Help with tricky situation re size of gift pile

[CandyStripedCookieJar]

I know this can be a bit of a contentious issue but I have a unique issue that I would really appreciate some ideas to help with
DD1(20) has ASD, presents as NT when you first meet her but faces hugest challenges, is mature is lots of ways but also very young in ways only visible to immediate family.
One thing that's very important to her (in a much younger child type way) is Christmas. She has very rigid thinking around Christmas and what it should be like and one of those is around having a big pile of presents (influenced by Christmas films when she was younger).
I am not looking for a debate on this as I want a nice Christmas day for us all not ruined by a meltdown (not possible for her to control or understand).
Basically, how do I give her lots of presents without breaking the bank and without buying cheap rubbish?
Any idea for bulking out or cheap good quality gifts so the whole family can enjoy the day?(and the rest of the year as it would be brought up daily!)
Sorry for longish post but context was important here I feel 🐧☃️

Also, box of craft materials if she’s into that type of thing.

Bunch of flowers. Plants in pots.

Mega box of cereal

Football / basket ball?

Travel pillow. Sorry for making multiple posts. Things keep coming to me 😂

Each year I get 12 books from the charity shop, wrap each in brown paper, write a (pre-selected) excerpt on the cover, to get them excited, and write Jan, Feb, March etc on the spine. I then put them all in a box and decorate the box - when they open the box they have a mystery book for each month of next year - and you can get books specific for who you are making the box for. It generally doesn't cost more than £15, and it's a big old box!

I love this thread! We still do a big pile of presents each, some great ideas on here!

A big fluffy dressing gown / slanket, hair turban and slippers.

Bag for life. You can get some quite pretty ones from the supermarkets. Wrap it up and it’ll look huge! Photo board. IKEA do quite a nice metal one with pegs that you can clip photos to.

You've come on two posts and attacked the OP with advice that's completely irrelevant to the question being asked. In both cases, the OP has an autistic child, and because you also have an autistic child you believe you are qualified to decide the correct route to take with all autistic children, and that your opinion is more important than support.

As a child, I used to like getting Christmas ornaments and decorations as presents and then they can be used every year. Maybe something larger like a battery-lit house or a snowman figure. Some of them can be quite tall and would help it look festive and magical if you switched it on.

https://www.matalan.co.uk/home-accessories/premier-decorations-set-of-2-lit-wooden-christmas-houses/14941208.html?switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&variation=14941209&creative=719866741653&keyword=&matchtype=&network=g&device=m&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=21878899330&cq_term=&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_plt=gp&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADw_vh2oiKtpL4pfVrgK1AwCn6f6T&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwLzpoM7piQMVl5dQBh2a7g8yEAQYESABEgKtxfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Retractable-Fireplace-Decoration-Figurines/dp/B0CLNMNKD3/ref=asc_df_B0CLNMNKD3?mcid=064a7cdc5f3e34ad8f1138fb373e2506&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697268951430&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17907607017166643779&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9044966&hvtargid=pla-2273889924129&psc=1&gad_source=1

"You continue enabling and giving your daughter a skewed view of the world she will eventually have to tackle on her own when you're no longer around."

@VegTrug - OP is talking about Christmas Day. Christmas Day is a skewed view of the world anyway - intentionally so. In deepest, darkest midwinter we create a massive diversion of light and gifts and feasting and singing and dancing and socialising to keep us alert, alive, awake and enthusiastic until the signs of Spring begin.

Why not indulge her daughter on this one day, in a way that will bring her joy? There's time enough for all life's instructions and limitations and managed expectations. But not on a designated Christmas thread where we are talking about ideas for cheap filler presents that bring happiness.

I have to do this for DH. He would love it! Great idea.
Adult DS1 would adore this too but he lives abroad - long haul, so realistically I mustn't weigh him down with 12 books. (But if he ever moves back to UK...)

😂😂😂 Now my screen is missing the part where I gave you advice! So weird!

And you apparently have an autistic child but still have no idea so I’m not totally relying on your comments for help here 😂

I always think we should remember that autism runs in families, and a difficulty in generalising can be part of that.

Back to the thread, I'm tickled by:
You have to think outside the box for her
followed by about 35 suggestions of putting everything inside a box!

@SmoJo Brilliant idea on the monthly books - I will steal this forthwith 😀

@Muchtoomuchtodo Thanks for the Premier Inn tip, I have an Autistic 17 year old who is obsessed with Premier Inn, I never thought to look on their website for merch. He's had the Premier Inn bear for years but would love the pillows

@CandyStripedCookieJar A great thread, I'm so pleased you started it. I have two Autistic kids and have a long standing and robust NHS diagnosis of Autism myself, I remember being that child who craved the big pile of presents in order to feel/know it was Christmas (even though I was never grabby or spoiled) and my DS17 can be a bit like that (DD12 is the other way - "please don't buy me anything ever" which makes for an interesting time 😀) This year I've found things like the Jaffa Cake pole in supermarkets, basically a stack of 40 Jaffa Cakes in a metre long cardboard stick. Really stands out shape-wise when wrapped! https://www.poundland.co.uk/mcvitie-s-jaffa-cakes-christmas-pole-40-cakes-440g £3.75 in Poundland and Aldi so don't pay a tenner on Amazon 😀

A framed poster or print is a nice bulky item to add that on reality takes up little to no room

It did occur to me that there's some very rigid thinking going on...

Big wrapped box with small present in that layer and another wrapped box inside repeat as much as possible pass the parcel style with nice but not costly present in the middle.

Haven’t read all the suggestions so apologies if this is a repeat. I do a massive food type hamper for my older teens (they always wang on about me never buying branded, sugary cereals, crisps etc) so I wrap up about four boxes of branded, sugartastic (yuk!) cereals as well as things like a multi pack of J20’s, fancy popcorn, selection box, etc.

My DS is autistic and gets quite stressed about “surprises” if he has an idea in his mind about what he thinks he’s getting for Xmas. We get him to do a list now ahead of time and then go through it and tell him what he will definitely be getting and what will have to wait until his birthday. I’m all for teaching coping with the real world but am also all for making Christmas a day about what they need. Christ knows they will have to navigate a world that won’t accommodate them in so many ways let’s let them have one day!

Oh thank you for the Jaffa Cakes idea!! Perfect for DB!

My go too bulk gifts are blankets, oodies & cushions. I got one dd a cushion cover of her favourite character from aliexpress last year & bought the inner from Amazon, it was 60cm x 60cm was a great bulking present. Same dd has asked for a big fluffy blanket this year.

Couldn't agree more with what you say here 🙂

Also laughing at "wang on" 😆

@IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece

You're welcome - I thought it was a great find. I've seen it all over - supermarkets, Iceland, Home Bargains etc - so you should find it without having to pay Amazon prices! 🙂

I personally think Jaffa Cakes are absolutely created by the devil but both goddaughters and DB love them so I have beautifully bulked out several presents with them 😁

Now if either a metre of crisps or chocolate digestives existed then that would bulk out my own present…and waistline