dungeon experience maybe in a nearby city? Both things my DS adores.

Original poster
delanical · 30/09/2023 17:50

muminherts · 30/09/2023 17:46

I typed into Google “flight similator south west england” and quite a few places came up

Sorry I was talking about indoor skydiving - that's what I couldn't find in the south west.

OP posts:
Puffalicious · 30/09/2023 17:50

Jump scare.

Original poster
delanical · 30/09/2023 17:52

NotFastButFurious · 30/09/2023 17:49

If he’s happy with a cake and a day gaming in his room then leave him to enjoy it! It’s his birthday not yours.

He won't be happy though. That's my point. He'll be quite upset with a few token presents we've come up with (even though he can't think of anything he wants) and he'll be upset if it's a normal day with a a bit of cake (even though he can't think of anything he wants to do). That's the way his brain works. I have to do all the thinking for him and hope it's right.....

OP posts:
Original poster
delanical · 30/09/2023 17:52

Puffalicious · 30/09/2023 17:50

Trip to a theme park? Not sure where is near you. My 11 Yr old DS with autism is a HUGE thrill seeker, and likes nothing better than the wildest rides at a theme park.

Scary experience? Again, he loves these. Do you have an outdoor/ jumper scare type thing or Dungeon experience maybe in a nearby city? Both things my DS adores.

I like the idea of a jump scare type place......off to google!

OP posts:
Original poster
delanical · 30/09/2023 17:53

Any present ideas that your 13yo loved?!

OP posts:
muminherts · 30/09/2023 17:53

@delanical sorry! I saw that but was hoping to come with an alternative!

muminherts · 30/09/2023 17:55

Presents we now tend to go off his list.

Ok a few ideas maybe gaming chair but he may have that. Something new for his room if he likes that kind of thing as my ds can do. Leather bean bag to lounge on while gaming?

GreenhouseGarden · 30/09/2023 17:55

3D printer and trip to escape room

IReallyLikeYouButIWantToSeeHowThingsGoWithMark · 30/09/2023 17:57

My 13 year old is autistic. He did not want a party. We did a weekend away on the Channel Islands and visited ww2 stuff which is was his current special interest

itsmyp4rty · 30/09/2023 18:02

Indoor go karting or tubing at a dry ski slope? ds loved those. DS loves lego, puzzle games, jigsaws and board games but depends on what your ds is into.

Original poster
delanical · 30/09/2023 18:04

GreenhouseGarden · 30/09/2023 17:55

3D printer and trip to escape room

3D printer is genius. I hadn't thought of it but it would be perfect. Thank you!

OP posts:
Beckafett · 30/09/2023 18:05

Does he like gaming merch? That's what my partners son likes who's only interest is gaming. He's the same as in he likes a fuss on his own terms but it's hard to know new things.

Original poster
delanical · 30/09/2023 18:06

muminherts · 30/09/2023 17:53

@delanical sorry! I saw that but was hoping to come with an alternative!

Sorry - crossed wires!
That flight simulator place in Bristol looks REALLY good actually. I think he'd really like that - thank you!

OP posts:
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