Can I have some ideas for autistic children please?

[BonesyBones]

I have two autistic children. DS1 is 8yo nearly 9 but in terms of toys has a closer play age to a 5/6yo. DS2 will be 2.5yo by Christmas.

They seem to be at complete opposite ends of the scale so what worked for DS1 isn't working for DS2.

DS1 likes:
Lego
Hero mashers
Imaginext batman stuff
Reading
Wii U (Disney infinity and skylanders)
Star wars figures
Playing Basketball
Tim burton movies
Sand
Light up things
Minecraft
Soft fleecy fabrics
Music

Dislikes:
Being outdoors
Loud/scratchy/high pitched noises
Craft/drawing/writing
Wet or sticky things

He has requested a bike, but he can't ride a bike (this would be his fourth) he gets fed up trying and wants to come back indoors after 5 minutes of barely trying.
He does basketball club at school but we're not allowed to fix a hoop to the wall outside.

DS2 is close to being non-verbal (on a salt waiting list to start learning pecs) so can't say what he would like.

DS2 likes
Pirates
Spinning and things that spin (not wheels or cars though)
Puppets/shadow puppets
Lights
Drums and "banging" noises
Drawing
Sticks
Loves to be outside
Water
Numbers
Towers
Pirates
Mr Tumble
Fluffy things
Socks (as in he actually sits and plays with socks)
Spoons (see socks)
Anything he defines as treasure (which could be literally anything!)
Bubbles

DS2 dislikes:
Sticky things
Dolls/teddies
Things on his head/face/hands
Pull along toys
Shape sorters
Musical toys
Anything that's a standard toy for his age group really.
Vehicles

We had planned the Chad Valley drum kit which he will absolutely love but I'm due DC3 a week after Christmas and can't see how a drumkit and a newborn will work.

Any ideas would be wonderful, I really have no idea what to get for either of them that might be enjoyed. Things that seem obvious tend to end up in a box til the November charity shop run.

No real budget as such as long as something actually gets used/played with.

Please help!

Watching.

My children have Aspergers and here are a few things I've got them this year.
Light up trainers (they have them on Amazon, the soles light up). My kids saw someone with a pair on and just about died with envy!
Playdoh crazy cuts salon. You wind a crank to get the hair to grow and then cut in to a style with scissors. They love this and it means they don't have to touch the playdoh.
Pirate outfit. TKMaxx/Home sense do the most amazing costumes for cheap.
Giant kinder egg for 2.5y old £4 Tesco
Kinetic Sand (we got this last year) so much fun, feels great and any mess just Hoover's up.

Go to Pound WORLD (the blue one) they always have a bunch of sensory toys like light up balls, spiky balls, slime etc and the kids play with them for hours.

My son really wants a walkie talkie. Im going to get him the Binatone ones from Amazon. Very sturdy, long range and work well for about £18 (they could have one each lol). All of the toy ones seem to have bad reviews.

He also wants the new skylanders imaginators and I know he's obsessed with all the previous versions so I don't mind getting that and then the matching annual, T-shirt, pyjamas etc.

Not RTFT properly, but just wanted to tell you there is a new sklanders bastard being released next week called 'Imaginators' if that's any help. Around £50 for starter pack. Again.

Some excellent suggestions here. I'm loving the look of that habitat lamp and the Lego lights. Amazing.

Just wanted to add that for the kinetic sand fans, there is a Bob the Builder kinetic sand-type playset.

Manic martians was a disaster here. The combination of cheep motor and the bouncing martians is surprisingly noisy. Also you're supposed to catch them on the rocket/hammer thing, not bash them back down ala wack a mole. I am spectacularly bad, which at least amused the kids who have never got the hang of it at all.

We have the binatone walki talkies, they're pretty good, and have encouraged a certain amount of waiting while the other person speaks, which is something one of ours has issues with.

I didn't know there was a new skylanders coming out, might have to check that out.

AMOS 10 LED 7 Mood Colour Changing Light Up Glowing Illuminating Mood Super Soft Cosy Relax Plush Mood Pillow Cushion www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FUZMAPI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_6Jqayb822D2B2

What about a light changing pillow. Slowly changing colour. Half price at a 10er at the moment to

If your DS1 likes Imaginext and Star Wars then there is a Star Wars line in the Playskool Heroes Range; Galactic Heroes which he might enjoy. It's like Imaginext but Star Wars. This one is pretty cool; www.toysrus.co.uk/toys/playskool-heroes-star-wars-galactic-heroes-millennium-falcon/TRUP8929580001

There are also a lot of other great Imaginext lines, Dino-riders, Space rockets and aliens, Power Rangers, etc. They also have a Pirate range which your DS2 might enjoy. It could be something they could play with together too.

My 'sensory' child likes
Marble run.
Moon sand.
Ikea tents work as robust safe spaces especially if you fill them with blankets and cushions.
Ikea balance beam.
Ikea crash mats.
Magnetic pebbles.
Bean bags.
Fitness balls.
light wands - www.amazon.co.uk/Beamz-Delightful-Toys-Swivel-Wand/dp/B004228EH8/ref=sr_1_1?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1476474731&sr=1-1&keywords=light+wand

Kinetic Sand.

Apply through Family Fund to get a SN bicycle.

My sons are 6 and 3 and are both autistic, I know how difficult it is trying to find presents.

These are what came to mind reading your post (sorry for any duplicate suggestions).

For you older son:
Leapreader
Lego DVDs (my son is getting the new Scooby Doo one that come with a minifigure)
Over the door basketball for his bedroom
Kinetic sand

For your younger son:
Gears!Gears!Gears!
Stickman DVD/toy/book, a bit of a random suggestion, it is just my son is obsessed with it at the moment and you mentioned you son likes sticks. They do a cute Stickman toy and it is a lovely Christmassy story.
Bath toys or a water table
Mr Tumble spotty bag, they sell official ones
Bubble machine

Generally the main thing that came to mind is something with headphones (if they are willing to wear them) to help them cope with the noise of a new baby. So maybe a portable DVD player or MP3 player. You older son might also enjoy audiobooks.

I also have some horse related suggestions for the poster asking about their four year old daughter.

Playmobil or Duplo horse sets, they do small sets if you child only wants the horses and not the people and other bits.
Scleich horses
Glow pet unicorn
Safari Toob of tiny little horses, they are small so not ideal if she will put them in her mouth but great otherwise. My son has a huge collection of small animals and gets a new Toob most Christmases.
Light up fairy wand
Cheerleader pom poms, again a random suggestion but I have just ordered some for my son as he would love sparkly, glittery things to wave around. Play silks have also been a massive hit with him as has a dancing ribbon on a stick although he tends to get himself a little tangled up.

Other general suggestions in case they are useful to anyone:
Chewigem or other things to chew, my son loves Springz particularly, handheld safe mirror, magnifying glass, Magformers, Bedtime Makka Pakka (has a light up stomach that changes colour), SmartMax, Teeter Popper, binoculars, telescope, treasure chest, bubble tube, fairy lights

I also got this Gruffalo cuddly recently, it is very reduced and is exceptionally soft and nice to touch. It might be nice for a child who particularly likes soft things.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0060L23E4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1Guffalo

Imagido are worth looking at as they often have nice sensory toys

For the drum kit you could get him an electric one with headphones. It will keep noise down for the newborn and let your DS enjoy banging.

proper drum kit

cheaper drum kit pad

For your DS that likes light up things and Lego what about lite brix or laser pegs ?

Sorry it's taken so long for me to come back, loads came up and I've been a bit too busy to think about Christmas!

Thank you all so much, there are some brilliant ideas here. Some that won't necessarily suit my children specifically but that have triggered ideas of similar things they will like.

We already have heaps of kinetic sand but I can definitely recommend it to others with similar children.

Love the look of gears gears gears which I think both DS will enjoy. Really liking some of the light toys suggested and have some on the list now.

Didn't know about the imaginext pirate stuff and the ship looks great for DS2.

Also didn't know about the playskool star wars range, the linked millennium falcon would make ds1s year!

Hopefully this thread will be able to provide some ideas for others struggling for ideas too.